Chalton - Ladyholt - Chalton

Sylvia Saunders

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A short, circular walk for all the family to take pleasure in, with stunning views. On a clear day you can spot the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth as well as Uppark House, a fine 17th Century house that was badly damaged by fire in 1989 and restored by the National Trust.

There is plenty of variety with field-paths, shady tracks, woodland and downland. The beautiful surroundings offer a good chance of spotting deer along with other wildlife and in the summer months a host of wildflowers and butterflies can be enjoyed. The walk starts from The Red Lion pub in Chalton, the oldest pub in Hampshire.

In 1748 members of the notorious Hawkhurst gang of smugglers murdered a witness and the official escorting him to court. The witness, Daniel Chater, was beaten, hanged and finally thrown down Harris' Well in Lady Holt Park (he was still alive when he was thrown into the well and the gang threw stones down on top of him until his cries ceased). The site of the well is a short way from Waymark 12, at SU 751167.

Those of you who are familiar with my walks may recognize one or two footpaths, as this wonderful area is a favourite stamping-ground of mine; but rest assured that this is a very different walk!

There are just a few stiles, which my dog managed easily.

England - South England - Hampshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

9/21/2020 - andy hasted

Another great walk from Sylvia. All the stiles are now gone except the one at point 5. My lab managed to get through this but if you had a larger dog it might not. The hole in the hedge /fence has gone. The Red Lion at Chalton had good Covid measures in place with welcoming staff and a decent lunch.(food service all day)

11/24/2014 - Jonathan Kershaw

A great walk completed on a damp Saturday morning 22nd November. Even though the views were obscured by clouds, fog and mist we enjoyed our selves and just means we have to go back and have the pleasure of walking it again with the weather a bit better. The Harris' Well is also easy to find just after Way point 12, but during spring/summer I could see this being tricky to see due to the nearby under growth getting out of hand if not maintained.

4/10/2014 - James Wallington-Smith

What a great walk - Sylvia should release a book of these! Amazing to be able to find that for most of the walk the only sound was the dog questing and the birds singing. Two very short stretches on quiet roads with the dog to heel but other than that free roam.

4/29/2012 - Nick Wieczorek

Another walk by Sylvia which we found simple to follow and enjoyed in April. A large variety of footpaths and scenery and lovely views. It certainly blew a few cobwebs away on the hilltops! Hardly saw another soul - their loss!

1/4/2012 - alistair fraser

Did this walk 2nd January. A bit muddy as you would expect this time of year, but very enjoyable

8/9/2008 - Sylvia Saunders

Walk updated August 2008.

4/10/2007 - PAUL WILLIAMS

We did this walk on Good Friday and it was wonderful so peaceful and we saw no other walkers for the whole time. The weather meant that the views were stunning and the reward of a cider back at Red Lion made it better. We will try some more of Sylvia's walks.

3/19/2007 - Ian and Sarah Jane Lloyd

We blew the cobwebs away, quite literally, with this walk yesterday morning. This is a lovely area of Hampshire and with Sylvia's clear instructions we were able to enjoy a great walk. Sylvia is quite right when she says the views are "stunning" and with the sun shining we were able to see as far as the Spinnaker Tower. We also spotted a flock of about thirty Yellow Hammers and two Roe Deer. The Shire Horses where waiting to greet us which quite made Ian's day!

1/27/2007 - Kay Sumpner

We did this walk on Sunday 28th jan. It is a very pleasant walk with amazing views. The peace was spoilt a bit by some nosiy motocross bikes near the disused quarry between WPs 6&7. The very last section (after you have croseed the railway line) is very steep indeed - a short but very sharp climb. Would repeat in the summer.