Footpath Number 26
End: Parish Boundary (Castle Bottom)
Distance: 0.5 Miles
Map: 2 – Central
This short walk is probably among my favourite of all the official footpaths. It is probably not a well-known path, but due to the slight hill provides a great view across Yateley and Eversley.
More importantly it provides access to the wonderful Castle Bottom Nature Reserve and combined with other footpaths allows the completion of a circular walk around the entire Village.
It starts from the top of Kitscroft Lane, which being a cul de sac is not a road you would usually pass along. The road and houses are quiet and timeless. Keep left past Firgrove Farm, and after a short walk along the road on your left you will see a gate set back into the hedgerow just as the road bends to the right into a private road.
Going through the gate you enter a path that literally cuts across the field with a small wire fence either side of you to indicate the route. As you wander up the path and before you reach the large tree on your right that indicates the end of this first field, turn round to see the views of Yateley and Eversley from this elevated position.
At the end of the field a metal gate can be passed and the footpath continues diagonally left to the corner of the field, amidst the Yateley woodland. A further wooden gate at the top of the field leads over a small wooden bridge and connects with the footpaths of Yateley.
Turning left will take you back towards Firgrove Road along the back of the houses, whilst turning right will take you up towards Blackbushe airfield and another right turn would take you into the Castle Bottom Nature Reserve where FP 13 can be picked up.
