The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Tilford

Generally quiet lanes around this area with sandy paths to jump on and off.

Stopped for a coffee once here. But the quaint pubs are a better choice.

I like to end a hike by walking this path. It's helpful for cleaning mud off hiking boots.

Stunning place to visit all four seasons of the year.

Be aware of foxglove, there is a lot of it in this area. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a beautiful and common plant, often found in gardens and woodlands. However, despite its charm, it is highly poisonous and poses significant dangers to humans and animals if ingested. Here's a breakdown of the dangers: 1. Highly Toxic Components: * All parts of the foxglove plant – including the leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds – contain potent cardiac glycosides, such as digitoxin and digitalis. These compounds directly affect the heart. 2. Impact on the Heart: * The primary danger of foxglove poisoning lies in its effect on the cardiovascular system. The cardiac glycosides can disrupt the heart's electrical and muscular functions, leading to: * Irregular or slow heartbeat (bradycardia or arrhythmias): This is a hallmark symptom and can be life-threatening. * Increased strength of heart contractions: While this is the basis for its use in regulated heart medications (like digoxin), an uncontrolled dose can be extremely dangerous. * Low blood pressure (shock): In severe cases, the heart may become unable to pump effectively, leading to collapse. 3. Other Symptoms of Poisoning: Beyond cardiac effects, foxglove poisoning can manifest with a range of other symptoms, including: * Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite. * Neurological effects: Headache, lethargy, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations (including seeing halos around objects, often yellow, green, or white), dizziness, tremors, stupor, seizures. * Visual disturbances: Blurred vision. * Skin irritation: Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation or rash, which may last for weeks. 4. How Poisoning Occurs: * Ingestion: The most common way poisoning occurs is by eating any part of the plant. This can happen accidentally, especially if leaves are mistaken for edible plants like comfrey. Sucking on the flowers or eating seeds can also lead to poisoning. * Contaminated Water: The toxins can leach into water, so even drinking water from a vase containing foxgloves can be a hazard, particularly for pets. * Handling: While less common for severe poisoning, toxins can be absorbed through the skin, especially if there are open cuts, or transferred to the mouth and eyes after handling the plant. It's always advisable to wear gloves when handling foxglove and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. * Misidentification: Deaths have occurred when foxglove was mistakenly harvested and consumed as an herbal remedy or food ingredient. 5. Severity and Outlook: * The severity of poisoning depends on the amount of plant ingested and how quickly medical attention is sought. * Symptoms can develop within minutes to hours. * While poisonings are rare, they can be severe and may require hospitalisation for 1 to 3 days. * In extreme cases, foxglove poisoning can be fatal due to refractory ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest. Important Note: If you suspect anyone (human or animal) has ingested foxglove, seek immediate medical help or contact poison control. Do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by a medical professional.

Great viewpoint over the vast Common

Alice Holt Forest is an area of predominantly coniferous woodland. There is a selection of cycle and walking trails as well as a café. It's all managed by Forestry England.

In case you're looking for a picnic spot, or just a place to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of this restored heathland.