Castles and Camps, Commanders and Clerics

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Walking from the heaths near Aldershot to the pastures near Farnham will provide contrast. Walking through millennia of history, especially military history, will provide continuity. While the colossal Wellington Monument, the Royal Garrison Church (the 'Army's Cathedral'), an inn where Cromwell stayed before a siege and the hillfort of Caesar's Camp will evoke the clash of arms, the fields of fleecy flocks will instil peace of mind. Literal high-points will be Caesar's Camp (our lunch spot) and Farnham Castle (a freebie, accessible if a masonry issue is resolved), offering stirring views, while the wealth of historic buildings (Plantagenet, Tudor, Georgian, Victorian) will display the pageant of history.

The sights:

Equestrian Statue of the Duke of Wellington, Aldershot: By Matthew Cotes Wyatt. In 1846 the largest equestrian statue in Britain. Wellington is shown as Field Marshal astride Copenhagen. 9.1 m tall and 40 tons. It took three years and three tons of Plaster of Paris to sculpt and is made of bronze from melted French cannon. The duke sat for it, but Copenhagen had died by then, so an inferior horse was used as a model. Considered disproportionate to the Wellington Arch which it topped off (Queen Victoria thought it an eyesore too, but it couldn't be removed for fear of offending the Iron Duke), it was removed when the arch was relocated in 1882, and set up in Aldershot in 1885 at the suggestion of the Prince of Wales 'where it might be admired by the army'. 

Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot: 1863, by PC Hardwick. The home church for the military personnel in Aldershot, known as the 'Army's Cathedral'. There are many memorials to regiments and personnel, and The Somme Cross, made of charred timbers from an obliterated village in the Somme. The church isn't open at weekends apart for services.

Caesar's Camp: A late Bronze Age-Iron Age hill fort and Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance for its size and completeness inside the defensive rings (it is multivallate). The rings themselves have been much disturbed by military activity and quarrying. The top is 177 m up and gives superb views across the heaths and beyond. The name reflects possible Roman re-use.

Crondall: A large and attractive village originally grouped around a green. Tudor architecture abounds (such as The Plume of Feathers pub in which Cromwell stayed before the siege of Basing House in 1645), as does Georgian architecture. Powderham Castle nearby is a mere mound.

All Saint's Church, Crondall: For Betjeman, among the finest in the county and for Simon Jenkins two stars in England's Thousand Best Churches. The high brick tower is a rarity, built in the last days of the Commonwealth in 1659. The body of the church is Norman, 12th and 13th centuries. Clerestoried (high-windowed) nave and vaulted chancel. Fine monuments and brasses inside. Parliamentarian forces camped in the churchyard. 

Farnham Castle: Built in 1138 by Henri of Blois and the home of the Bishops of Winchester for over 800 years. Demolished then rebuilt in the late 12th and early 13th centuries as a massive shell keep on the foundations of a Norman tower. In the early 15th century it was the residence of Cardinal Henry Beaufort. Since then more buildings were constructed in the grounds, the most impressive being those built by Bishop George Morley in the 17th century. The castle is free to enter and set in five acres of parkland and gardens. Positioned on a bluff, it gives fine views over Farnham and the Wey Valley. English Heritage open the Keep for free, but at the time of writing it is closed owing to crumbling masonry.

The route:

Walking through the town centre of Farnham we'll soon be at the castle for a 20-minute look around. We'll then walk across northeast the park adjacent to the castle and through the suburbs of Hale to enter the heathlands near Caesar's Camp at Hungry Hill. After crossing these heaths we'll use roads to go to the Royal Garrison Church and the Wellington Monument. We'll then cross back through the heaths, heading southwest and ascend Caesar's Camp to admire the view. After crossing Bricksbury Hill we'll be back at the A325 where a short walk along its pavement which will take us to Redlands Lane and Crondall for a pub stop. A walk through Crondall heading south over Wimble Hill, then northeast, then east along bridleways will lead to the St Swithun's Way which will head back to Farnham to conclude the walk.

Dogs: 

I love having dogs on my walks and this one is quite suitable for them despite it having considerable lane walking, a few stiles, and some fields with livestock. A dog off the lead must be responsive.

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(Photo credits: Caesar's Camp, Aldershot: Photo © Ian Hughes cc-by/2.0; The Tudor Wing of Farnham Castle: Photo © Richard Croft (cc-by-sa/2.0); Farnham Castle keep: Photo © Richard Croft (cc-by-sa/2.0); Covered reservoir, Bourley Hill:  Photo © Alan Hunt (cc-by-sa/2.0); View from Caesar's Camp: Photo © Alan Hunt (cc-by-sa/2.0); Wellington Monument: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0); Wellington Monument: Photo © Lewis Hulbert (cc-by-sa/2.0); The Plume of Feathers, Crondall: Photo © Colin Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0); Crondall: Photo © Colin Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0);  Crondall - Parish Church; Photo © Colin Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0); Track towards Middle Old Park: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0); Castle Hill: Photo © Richard Croft (cc-by-sa/2.0);  . All images are copyrighted but are here credited to their copyright holders and are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA/2.0. or CC-BY/2.0 (the first image).)