This stroll from Upper Green in Hawkley would be ideal for small children as there is lots to look at and it’s not too long, writes retired NHS worker Jane Bartlett.

Going back to Hawkley always stirs up so many memories as I and my six brothers and sisters grew up there, and I was also lucky enough to raise my family there.

You won’t find it in the Norman Domseday Book as it was then part of the parish of Newton Valence

The village is only few miles from Liss and Petersfield, and is overlooked by Hawkley Hanger and other hills.

William Cobbett, who published a book called Rural Rides in 1830, on gazing down on Hawkley wrote: “Never in all my life was I so surprised and so delighted.

“I pulled up my horse and sat and looked, and it was like looking from the top of a castle down into the sea, except the valley was land and not water.”

And naturalist Gilbert White of Selborne surveyed Hawkley Hanger for his renowned book Natural History of Selborne, published in 1789.

On parking at Upper Green, I met my sister Sophie and lovely niece Emily, who were walking with me.

Emily didn’t know she was going to be ‘walk photographer’ for the day.

But she rose to the challenge, enthusiastically climbing banks and balancing on tree stumps to get the best ‘shot’ – all with a smile!

The Cheesecombe Farm Lane walk is a favourite of my daughter and I fear my walking companions were soon bored with anecdotes of when she was younger.

They took it in good heart though and let me prattle on along the way.

My normally chatty sister didn’t say much as she said she was feeling very abstract – which was fine, after all she is an artist!

Setting out, it was a grey, perfectly still morning, with a slight fog that veiled the distant hanger.

The ground was wet, and at this time of year, welly boots are a good idea.

Cheesecombe Farm Lane is on the right by Hawkley Place. Follow it down the hill and it turns into a track.

Nestled between the hazel trees, the hedges are filled with holly and brambles, all covered with Old Man’s Beard.

There were lovely views along here and we stopped to admire the beautiful countryside, once again leading us to note how lucky we are to have this on our doorstep.

Turning the corner and going further down the track, we came to Oakshoot Stream that runs alongside it.

But thanks to the recent rain, it had overflowed on to the path – and after suggesting welly boots were a must, I had walking shoes on!

My kind niece offered me a piggyback – for the sake of her back I quickly declined, so she helped me edge round the flood.

We then climbed up the steep stony track, admiring the gorgeous autumnal colours.

Halfway up there was a gateway, and over it to the right were some majestic oak trees.

Their leaves are almost shed now, but the ones still hanging on were a glorious orange/brown colour with a golden tinge.

At the top of the hill we found a footpath off to the right, and thought we would see where it ended.

From a field gate where we turned off the track, you can clearly see across the rolling landscape to Greatham, with Liss in the distance .

Walking along the narrow footpath, far-off fir trees looked very Christmasy.

There were lots of stinging nettles here, in between the fern, whose leaves are now bright tangerine hue.

Following a signpost we walked diagonally across a sloping field to a stile.

Once we had climbed this and crossed a wooden bridge, we entered an enchanting hidden valley. It was lovely and even lovelier for Emily, as we spotted a shelter – and what a treat was inside it!

Donkeys and Shetland ponies were snuggled up in a cosy bed of straw.

We thought it looked just like a nativity scene!

And as Emily loves horses and donkeys, stroking them more than made up for having to be the walk photographer!

Crossing over another stile, we walked up a path which led us into grassy pastures.

Walking to the right-hand corner, we passed a field of either alpacas or llamas – we didn’t want to frighten them by getting too close.

At the corner, we rejoined Cheesecombe Farm Lane and headed back to our cars.

? Postcode for the start of the walk is GU33 6NF.

AFTER I left the farm in Hawkley I grew up on, I and my children, along with our feisty, stubborn, much-loved Jack Russell terrier called Norbert were lucky enough to find another house in the village.

One day myself, my Mum and my 11-year-old daughter Elizabeth were enjoying a lovely walk with Norbert – he was forever getting into scrapes and scraps but for once he was on his best behaviour!

Then to our dismay, two large Alsatians appeared – usually they were shut in the farmyard next to the bridleway.

To do them justice, they approached more with interest than aggression.

But their friendly approach wasn’t well received, and our terror terrier flew at them spoiling for a fight.

All hell broke loose and before we knew it Norbert was set upon. Somehow he managed to escape the melee with the Alsations in snarling pursuit.

Lizzie was hysterical, and I feared the worst. We couldn’t catch up with the dogs, and after much searching and calling we made our way home as fast as we could to get the car and widen our search; Lizzie was inconsolable.

As we arrived panting in the lane by our house, we heard the dulcet tones of our beloved little terrier!

He was furiously barking at our front door to be let in – without a scratch on him.

How he escaped was a mystery – somehow he must have out run them, despite his little legs being much shorter than his pursuers who, we were later told by the farmer, also came home unharmed.