HOS Walks programme
We have a regular programme of HOS walks in place. Attendees no longer need to book a place on HOS walks, but we would ask that you recognise that COVID is still with us and that some people would still prefer that social distancing is observed.
However, please also note that it will be necessary to continue to book places on some walks – such as Needs Ore where places are restricted.
Any queries please do get in touch either by emailing Di Warner or phoning Di Warner, the HOS Walks Co-ordinator on 07883 344724. The distance covered is shown for each walk, and in some cases with a ‘walk category’, as follows:
A) Easy – a fairly short walk over relatively flat ground with no/few stiles.
B) A little more demanding – longer distance and/or gentle hills but with no/few stiles.
C) Medium difficulty – moderate distance and/or moderate hills and/or a moderate number of stiles.
D) Strenuous – long distance and/or steep hills and/or many stiles.
Do please take care and enjoy the walks programme, but remember, responsibility for personal safety lies with the individual, not the Society.
Please adhere to the current Covid rules which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
Please note some details are not currently known, but will be added when available.
Keep the Date! – Members’ Day 2025 will be on Saturday March 29th. <<<====
January 2025
Sunday 19 January
Winter birds at Farlington Marshes
Leader: Kevin Stouse (07510 600808)
9.30am to 2.30pm (5 miles)
Meet at Broadmarsh Car Park (grid reference: SU699055). N.B. road layout means you have to do a U-turn to enter the car park (continue up Harts Farm Way and where it widens you can U turn to come back to car park). The correct car park is entered via a height restriction barrier and has large concrete blocks in it and is NOT the car park signposted Broadmarsh Coastal Path.
Walk round the Marshes in search of winter birds.
Bring coffee/lunch en route.
Walk category A
Saturday 25 January
RSPB Poole Harbour
Leader: Julian Moseley (0238 0779850). Phone contact on the day at the site will be 07900 381051.
10:30am to 3:30pm (2.5miles)
Park on the right hand side of Panorama Road (no charge) after the ferry turning, but meet at the ticket booth for the chain ferry to take us across to the coastal side of the reserve (fee of £1:00) (grid reference: SZ03738706; What3Words: vines.scary.bolt).
The day could reveal winter grebes, waders, divers and heathland birds as we skirt the southern shore of Brands Bay for the return leg.
Bring lunch and drink
Walk category A
Sunday 26 January
Learn with HOS
Speaker: Keith Betton
09:00am to 12:30pm
Keith will give two talks entitled: Mysteries of Bird Migration and Learning bird songs and calls, at Littleton Memorial Hall, Littleton, Winchester SO22 6QL.
Admission £10 per person – details on booking places can be found here.
February 2025
Sunday 2 February
Keyhaven
Leader: Ian Packer (07505 084123)
9.30am to 3.30pm (5 miles)
Meet at the Keyhaven pay car park (RingGo app or coins in the machine) opposite The Gun pub in Keyhaven, (grid reference: SZ307915; Postcode SO41 0TP, What3Words: drives.soups.wounds). RingGo users can pay by calling 01590 605959/SMS 81025 (Location ID 2588).
Circular route with easy walking on the flat throughout, mainly on gravel paths. Habitats include the sea, lagoons, saltmarsh, reed-beds, hedgerows and open fields. Habitats offer ducks, waders, gulls and terns. Essential to bring wet weather gear in case of wind and rain.
Bring lunch and drink.
Walk category A.
Friday 21 February
Acres Down
Leader: Ian Hampson (07803 471137)
1:30pm to 5:00pm (3 miles).
Park in Acres Down car park (grid reference: SU268097; Postcode: SO43 7GE; What3Words: dips.universal.muliple).
A circular walk from Acres Down car park initially looking for displaying Goshawk and Woodlark plus the other usual heathland species, followed by a walk through the woods to look and listen for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. There are several opportunities to take paths back to the car park for those that need to leave early. Wellies highly recommended.
Bring coffee/tea.
Walk category A
Sunday 23 February
Warblington Shore to Hayling Oyster beds
Leader: Kevin Stouse (07510 600808)
9.30am to 2.00pm (4 miles)
Meet at Warblington Church car park (grid reference: SU728054) for this walk along the shore to Hayling Oyster beds in search of waders and wildfowl.
Bring coffee/Lunch en route.
Walk category A
March 2025
Saturday 8 March
Ashley Walk, New Forest
Leader: Julian Moseley (02380 779850)
10.30am to 12.30pm (4 miles)
Meet in car park by 10:30am (grid reference SU 186156; What3words – zoomed.ruffling.carpeted). Numbers limited to 20 so please notify leader beforehand if wishing to attend. Please ring 02380 779850 for information or contact at the site on the day is 07900 381051.
A foray into the Forest to seek winter birds and possible early migrants; moving to Pitts Wood then Hampton Ridge and back along beside the brook. Note this last section can be wet with much surface water if rain has been recent.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category A
Sunday 16 March
Normandy Lagoon & Oxey Marshes
Leader: Ian Packer (07505 084123)
09.30am to approx. 2.30pm (3 miles)
Meet at junction of Maiden Lane and Normandy Lane and park on road opposite large house called Kingfishers (grid reference SZ 326940; postcode SO41 8FF; What3words – hawks.blurts.headliner).
We shall look for ducks, waders & migrants.
Bring lunch and drink.
Walk category A.
Sunday 23 March
Warblington Shore to Budds Farm
Leader Kevin Stouse (07510 600808)
9.30am to 2.00pm (4 miles)
Meet at Warblington Church car park (grid reference SU 728054). Walk along the shore to Budds Farm sewage works in search of waders and Wildfowl.
Bring lunch and drink.
Walk category A
Wednesday 26 March
Kilmeston, Beauworth
Leader Nick Wiley (07747 151160)
10.30am to 2.00pm (3 miles).
Park by village hall (grid reference SU 589259; postcode SO24 0NW).
A walk around the village looking for resident species, the last of the winter migrants and the first of the summer migrants.
It could be muddy so please wear appropriate shoes/boots.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category B
Saturday 29 March
St Swithun’s School, Winchester
HOS Members’ Day 2025 – click for details
April 2025
Saturday 5 April
Yew Tree Heath, New Forest
Leader: Julian Moseley (02380 779850)
10.30am to 1.30pm (4 miles)
Meet at grid reference SU 364063 / What3words – pulled.tile.reduce. Numbers limited to 20, so please notify leader beforehand if wishing to attend. Please ring 02380 779850 for information or contact at the site on the day is 07900 381051.
An early spring ramble along the upper reaches of the river valley to see what we can find, with a focus on possible migrants.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category A
Sunday 13 April
Farlington Marshes
Leader: Kevin Stouse (07510 600808)
9.30am to 2.30pm (5 miles)
Meet at Broadmarsh Car Park (grid reference SU699055). N.B. road layout means you have to do a U-turn to enter the car park (continue up Harts Farm Way and where it widens you can U turn to come back to car park). The car park is entered via a height restriction barrier and has large concrete blocks in it and is NOT the car park signposted Broadmarsh Coastal Path.
A walk round the Marshes in search of migrant birds.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category A
Sunday 27 April
Keyhaven
Leader: Ian Packer (07505 084123)
9.30am to approx. 3.30pm (5 miles)
Meet at the Keyhaven pay car park (RingGo app or coins in the machine) opposite The Gun pub in Keyhaven (grid reference SZ307915; postcode SO41 0T; What3words – drives.soups.wounds). RingGo users can pay by calling 01590 605959 or SMS 81025 (Location ID 2588).
A circular route with easy walking on the flat throughout, mainly on gravel paths. Habitats include the sea, lagoons, saltmarsh, reed-beds, hedgerows and open fields, offering ducks, waders, gulls and terns. Essential to bring wet weather gear in case of wind and rain.
Bring lunch and drink.
Walk category A.
May 2025
Sunday 4 May
Dawn chorus at Pig Bush
Leader: Julian Moseley (02380 779850)
4.00am to 8.00am (3 miles)
Meet at grid reference SU361050 / What3words – skill.doing.unwanted. Please ring 02380 779850 for information or contact at the site on the day is 07900 381051. Numbers limited to 20 so please notify leader beforehand if wishing to attend.
This is usually a very good location for a mix of heathland and woodland species and we might be able to catch late returning nocturnal birds such as Tawny Owl and possibly Nightjar.
Walk category A
Saturday 17 May
Longparish
Leader: Geoff Sharp (01256 470268)
9:30am – 1:00pm (3 – 4 miles)
Meet in the village car park (opposite the village hall) off the B3048 (grid reference SU 426440).
A leisurely walk, taking in the River Test and its feeder channels as well as the field and the lanes around this lovely village. We will be looking for riverside birds, warblers, Cuckoo and raptors.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category A
Saturday 24 May
Durlston Country Park, Isle of Purbeck
Leader: Julian Moseley (02380 779850)
9.00am to 12.30pm (3 miles)
Park at car park (grid reference SZ 0330 7732; What3words – rudder.actor.contoured). Parking payable by the usual methods.
A day’s ramble in this area should produce seabirds, raptors and the regular species of coastal downland. The elevated perspective from the cliffside walk usually helps with ID. The path surface is broken and crumbling at one spot descending into the valley by the coastguard centre, but is otherwise uneven but reasonably good. Study centre has a cafe overlooking the sea.
Walk category B
Saturday 31 May
Farmland around the rivers Lyde & Loddon, Hook, Hants
Leader: Simon Stacey (07720 467678)
9.30am to 12.30pm (3.5 miles).
Park on Wildmoor Lane at postcode RG27 0HE / W3W farmed.commutes.duty. Due to limited parking of 8 cars please let the leader know if you wish to attend.
A walk in woodland and around the banks of the rivers Lyde & Loddon. Target species include Yellowhammer, Skylark, Marsh Tit, Cuckoo, various warblers, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher. It can be quite muddy, even in June, so stout walking boots advisable although the walk is all flat.
Walk category A
June 2025
Wednesday 4 June
Cheriton to Gander Down
Leader: Nick Wiley (07747 151160)
10.00am to 2.30pm (4 miles).
Park at Cheriton tennis club car park near Flower Pots Inn (grid reference SU580284; postcode SO24 0QQ)
A walk out to Gander Down looking for farmland birds such as Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting; also good for raptors and butterflies.
Bring lunch/lunch en route.
Walk category C
Saturday 7 June
Tidgrove Warren Farm (near Kingsclere) for Stone Curlews
Leader: Keith Betton (07809 671468)
9.30am to 1.00pm (2 miles)
Entrance to the farm is at grid reference SU516538 / postcode RG25 3EN, but don’t rely entirely on this. Drive through the gate, continue for 500m and follow directions to parking from there. This is at the invitation of the landowner, Raleigh Place, who farms organically and manages areas of his farm to encourage breeding downland birds (including Stone Curlew) and uncommon arable plants.
Will include a short talk about Stone Curlews.
Walk category B.
Sunday 8 June
Buriton for Farmland Birds
Leader: Kevin Stouse (07510 600808)
9.00am – 3.00pm (7 miles)
Meet at Buriton village pond car park near church (grid reference SU 740200).
A circular walk (with two stops) along the footpath to Petersfield Heath and back in search of autumn farmland birds. Will be muddy if recently rained.
Bring lunch and drink/lunch en route.
Walk category B
Sunday 15 June
Blashford Lakes HIIWT Reserve
Leader: Ian Packer (07505 084123)
09.30am to approx. 1.00pm (2 miles)
Meet in the free car park by the Tern Hide (grid reference SU151083; What3words – mirror.neckline.mash). The Reserve postcode is BH24 3PJ and is on the other side of the road to Tern Hide off Ellingham Drove.
A visit to the lakes should provide a good range of both water and woodland related species. This is an opportunity to watch many birds at close range from the various hides.
Bring lunch and drink.
Walk category A