| 1. |
Leave the public car park and when on the High Street cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and turn left past the Wagon and Horses. Follow the path though the oak trees to the pedestrian crossing by St Johns’s Church. This is one of 3 stands of oak trees in the village known as the Mildmay Oaks locally, but also as the Trafalgar Oaks. These were planted in 1807 by Lady Mildmay, at the request of Admiral Collingwood, who wanted to ensure that there would be an ongoing supply of good British oak for our warships. |
| 2. |
Passing in front of St John’s Church follow the footpath though what is the most impressive of the 23 stands of oaks, passing Oakwood School on your right, follow the road round the corner. |
| 3. |
Just before reaching Cottage Green cross the road and follow the footpath, which runs parallel with the road to St Mary’s Church where there are fine views over the countryside. There has been a church on this site for over 700 years and the nave an chancel are St Mary’s. |
| 4. |
On entering the graveyard if you follw the path down to your left, turn right and walk beyond the oak tree on the boundary you come to the grave of Field Marshall Viscount Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1941 – 1946. In 2009 the church is open to the public between 2.30 and 4.30 on April 5 & 19; May 3, 17 & 31; June 14 & 28; July 12 & 26; August 9 & 23 and September 7, 12 &13. Admission at other times can be made, in advance, by calling the Parish Office on 01252 845152. |
| 5. |
Pass in front of the main door to the church and onto the footpath out of the grounds and through trees, joining the road opposite Church House Farm. Turn left onto the road and walk past Dilly Pond and up the hill ignoring the footpath sign on the left. |
| 6. |
At the top of the hill just after North Cottage Taplin’s Farm turn right onto the footpath and follow this through the trees then between the fields and then straight on into the woods where you will soon come to a wide footpath which is St John’s Ride. Turn right and follow the path though the woods for 400yds until you reach the road. |
| 7. |
Cross the road into Mitchell Avenue and take the first right into Church View from which who will have a magnificent view across a field of St Mary’s Church at the top of the hill. Then backtrack and at the exit of Church View turn immediately right back onto the path, which takes you though some trees to the end of Mitchell Avenue. If you have children you may want to turn left here and 100yards on is the recently refurbished Jubilee Field Play Area. |
| 8. |
From the end of Mitchell Avenue follow the road past Hartley Wintney Football Club and Greenfields Junior School and turn left down New Road. The Mildmay Oaks are now on your right. Follow down to the main road. |
| 9. |
The Victoria and Appleton Halls are immediately in front of you. These house the Parish Office and are used by many local organisations for all manner of local events including Farmers’ Markets and performances of the Hartley Arts Group. The original Victoria Hall was opened in 1898 and was refurbished in 1999. Turn right and walk back into the village. |
