Abbotstone Down - Abbotstone - Old Alresford - Abbotstone Down

Barry Hynes

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This part of Hampshire is one of the areas that get missed by most people. People bring their children for the popular Thomas the Tank Engine rides on the Watercress Line to Alton, a forty-minute ride that is enchanting for the kids.

However, this walk takes in more than just a very nice town. The start in Abbotstone Down is on the Wayfarer's Way and is used by horseriders and mountain bikers who share this wooded area and the Ox Drove trail. The area is peaceful although popular.

Part of the route after Waymark 6 does have some 4x4 activity, although that has only happened to me once; you can see the ruts they have created. After Waymark 8 you will join the river. The wonderful river, being shallow and fast-flowing, is ideal for watercress and wildlife.

New Alresford has pubs (with a good range of real ales), restaurants, cafes and a fish and chip shop. Part of the walk takes in the newly published Millennium Walk around the town.

England - South England - Hampshire - Countryside

Features

Cafe, Church, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Pub, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Wildlife

8/21/2018 - Nigel Ward

Great walk, thanks. Very easy to follow (especially with the great walkingworld app:)) and dog friendly. If you have a campervan/motorhome one of the two parking spots at the start has a height restriction. The other carpark has about 8 spaces. Lots of pubs/tearooms in Alresford.

8/13/2011 - Lyn Lovell

Super walk. We stopped in Alresford at the Globe for a drink. The part of the walk by the chalk streams in Alresford was beautiful. Would do this walk again with friends.

2/19/2010 - Patricia Daw

15/2/10 We did this walk on a dull February day but were a bit disappointed by the dullness of the walk. It doesn't really get interesting until point 9 when you're close to Alresford itself and then is dull from 14 onwards. Having said that we had a lovely lunch in The Bell in the High Street - highly recommend it. The directions were very good I have to say it's just that a lot of the walk was through paths enclosed by trees either side so no fine vistas. Perhaps it's better at a different time of the year. Tricia DAw

3/15/2009 - Peter Harper

15/3/2009 We did this walk today in glorious spring-like weather. My walking companion commented that this was the best walk we had done so far in the area, and I have to agree.