A mix of suburban paths through Aldershot and semi-rural tracks on the fringe of the green belt take you to the Hog’s Back Brewery, with time to sample its excellent TEA (traditional English ale) before following the North Downs Way. The route loops back to Aldershot along the Blackwater Valley Path.
Leave Aldershot station from Platform 1. Turn right and cross the bridge into East Station Road and on to St Michael’s Road, turning left then right on St George’s Road East. Follow this to enter Manor Park, taking the left hand path parallel to the road. Leave the park by the pond and play area. Continue along High Street/Ash Road passing Somerfield (useful for lunch items and snacks, if you won’t reach the suggested pub stop before 14:00) and turn right into Brighton Road, left on Orchard Way, right at the end and cross into Guildford Road, which leads to Aldershot Park (1).
From the car park, follow the path left along the edge of the playing fields, turning right at the end. Follow the field boundary to the end, where you turn left (not signed) and follow this track. Tongham Pool, a wetland attracting many birds, is visible on the right (2).
Emerging into a housing estate, turn right and under the Blackwater Valley Road (A331), then immediately turn right through a metal gate into Tongham Community Wood (3). This area is maintained by local volunteers, who have also planted an orchard. Follow the path to where it bears hard left, and continue on, leaving by a gate.
Turn right after the garages, right again on a dead-end road and, just before the entrance to Grange Farm, go left through a gate, over the stile by the obscured footpath sign and crossing the field leaving by a stile (4).
Turn right on the road following it to the Hog’s Back Brewery housed in 16th-century farm buildings. There are always six beers available by the bottle, with brews from all over the world for sale in the shop. Brewery tours must be pre-booked, price £6.50.
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