The Old Post Office - Oakley Traditional Cache
Octopusann: Unfortunately big changes to the area mean this cache will have to be archived. It may get replaced in due course if a suitable unchanging location is available.
The Old Post Office - Oakley
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Oakley is located just to the West of Basingstoke and is said to be the largest village in Hampshire. It is made up of the villages of Church Oakley and East Oakley. The cache is named for the Old Oakley Post Office which is situated on Rectory Road opposite the entrance to the field path.
The roads through the village are narrow and quite busy so please park with consideration and take care when walking on any of the roads. There are two possible parking places for a Cache and Dash, park just off Dummer Lane by the entrance to Oakley Cricket Club (N51 14.522 W001 11.170) and use the diagonal path across the field. To do the Circular walk you could also park here and pick up the walk in the middle or park in the layby in the village (N51 14.957 W001 10.713). It is possible to park by the Old Post Office but it is a business premises and may not appreciate parking by non-customers.
The Cache is a small clip-lock box. Please make sure the top clicks back on properly. The paths are quite easy to follow but maybe wet. The path across the field can be difficult when recently ploughed.
Circular Route - assumes Oakley Pond as the starting point but could be picked up anywhere.
The cache can be combined with many others in the area and a circular route can be taken by turning R down Rectory Road at the T junction. After a few yards look out for the footpath sign on the left opposite the Old Post Office (note the grey GR post box on the front).
Follow the path and set off clockwise around the field. After a short distance, you should see a path bearing off right diagonally across the field just by the Old Post Office Cache(visibility depends on the state of the crop). It comes out at roughly N51 14.572 W001 11.169. Walk down the field towards the railway line. Emerge CAREFULLY onto the road.
Take great care. The road is narrow and a very busy rat-run. You will need to walk a short distance on the road under the railway bridge. Look out for a stile on the right. This takes you onto a path which parallels the road. It is quite overgrown and obviously needs more use but is far, far safer than walking up the road. Follow the path when it bends right with the road then comes out at a stile as the road bends left again. At this point you are on the Wayfarer's Walk and can pick up some of the WW cache series.
The follow the WW track away from the road towards a small copse which it by-passes. Continue to follow it as it drops down to an underpass under the railway line. Go straight up the hill on the other side until you come to a cross-paths.
At this point, leave the WW (which goes straight on) and turn right. Follow the track along the edge of the field then diagonally across the next field to a gap on the hedge. Go through the gap and after a few yards you will come to a bench where the tracks fork. The bench has been placed to commemorate a dog called Basil. It is a great place to sit and look at the views down to Oakley Church and across to the radio mast at Hannington.
Take the left fork towards the church then fork right across the field near the church into a strip of woodland or carry on through the kissing gate and across a field to the same strip of woodland. You will come to a path cross roads in the wood - turn left if you detoured to the church or carry straight on if not. Cross another field (probably muddy) and emerge onto Dummer Lane CAREFULLY. Turn left and at the road junction carry straight on up the track signposted Peter Houseman Field. Follow the track as it turns right, right again and then left and you will pass the schools and emerge into the layby where you might have parked your car.
All the tracks are reasonably well defined but some of them can be muddy so wear suitable footwear. There are many caches either on or very close to the route. These include (at date of writing):-
The Pond - Oakley
The Old Post Office - Oakley
Dummer Lane - Oakley
Wayfarer's Walk - Noushies Tea Party (off route)
Wayfarer's Walk - Bulls Bushes
Wayfarer's Walk - Going Under
Wayfarer's Walk - No Wires??
Wayfarer's Walk - Cheesedown Farm (off route)
Wayfarer's Walk - Zeppies Chuffer
Alex’s rest stop - Oakley
Basil’s Bench - Oakley
Mr. Hedgehog's Replacement - Oakley
The basic walk is about 2.5 – 3 miles but can be extended or shortened to suit.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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