Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Attractive riparian properties are met .
Between Crookham Village and Fleet is the Fox & Hounds. Houses back onto the canal at
Fleet and shops lie to the north of Reading Road Bridge. In a Halifax survey, the Hart area,
centred here, was the best place in the country to live.
From Fleet, the canal cuts out in to wooded heathland. Norris Bridge is a high concrete
structure and, on the left, leads up to the National Gas Turbine Establishment but the noise of
jets can be deceptive. After another kilometre, on the left bank where the trees clear, fencing
blocks a view straight down the main runway at Farnborough airfield, the venue for the Farn-
borough Air Show. A variety of aircraft from the Royal Aircraft Establishment come and go.
All is not noisy, however. From here to Wharf Bridge, several water areas on the south side
of the canal are nature reserves and boaters are requested to keep out. Beyond Wharf Bridge
landing is not allowed on the south bank, either, but here it is because the land belongs to
the army. Ranges and barracks front the canal. Red flags fly on the other side of the towpath
when ranges are in use. This is Aldershot, Hardy's Quartershot, traditionally home of the
army, although their presence is diminishing.
The Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway, on the left of the canal, has extensive narrow-gauge
trackwork and can raise a number of passenger-carrying trains pulled by engines from diesels
to narrow-gauge steam engines.
As the canal turns east again, there is a boarded-off bridge on the left, which should give
access to a large lake. A boathouse is on the left bank at Deepcut. A wall was built by the
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