Hook Common and Bartley Heath

Wander through the heather, purple moor grass and secluded glades and discover the ancient wood pasture that’s bursting with wildlife.

Location

0.5 miles from Hook

Hook

Hampshire

RG27 9HD

OS Map Reference

SU730533

Know before you go

Size

123 hectares

Entry fee

Donations welcome

Parking information

Parking at Hook Cricket Club and by Permit Car Park on Bartley Heath (see description below)

Grazing animals

Our sites are grazed all year by livestock. Please follow the signage on site.

Walking trails

Hook Common and Bartley Heath are open access land, a number of public Rights of Way and many informal paths cross the site. Please keep to the obvious paths during the spring and summer so that rare ground nesting birds are not disturbed.

For Bartley Heath there are several pedestrian access points on Griffin Way South and at the car park entrance.

Access

Contact the Trust for disabled access information

On Foot: For Bartley Heath there are several pedestrian access points on Griffin Way South and at the car park entrance.

Car: From the M3, exit at junction 5. For Bartley Heath take Griffin Way (B3349) towards Hook and for Hook Common take Hook Common Road (A287) towards Newnham. Please note that the Bartley Heath car park now operates under a permit scheme, if you would like a permit please email feedback – please allow up to 4 weeks for your application to be processed. There are lay-bys which can be used on either side of Hook Common Road (A287) but there is minimal space. If you would like to visit the nearby site Bassetts Mead which has adequate parking, follow these directions:

From the Bartley Heath car park: Go north on the B3349 for a couple of hundred meters; take the second exit at the roundabout; Straight over next roundabout second exit; right at next roundabout third exit onto the A30: after approximately 700m take the right hand turn onto Holt Lane opposite the Crooked Billet pub; immediately turn left by the pumping station onto a track that runs parallel to the A30; park on the hard surface (not the grass as it is soft and you may get stuck). From there walk east along the track until you get to the river Whitewater, on your right hand side is a kissing gate that takes you into Bassetts Mead. Bassetts Mead is very wet during winter so wellies or waterproof walking boots are advisable.

Sat nav: RG27 9HD takes you to Station Road, which is just north of the two reserves

Train: Hook: 0.3miles – Bartley Heath: On Station Road turn left and walk 300m before going straight over the roundabout. Immediately on the left after the roundabout there is a stile to enter Bartley Heath. Alternatively, there is a gate approximately 300 meters on your left. Hook: 0.3 mile – Hook Common: On Station Road turn left and walk almost 300m. Just before the roundabout turn right onto Hook Road. The entrance is immediately on the right.

Bus: The nearest bus stop is on Station Road, Hook (Just over 0.3 miles). Follow directions above

Dogs

Under effective control

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

All year - seasonal highlightsOrchids, Meadow Thistle, Marsh Gentian, Buzzard, Lesser spotted woodpecker, Woodcock, Nightjar, White Admiral, Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, Slow-worm, Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Adder, Gorse, Heather, Hazel dormouse

About the reserve

This expanse of open heathland and woodland supports a range of fascinating wildlife, including basking reptiles and an abundance of native species which flourish at Hook Common and Bartley Heath thanks to its careful restoration. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), this expanse of open heathland and wood pasture offers the opportunity to encounter a range of wildlife.

Rare breeds of cattle and semi-wild Exmoor and New Forest ponies graze the reserves to restore the former heathland and wood pasture habitats that were once widespread in Hampshire.

The area is home to a range of birds including lesser spotted woodpecker, spotted flycatcher, crossbill, snipe, woodcock and tree pipit. On warm days, look for basking reptiles such as common lizard, slow worm, grass snake and adder on the open heath.

The ruddy darter is just one of many brightly coloured dragonflies that make use of the old gravel pits in the summer. In the woodland, look out for different butterflies including silver-washed fritillary, white admiral and purple hairstreak. Among the area’s impressive moth population are the rare marsh grass veneer and white-barred knot-horn.

The open habitats are also important for native plants and support the nationally scarce marsh gentian and fringed water lily, as well as cross-leaved heath, ling, tormentil, heath bedstraw, lesser skullcap, heath violet, mullein, cow wheat and heath speedwell.

A relative of gorse, petty whin is a real treat to find and there are often good displays of heath spotted orchid on the heath and broad leaved helleborine in the wooded fringes.

Special Features

The beautiful blue, trumpet-shaped flowers of the rare marsh gentian can be found on Bartley Heath in late summer.
Though usually hidden from view, bullfinch, tree pipit and nuthatch can all be heard. Listen out for buzzard and red kite calling overhead too.
The network of ephemeral pools on site, formed out of old gravel pits, are home to a range of frog, toad and newt species, including great crested newt.