This walk was a sponsored walk for Oakhaven Hospice. Due to Covid restrictions walkers had to plan their own routes across the forest as we were not allowed to meet up to walk. I planned this with my 'equals' partner and we combined a mixture of familiar routes and unfamiliar routes to achieve the 26.2 miles. We used OS Explorer map OL22 1:25,000.
Take Merrut Rd heading North from Waters Green and then left onto Rhinefield Rd, At the ford turn left into Brookley Rd and head to the end of the shops, turn right onto Sway Rd and follow this to the school, turn right across Culverley Green. 1.6miles/2.5km. Cross the road and follow North Weirs directly ahead for 0.5 miles/0.8km and as the track turned to the right take the path across Whitemoor to the road, cross and continue in same direction across Whitefield Moor to car park, continue in same direction on path to Puttles Bridge. 0.9miles/ . Turn left to road, 100m , follow road North for 1.3 miles. At Blackwater carpark, turn right, follow footpath, then track through Poundhill Inclosure for 1.7miles to path junction. Turn left follow track 0.9miles to road and gate. Left on road 200m, turn left onto path between houses and follow to swage works. 0.5miles/ Head North East across country to subway, go under road. Follow footpath past reptile Centre, to cross roads of paths, 0.9miles Turn right, cross road to cross roads of paths 0.8miles, turn right. Cross road, continue on path to 4th turning on left, 0.8miles/ Go along steep, upwards track to Hart Hill. 0.6miles/ 0.9km Follow track 1.5miles/2.4km to road. Turn left, Follow road 0.4miles to Bolderwood car park past Canadian Memorial on left. Head South East from car park on path to left of Bolderwood deer sanctuary. Continue on track to road 3.2miles/ 5.2km. Turn left on road and follow to T Junction 1.1miles/ 1.8km. Turn right for 500 m, take footpath on left and then track to road. 1 mile/1.6km Turn left follow disused road, track, to Wilverley Post, cross busy A road, continue on tack to Wilverley car park. 2miles/3.2km. Head North across Wilverley Plain on open heathland to path and then track to Silver stream junction of paths. 1.3 miles/2.2km. Cross stream, take first footpath on right to cross Whitemoor to North Weirs. 0.9miles/ 1.4km. Turn right on North Weirs for 300m, turn left on footpath along Broadlands Road to Rhinefield Road, Turn right for 400m, turn left onto Merrut Road and follow to Waters Green 0.8miles/ 1.2km
Total distance 26.2miles. Time taken 9hours 33 mins. Weather Light rain and very heavy rain throughout the day with sunny intervals and bright sunshine at the end! This was a challenging but fun day as we saw other people completing the walk, in their orange T shirts, at times and we were able to cheer each other on from a safe distance! We had a medal ceremony in our back garden and everyone shared photos on the hospice facebook page.
