A circular walk for the whole family on Weaver's Down near Liphook — The Ambling Path

Children will enjoy seeking the dinosaur hiding in the undergrowth and the field full of alpacas.

The Basics

Time: 50 minutes or 1 hr 35 minutes

Distance: 3 km or 5.4km

Terrain: Flat bridleway, gentle heathland slopes, some muddy tracks

Pushchair: Not for the circular route, but you could do a linear walk (see below)

Dogs: Yes

Refreshments: The Deers Hut Pub

Toilets: None, unless visiting the pub

Parking: Layby on left just after Deers Hut pub (Postcode: GU30 7PD - W3W: conqueror/nursery/speeded)

There is something rather surprising lurking in the undergrowth of The Old Thorns Estate on this walk near Liphook. Once you have spotted the T-rex, you can go on to explore the heathland and woodland of Weaver’s Down with a lovely country pub at the end.

The Route

The following are details for two possible walks. Both start by passing the hidden dinosaur along a pushchair friendly track. One walk then takes a shorter loop across heathland and woodland, whilst the other goes around Folly Pond and The Forest Mere Estate. Both routes end up passing the alpaca field and complete at The Deers Hut pub.

For all routes, begin by walking up the access lane to The Old Thorns Hotel. Shortly on your left you will see markers for The Shipwrights Way and Permissive Byway. Take this wide and even track that forks away to the left.
As you walk along this path, look out for the fence into Old Thorns on your right where the private property signs are. Hiding in the undergrowth away to your right, you will be able to spot the dinosaur.
Shortly after the dinosaur, you will reach Nut Tree Cottage. You should continue along the main path here, but if you want a quick circular route, you could go left here and follow the bridle way down the hill, turning left at the boundary at the bottom.
By continuing along the main path after Nut Tree Cottage, you will soon pass Sweet Briar Farm and then enter some pine trees. At this point the path becomes a little less pushchair friendly, but soon levels off again and if you have a decent all terrain pushchair, you should be fine.
Next, you will come to a crossroad of paths with a clump of trees in the middle, keep going straight here and then, just before the gate onto MOD land, take the path on your left through the pine trees. The path becomes narrow, rough and heads downhill so this is the point at which it is no longer suitable for pushchairs.
Go straight across at the first little crossroads of paths where there is a post missing the footpath badge. At the next little cross roads, turn left along the bridleway to begin the return leg (continued in step 9) or if you want a longer walk, passing Folly Pond, you could go right here (steps 7, 8 and 9).
To get to Folly Pond, stay on the path for some time, passing by a swampy pool. You will see the grounds of Forest Mere Hotel away to your left. Keep going and look out for a post with a blue arrow opposite a fallen looking tree behind a fence. Turn left here and after a short stretch, you will come to a house with a blue plaque. Turn left and continue until you reach the entrance to Home Park.
Turn left here and walk along the paved access road, passing the pond and Forest Mere Hotel. Look out for a bridle way on your right going into rhododendrons. Go right at the fork.
Pass a series of three cottages on your right. Stay as straight as possible, keeping the boundary on your right, but you may need to swerve around some particularly muddy parts.
When you reach a T-junction with a larger path and Woodside Cottage, turn left and follow this access track all the way back to the pub. You will pass by a field of gorgeous woolly alpacas on your right.