Watership Down: January 2026
In such dismal weather the prospect of walking along an open hilltop can quickly be superseded by other options, like heading into Kingsclere to take some photograph among the puddles. Entering Sydmonton I passed through a bank of heavy mist and emerged to see other patches slowly rolling along underneath the escarpment. I abandoned my plans and made my way up the slippery path of the Wayfarer’s Walk to the top of Watership Down.
I don’t usually make it up onto Watership Down during the first few months of the year. The conditions on the Down can be brutal; the freezing wind cuts through your clothes and the rain, should it arrive, never lets up until you are soaked and bitterly cold.
In such dismal weather the prospect of walking along an open hilltop can quickly be superseded by other options, like heading into Kingsclere to take some photograph among the puddles. Entering Sydmonton I passed through a bank of heavy mist and emerged to see other patches slowly rolling along underneath the escarpment. I abandoned my plans, changed course and made my way up the slippery path of the Wayfarer’s Walk to the top of Watership Down.
Rather than write a lengthy account of my time up there, I am just going to post some photos of my visit. They speak for themselves.
Quarry Cottages. You can just about see some of the Sydmonton Estate’s Laundry Cottages in the top right of the image.
Over to Hare Warren Down.
The mast on Cottington Hill emerging through the mist behind the beech hanger.
The north eastern corner of the beech hanger (right foreground).
Hedgerow finds …
… Hazel and Kehaar?
The beech hanger.
