Greywell, Odiham Castle and the Basingstoke Canal

Richard Clayton

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This is an easy and pleasant rural walk and yet very accessible, taking in both ends of the Greywell Tunnel on the Basingstoke Canal, short lengths both of the working canal and of the closed and abandoned section, the historic Odiham Castle and a welcoming village pub in Greywell.

Partly an extract from the longer Walk 4464 which has been popular for over twelve years, this walk is for those days when about four miles or two hours – and some history to enjoy - is quite enough!

You start in the small village of Greywell, which lies on the west bank of the River Whitewater and has an unusual and charming character all of its own, recognised by the designation of much of the village as a conservation area.
Greywell contains many buildings of special interest, which include the thirteenth century church of St Mary with its Norman chancel and north door and the Malt House with its oversailing upper storey supported on curved brackets, both on or near the first stage of your walk.

You then climb up and over Greywell Hill, which the canal builder had to tunnel through and wander past the blocked-up western portal of the tunnel and alongside a stretch abandoned to nature over a century ago. See Additional Information..

Leaving the canal at Eastrop Bridge, you circle around and through Butter Wood, an SSSI, to join the canal further east, near North Warnborough, after which the towpath takes you past the historic Odiham Castle and back to the eastern entrance to the tunnel near the pub.

England - South England - Hampshire - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Castle, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

4/8/2021 - Neil Packham

Great to have more short walks in this area (Richard’s nearby Basingstoke Canal & Tundry Pond walk (8630) is well worth checking out too). The brief encounter with the M3 lasts only 5 minutes, and it’s otherwise peaceful. Lots of potential mud-bath sections at the usual times of the year. Dog walkers should be aware of the possibility of grazing long-horned cattle near WM11.