Hampshire - Basingstoke Canal - Winchfield Hurst to The Fox & Hounds, Fleet (& return)

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 - The journey is about 7 miles (3.5 each way) through rural north Hampshire. There are no locks but one swing bridge about 18 inches above water level which canoes can pass under with care.
The first mile or so is characterised by the splendour of the rhododendron bushes which line the right bank. There are several particularly attractive canalside properties which would not look out of place adorning the lids of chocolate boxes or biscuit tins!
There are picnic tables on the old wharf at Chequers Bridge (about 2.5 miles into the trip) with the Black Horse pub just a few hundred yards north but my recommendation would be to wait for the Fox and Hounds.
Even the final half mile through the outskirts of Fleet have a rural feel with the housing well concealed from the canal. (route)

Comments:

17 Mar 2007	Keith	Unfortunately the Barley Mow is currently closed so if you were planning a beer here you 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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