War Memorial Park, Black Dam and Crabtree

This is the easiest proper walk in Basingstoke to start without a car journey: it begins in the town’s main park, crosses one road and takes you out to ponds, fields and woodland. It is based on the council’s own self-guided walk, with two lengths to choose from.

• Short loop, about 1.7 miles: War Memorial Park to Black Dam Ponds and back. Mostly level, on surfaced paths.
• Long loop, about 3.5 miles: carries on through the underpass to Crabtree Plantation for a climb, an open field and a stretch of woodland.

Before you set off

Park in the free car park off Crossborough Hill. The toilets are in the John Arlott Pavilion and there are two cafés in the park, so use both before you leave: there is nothing at Black Dam or Crabtree.

If you are doing the long loop, wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. The council warns that the route can be muddy in places, especially in the woodland.

The route

War Memorial Park to Black Dam Ponds

1. Leave the car park by the eastern exit and follow the path past the John Arlott Pavilion, down towards the tennis courts.
2. Carry on past the courts towards the subway. Just before it, turn left.
3. Follow the avenue of trees to a junction, then head down the slope towards the road.
4. Cross at the road island and walk over the bridge. Watch for steps on your left.
5. Go down the steps and bear left into Black Dam Ponds. Follow the path past the information board and round to the main pond, which will be on your right.
6. At the path junction, bear left towards the picnic area and up to the duck-feeding platform.

For the short loop, turn round here and pick up step 13 to head back to the park.

The Crabtree loop

7. Carry on past the duck-feeding platform to the underpass. Go through it into an open field: you are now in Crabtree Plantation.
8. Follow the gravel path up the hill and across the field, with woodland on your left.
9. Where the path forks, bear left and go under the Bolton Arch, the old entrance to the Hackwood estate, into the car park.
10. Bear left round the car park to a path by a litter bin that leads into the woods. Follow it through the trees with the road on your right.
11. At the end of the woodland, take the gravel path back down the hill into the Black Dam nature reserve.

Back to the park

12. Go back through the underpass, bear left at the junction and left again at the next, then go through the underpass to Black Dam Ponds. Bear right past the duck-feeding platform.
13. At the junction, bear left so the pond is on your right. At the next junction, bear left at the metal barrier. Walk up the gentle slope, bear right round the path, cross the bridge and the road at the island, and climb the slope back into War Memorial Park.
14. At the path junction, bear left, then take the first right back to the car park.

Good to know

• Gate times: if you’d rather start from Crabtree, its car park gate is locked in the evening (8pm from April to October, 6pm from November to March) and charges £50 to release a car. Starting from War Memorial Park avoids that.
• Wildlife: Black Dam is a nature reserve; look for tufted ducks, coots and, with luck, a kingfisher. Crabtree is a good site for butterflies in summer.
• Directions are adapted from the council’s leaflet, which is undated. Paths and junctions can change, so if something here no longer matches what’s on the ground, tell us.