Getting There
Leave the M3 at Junction 6, and at the roundabout take the 1st exit – Northbound, or the 2nd exit – Southbound.
At the next roundabout take the 3rd exit signed Old Basing.
Immediately turn left onto the 0ne-Way lane signed Basing Lime Pits.
Park in either of the two car parks on the right, the first is better if you have children on board.
Return to M3 Junction 6
Turn right out of either car park. At the T-junction turn right, The Street, and then immediately turn right again, Brown Lane. At the traffic lights turn right, Park Lane.
At the T-junction turn right, London Road.
At the roundabout take the 3rd exit signed M3/London/South West to rejoin the motorway.
Basing Lime Pits
As the name suggests, this green area has been created from the site of former aggregate workings and is a well-planned open space without being over-organised. Although it's close to Basingstoke, there is a sleepy feeling here and the main beneficiaries of all the work that has gone into the creation of the nature park seem to be the many colonies of rabbits.
The two car parks are very close together, and the walk starts from the second car park. If you park in the first, by the children's facilities, go up the steps by the playground and around the top of the natural amphitheatre.
From the second car park, walk to the top of the amphitheatre and head uphill towards left hand corner of the fence. There is a squeezer stile to the left of a dog poo bin which leads through onto common land beyond. This is a large, flat area where dogs can hurtle around happily.
There's a panoramic view of Basingstoke from this vantage point, but turn round and look the other way to be transported to a different, rural, century.
We walked around the upper common, avoiding the lane further on past the pylons, and then returned through the stile to reach the car park again.
Facilities
Free car park. Children's play area and adventure playground – by 1st car park. Fitness trail. Dog poo bins.