- Leader: Mandy Ray
- Date: 22 October 2025
- Distance: 8 miles approx.
Four Marks woodland ramble from Chawton Park Wood
After a couple of days of heavy rain, a beautiful sunny morning greeted 14 ramblers who met at Chawton Park Wood car park in Four Marks. Set within the South Downs National Park, the woodland contains an array of trees including beech, Norway maple, and bald cypress. Heading east from the car park, we followed the path along the edge of Gibbet Copse, passing Brick Kiln Farm and on to Reeds Copse, where a variety of fungi popped up through the copper-coloured leaves of autumn. Making our way along Writers’ Way, the path descended to Peter Wykeham Way, named after an RAF fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War, and then on to Chawton Park Road.
Walking a short distance along the road towards Alton, a fairly hidden path entrance to our left led us through majestic beech trees to Ackender Wood and on to Bushy Leaze Wood and its lines of conifers. Crossing Medstead Road, we headed to Hillside Farm. Rambling across fields of clover and disturbing the odd bee, we emerged onto Wivelrod Road. Turning left, we followed the lane a short distance before making a right turn onto the footpath leading to Collier’s Wood and our lunch stop. It was here, bathed in sunlight, that we watched deer grazing from our vantage point.
Following the bridleway towards Holt End, a sharp left turn took us across open fields and on to Jennie Green Lane and Redwood Lane. Crossing Abbey Road (unfortunately, there wasn’t a Beatle in sight), we were back in woodland, where a gentle ascent led us back to the car park.
Author and Photographer: Mandy Ray