Wherwell - Harewood Forest - Goodworth Clatford

Peter Close

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This easy circular walk starts at the junction of the B3420 with the A3057. The route winds its way through the Anton Valley to arrive at the picturesque village of Wherwell. Beyond here, the character of the walk changes as the route progresses through part of Harewood Forest. The mixed deciduous woodland around here is home to deer, pheasant and several species of butterfly.

It is unlikely that you’ll meet any other walkers on the route, except perhaps some local dog walkers near the villages. The walk as a whole is unsuitable for dogs, unless kept on a lead through the Harewood Forest section (many warnings about poisoned rodent bait).

There are pubs at both Wherwell and Goodworth Clatford, reachable after a short detour in both cases (the villages centres are bypassed by the walk).

England - South England - Hampshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Wildlife, Woodland

11/25/2023 - margaret escorcio

Enjoyable late November walk, not that muddy but a little too much woodland for our preference. Large car park at the cricket ground if you don't mind adding another 15 mins to your walk. Map and directions are still current and easy to follow.

3/3/2021 - Neil Packham

The car park appears to be permanently closed-off now, but quite convenient to start from WM7 in Wherwell; there are also some limited parking options on the High Street near the war memorial if you aren’t patronising the pub. 7 miles, easy walking and only 1 hill of any note!

3/26/2018 - John Branscombe

Did this walk today 26/32018. Very nice walk. Parked in car park but on return was told by an "official" that the car park was closing and not to park there in future. A golf course under construction apparently. Walk came out at just over 7 miles on GPS. Thanks for very good directions

12/27/2017 - Pete Steele

Its been six (6) years since I last completed this walk. Its still beautiful and well marked. However. The car park at WP 1 was purposely blocked off and was not allowing any cars to park. DO NOT GIVE UP! Try parking at Wherwell in the White Lion Public house car park. Its great for a snack when finished. Leave the pub by the front entrance and look to your left. Walk approximately 35 yards and cross the bridge leading to signed 'Home Guard Club'. Turn immediately right into 'Beech Grove' and you are midway through Waypoint six (6). Walk to the end of the road with the houses on your left (Read WP 6) and you will soon end up at WP 7. If the car park is now permanently blocked off at WP 1. I think The White Lion may be worth taking pole position instead. fantastic walk. Loved it.

10/31/2017 - John Branscombe

Did this walk 31/10/2017. Very enjoyable in the late autumn sunshine. Very good directions. Thank you John Bee.

11/11/2011 - Pete Steele

This was a spectacular walk with autumn colours everywhere. Deer, birds, a beautiful river and pleasant company (my dogs). WP 9-10 the obsured woodland path is very very very obscured. Be sure to keep an eye out as it does look like a simple deer track. Trust your experience and walking judgement here. The path is almost gone and hidden under hedgrow but a few more walkers on this well thought out and beautiful walk will open the track again for others. My dogs loved it.

10/24/2010 - Patricia Daw

24th October 2010 Completed on a glorious sunny day. We combined this walk with part of walk 4295 by walking to the boardwalk over the Test in Wherwell and then making our way to The Mayfly pub in Fullerton (in Good Pub guide so thought it worth the effort!) along the Test Way. The pub has a beautiful siting on the river itself and the food was good too. This detour added 4 miles to the walk according to my pedomoter. If you do the detour then it makes this walk a 4* one in my opinion. Tricia Daw

7/11/2009 - Helena Pugsley

Nice varied walk taking you through countryside and farms, a couple of villages, a forest and a golf course. A lot of the paths are quite overgrown at the moment and some of the 'obvious' paths are not so obvious so it is a good idea to keep the map handy. At WP2 a fallen tree currently blocks the path and you'll need to go into the field. More info and link to some photos here: http://helenap.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/wherwell/ .

4/1/2007 - Barry Hynes

Nice Walk. Just to point out that at WP5, if you carry on under the railway line and join the road; turn left and first right you can then walk over the Test River. This beautiful spot should not be missed before retracing your steps to the road and then continuing right up the main street of Wherwell to the White Lion for refreshments. After partaking of the good food, continue north up the road past the war memorial on your right as few yards to the footpath sign. Indicating left. This joins the walk at WP7. Deer count was zero.

8/16/2005 - Martin Elford

Very nice walk and I saw about 15 deer! At WP 11, the instruction to carry on for fifty metres should be more like 150 metres. At WP13, if you don't see any sheds then you turned left at WP12 too early.