Hampshire - Basingstoke Canal - Winchfield Hurst to Mytchett Canal Centre

How to get there - Winchfield Hurst is in north Hampshire, about 3 miles south of Harley Wintney. From junction 5 of the M3 head north towards Hook. Turn right onto the A30 for 5 miles to Hartley Wintney and turn right onto A323 (signposted for Fleet) for about 2 miles. Immediately after passing under the motorway turn right into Pale Lane.

The Barley Mow pub is at the far end of this lane. Go straight over the crossroads into Spratts Hatch Lane. The canal carpark is immediately on the left. (map)

Suggested Launch Site - Canoes can easily be launched over the bank but there is a slipway for larger craft

General Description - This trip is of 12 miles with one lock.

It starts on the rich agricultural land of east Hampshire, passes through Fleet, moves onto heathland as it passes Farnborough Airfield (home of the annual air show). It then skirts the military areas of Aldershot before turning north for the last stretch. Here there are several Flashes where the canal joins flooded gravel pits.

Finally the canal reaches the Canal Centre at Mytchett where we chose to camp overnight. If you are doing the same, Potters Steak House is immediately opposite the Canal Centre entrance and is therefore a very convenient place to eat.

The Fox & Houds, as you come into Fleet three and a half miles from the start is a good place for refreshment but too early for lunch. After that there is a dirth of canalside pubs so we picniced near the end of the runway (usually not very busy) at Farnborough six miles from the start.

You can either take out at Mytchell or camp overnight and return to the start the following day. (route)

Comments:

17 Mar 2007	Keith	Unfortunately the Barley Mow is currently closed so if you were planning a beer here you will need another plan
28 Aug 2007	Keith	The Barley Mow is under new management and has now reopened
12 Nov 2007	Keith Day	There is a major stoppage on this stretch of the canal expected to last until mid December 2007. The Notice on the Basingstoke canal website reads "Hampshire Pound Work on the 'Double Bridge Collapsed Culvert' has now commenced with complete closure to navigation in the area until mid December 2007. Stop planking and damming has been put in place as from Friday 2nd of November 2007. The water level upstream of the dams will be reduced by up to minus 200mm in the interest of safety and this will affect the whole of the Hampshire Pound as far as navigation is concerned. These levels are within our normal operating tolerances and will not affect the ecological value, SSSI status or the fishery. Ash Lock is now CLOSED and the by-pass shut down." and "Due to further structural problems with the land slip at the Malthouse Bridge in the Fleet/Church Crookham Area, Hampshire County Council have decided in the interest of safety to close this area to all through navigation. A barrier will be erected and boaters are requested not to venture this way as the bankside is now very unstable. The main contractor Dean & Dyball are now working to resolve this as quickly as possible. Work at Double Bridge will commence from the beginning of November with anticipated complete closure to navigation in that area until mid December."

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