WALKS IN HAMPSHIRE at ABBOTTS ANN (INCLUDING VISITING THE VIRGIN'S CROWNS!). (4K)

In this episode of my series “Walks in Hampshire”, I take a 6.5 mile “figure of eight” walk from the village of Abbotts Ann which is located about 2 miles South West of Andover. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I parked my car in the centre of Abbotts Ann & started my walk with a wander, beginning at the Southern end of the village. After passing the old school, the Eagle pub & the village shop, I headed East to visit the church.
The church of St Mary has an amazing collection of Virgin's Crowns (crown shapped garlands used as a funeral momento for virgins). There are 41 of these “crowns” still hanging up inside the church - dating from 1740 to the most recent one in 1973.
I continued to head East, passing by the Pillhill Brook & the Poplar Farm pub, and crossed the busy A343 to my next destination - the iron age hill fort at Bury Hill.
After a quick wander around the fort, I retraced my steps back to Abbotts Ann & then followed a track (Dunkirt Lane) which took me South West into the countryside.
At Dunkirt Barn, I headed South around the side of fields, on a public footpath, and came very near to the site of a Roman Villa.
At Cossical Copse, I started the homeward section of the walk, Northwards, eventually picking up an ancient Drover's track back to the village.back to the village.
My final destination was the Eagle pub at Abbotts Ann where I took light refrershments.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.wixsite.com/website
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use an INSTA360 ACE PRO Action Camera & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go II) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

[@bosse641]

Fine church, amazing windows. And a lovely walk. ...with or without sunshine. 🙂

[@DaveFord]

Thanks John. Such a pretty village - some sunshine would have been the icing on the cake!

[@user-rd3te5bl6f]

Thankful again Dave, I love your walks and Logan

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Rosa. :)

[@keithjoseph5671]

The village was amazing with the church and wonderful houses and the trails in the countryside

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Keith. It is a pretty part of Hampshire around there for sure.

[@JimNicholls]

Thanks as usual, Dave, and I'm glad you managed to do the walk before the storm arrived.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jim. The light conditions were not that great for filming ..... but the sun came out near the end!

[@GeoRick]

That Eagle Inn looks a nice place and with real ales perfect 🙂

[@DaveFord]

They certainly keep a fine ale there!

[@craigmarsh3221]

Good afternoon Dave very enjoyable video as always very interesting about the history of the places that you visited the pub looked very infighting

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Craig. It is such a pretty village for sure.

[@gregtickle9356]

Wonderful...thanks for the detailed information...adds so much value to the video. I always enjoy your adventures with Logan. Thank you!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Greg.

[@hannureittu4310]

Beautiful and interesting, thank you Dave!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Hannu. :)

[@markshrimpton3138]

The crowns in the church were something I’ve never come across or heard of before. I’m rather surprised that they’re not in a museum.

[@DaveFord]

Yes, I don't recall seeing anything like them before. Sad that it seems that they are just left up there until they disintegrate!

[@gparry42]

Lovely walk Dave , thankyou !

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Gareth. :)

[@walkingthewyrd]

Hi Dave! Those Virgin's Crowns were fascinating! I've never seen anything like them before! Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Nic. I thought that you might like those Crowns!

[@jackdarren9210]

Greetings from Alabama USA. Enjoyed your walk. New sub.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed welcome to the channel! I hope that you enjoy the future videos in the series.

[@vonnevo7214]

Hi Dave, 👋 from Australia 🇦🇺 Just discovered your YT walks from a Facebook post. Fabulous, I subscribed too.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed welcome to the channel! I hope that you get to enjoy the future videos going forward. Thanks for watching.

[@cathpeterson1944]

delightful walk around Abbotts Ann, I never heard of the virgin crowns-learn new history lesson today

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Cath. Those "Virgin's Crowns" were fascinating.

[@mikewalker8655]

After watching your video this morning we were passing on the way back to London so had a wander round the village. The virgin crowns were interesting but a bit spooky!

[@DaveFord]

Glad you got to enjoy a visit to the village, Mike, and also that fascinating church.

[@darrenhollebone6550]

I think ill attempt that walk this week, minus the hill fort though due to health reasons. Thank you Dave

[@DaveFord]

I hope that you have great weather for your walk there.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Close to home this time Dave. Did you know that Robert Tasker once lived in Abbotts Ann and had a blacksmiths there, until he wanted something bigger and set up Taskers of Andover in Anna Valley, just a mile to the south. I remember the school. It was on the right hand side of the road, a short way up from the Eagle pub. As you found out, there are some very pretty cottages in that village.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. It is one of the prettiest villages that I have visited for a long time.

[@jeanblemings5352]

Seems a lot of women died young before marriage in that village but maybe it is over a long length of time. Glad you reached the port before the storm. Logan looked very interested in those crisps!!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Those Virgin's Crowns were quite amazing - never seen anything like that before in my travels!