[1] If you parked by the pond start by walking uphill on Church Lane with Cliddesden pond on your left and leaving Farleigh Road behind you. Continue uphill past the church, ignoring Station Road on your left and the village hall on your right just after. You are now on Hackwood Lane, park of the old Hackwood Estate.
[2] At the top of the road fork right as the road turns a sharp bend. (You will end your walk via the trail to your left as the road forks ). You are now on Northgate Lane. This short stretch of the lane is narrow so take care as you walk toward Cliddesden Primary School.
[3] Just as you see the school ahead take the left fork to head fairly steeply downhill between the fields and enjoy the view on both sides.
If you parked at the school you start here. Exit the car park toward the road and immediately turn right and downhill.
Continue along the lane as the slope downhill becomes uphill (Whites Hill) and winds through Ellisfield. Continue past Grammershaw Lane on your right, and a short while after curve to the left.
[4] At the fork/junction, take the left option into Church Lane (The other is Green Lane). You will be going downhill again. Continue for a short final stretch on the lane and tarmac passing the church on the right.
[5] Look out for the white village hall with small car park on the left. Look for the handrail access to the hall on your left, and a few yards afterwards turn left into a narrow bridleway. If you see Furzen Lane on your right you you have missed the turning. For this section we follow the Three Castles Trail.
You will now be on a tree lined trail sloping upward for a while. Take care for tripping hazards such as stumps and half buried tree roots.
After a while the trail opens onto a track with fields on your right . Continue forward ignoring the options to go left. In this area signs warn you to keep strictly to the path. The track will open to a short grass area with sloping hills opposite. Cross the short open grass area onto the stony track you can see ahead. Turn right onto the stony track. Follow the track until you see a derelict railway building on your left which is left from the old Basingstoke and Alton Light railway line.
[6] Close to the building take the trail which is the left option of two, and walk beside and to the right of the old building. You will need to tackle the short but very steep, stony incline onto the old railway line. At the top turn left; the right turn is protected as a conservation area anyway. Continue along the trail for some time and enjoy the views through gaps in the trees
[7] Eventually the track slopes down onto a lane (Swallick Farm Lane). Turn left along this lane (passing through the remnants of a railway bridge) and continue along the lane slightly uphill. At the end of a group of farm buildings turn right along a bridleway. Follow this track uphill and soon there are open views with Basingstoke in the distance. Continue forward to a lane crossing your path. Turn left at this point for a very short distance to a junction.
You might recognise this road from the start of the route. If you parked at the pond turn right here and walk down Hackwood Lane again until you reach the pond.
If you parked at the school turn left and walk carefully along the short, narrow lane. As the road offers a left fork downhill (where you started the walk) ignore the fork and you should see the car park ahead.
You might get refreshments, including food, at the pub just to the right of the pond or drive the short journey into Basingstoke 'Festival Place' - town centre for further options of shopping and/or refreshment.