After a warm, dry sunny day yesterday the weather today reflects the mood of England’s football fans. It is overcast and miserable for most of the day. At some point during the day there is going to be rain, so the waterproofs are bound to be needed. This is another day when I will be walking 23 miles so it will be a full day on the trail.
At the end of yesterday’s walk I diverted off the Wayfarer’s Walk at Deane to head into Overton. So the first section of today’s walk is retracing my steps. Leaving the White Hart I head east along the London Road and then go through the car park on the left to pass the community orchard.
Following the path through the wildlife area on the edge of the village I see, in the distance, the Overton paper mill. This is operated by Portals and until recently a major part of the business was the production of paper for bank notes. It started in 1922, but after 100 years competition resulted in an announcement in 2022 that production would cease with the loss of about 300 jobs.
After crossing a couple of fields I go over a footbridge and enter a field with the River Test flowing to my right. The source of the river is only a few fields away so it is not much more than a stream at this point.
Going through a gate I join a track and head towards Lower Ashe Farm with the source of the Test in the field on my right. I pass the farm buildings at Lower Ashe Farm and then go by the Holy Trinity Church.
Crossing a minor road I follow the footpath to a field with a newly created pond. It is good to see new ponds because of all the positive impacts they have on the biodiversity of the local environment.
After going through a belt of tees I enter Deane Park and pass All Saints Church. This was completely rebuilt, 1818-1820, in the pointed Gothic style. Much of the church was built of Coade stone, an artificial stone invented and produced by Eleanor Coade (1733-1821).
The path from the church passes in front of Deane House. This Grade II listed house was built in 1786, and is situated in a well-wooded 70 acre park. It is one of a number of important estates located to the west of Basingstoke that were socially connected during the late 18th and early 19th century. They were frequented by Jane Austen, providing her with the inspiration for her books. It is said that the Austen’s were socially connected to the Harwood family who lived here and Jane was a frequent visitor.
On reaching the minor road in Deane I turn right, to pick up The Wayfarer’s Walk and head towards the crossroads with the B3400. It has started to drizzle so I decide to put my waterproofs on, this is earlier than forecast but hopefully it is only a shower.
At the cross roads I go straight over and pass the Palm Brasserie, this is the former Deane Gate Inn which was a major coaching house. Apparently in her letters Jane Austen often refers to meeting friends or boarding the stage coach at this location.
Just after passing the village sign to Stevenson I turn left beside cottages and head south east on a track.
The shower has passed and I am soon removing my waterproofs, `I think it might be one of those days when I am constantly delving in my rucksack for the wet weather gear. The track takes me under the main Winchester to London railway line and then continues to the woodland of Itchen Row.
The route briefly joins a minor road but very quickly reverts to a track and continues east to pass Bull’s Bushes Copse. At the end of the woodland my route goes to the right to head south with the copse on my right.
After skirting Bull’s Bushes Farm the path turns to the left and follows a well-defined route through crops.
Following the path into the next field I then turn right to head around South Wood.
The route is now on a wide grassy margin as it heads south easterly to reach a minor road, I turn left and pass the entrance to Southwood Farm and then continue on to reach the A30. The route now becomes a bit complicated, which is not helped by the absence of waymarkers.
I cross the A30, using the refuge area between the carriageways and then join a footpath on the far side and turn left to reach traffic lights. I cross the road at the first set of lights and then face crossing the busy slip road from the M3, this is helped by the lights, but not by the lack of way markers. Eventually I find a safe place to cross and spot the path (finally with a waymarker) as it enters Peak Copse.
The path goes along the edge of the woodland which is now managed as a nature reserve. An area of these woods has in the past been used as a travellers site, this was closed in 1996 but the travellers forced entry again in 2002 and the Council took legal action to evict them. In 2010 there was a proposal to make half of the woods a recycling centre, but this doesn’t seem to have come to anything. So the woods are now a pleasant oasis between the busy A30 and M3.
To my left is Kempshot Park, the fencing around it indicates this area of land is about to be part of a housing development. The path turns left and runs beside the M3 and then crosses the motorway.
On the far side of the bridge I turn right and walk parallel to the motorway soon reaching the Old Coach House. This was originally part of the Kempshot Estate and is now a business centre.
My route goes along the tarmac driveway of the business centre towards a minor road just off Junction 7 of the M3. The weather has looked ominous for a while and it soon starts to rain heavily. So once again I put on all my waterproofs, which is a pain because it is a warm day.
At the junction with the minor road I turn left towards Dummer passing the entrance to Basingstoke Golf Club. This course was originally known as the Dummer Golf Club, it opened in 1993 and was designed by the famous golfer and broadcaster Peter Allis. In 2021 the course was purchased by Basingstoke Golf Club. Formed in 1907 the club had a nine hole course and in 1926 in a bid to increase the course to eighteen holes it moved to Kempshot Park. About ten years ago the local council requested that the land be sold for housing development. This gave the club the funds to buy the Dummer course and redevelop it.
Continuing into the village I decide to make good use of a bench under a shelter. The rain looks like it is easing so hopefully stopping for a while will mean I can discard the waterproofs.
Sure enough whilst I am drinking my cup of tea, I never go on a long walk without a flask, the rain stops. So with the waterproofs back in my rucksack I feel more comfortable as I continue through the village and pass the old Well House. The plaque attached to the gate states it was built in 1879 and restored in 1993.
After passing the Queen Inn, dating back to the 16th century, I follow the road as it bends to the right in front of Dummer House and then follow the Wayfarers Walk signs which go left along the driveway of Manor Farm.
After passing properties the route continues out of the village along a tarmac driveway.
This is a really easy section to navigate, I stay with this well maintained track which continues on past Dummer Grange before heading towards Dummer Grange Farm.
On reaching a “B” road I was expecting to turn left and walk a section besides the road. However I spot a fingerpost on the far side which suggests there is a permissive path which will take me on the Wayfarers Walk towards Brown Candover without having to walk along the road. Faced with walking around a field or beside a road I know which to choose.
Not only is it a permissive path, but a well maintained one too. So very easy to follow as it makes its way towards Lower Down Copse.
The path leads through the trees of Lower Down Copse, it has started to rain again and I am grateful for the protection of the tree canopy. I’m expecting to have to wear my waterproofs at some point again today but want to leave it as long as possible.
Following the way markers I reach the south side of the copse and continue along a track heading south over Becket’s Down.
At a junction with a minor road at Lone Barn House I take a track on the left, Church Lane.
This track passes Church Lane Farm and then descends gradually towards St Peter’s Church where I find a bench on the south side of the church which overlooks the village cricket ground. This is an ideal lunch spot, very tranquil and a chance to rest for a while.
Resuming my walk I head towards the road running through the village but take a moment to turn around and look at the church. It was built in 1845 following the demolition of a medieval church on the same site in 1844.
At the road I turn right and walk through the village to reach a fork in the road, I fork right into Bryces Lane. This is a dead end lane leading to a pathway that soon runs beside a stream.
This path ends at a lane where I turn left and descend into Totford to reach a junction with the Woolpack Inn opposite. The pub was built in the 1880’s to provide refreshments and accommodation to travellers on the Drovers Trail between Stockbridge and Alresford.
Crossing the road I take a track which goes to the right hand side of the pub and heads uphill where there are fine views across the valley.
At a junction of tracks I turn right and join a tarmac driveway heading south.
After passing Swarraton Farm the path heads uphill between trees and then continues on to Lower Abbotstone Wood and passes Oliver’s Battery. This is a prominent Iron Age earthwork which was occupied by Oliver Cromwell and his forces in 1645 during the siege of Winchester. After crossing the B3046 I continue through woodland on a broad track.
Leaving the woods I pass the remains of old farm buildings. There is a crossing of paths here, I continue straight on along the main track.
At the end of the track I turn left in front of Abbotstone Farm and join a minor road leading into the hamlet. At the end of this lane I turn right and follow a minor road and cross a stream.
Soon I reach a road junction where I cross and take a track opposite going uphill towards Itchen Stoke Down. As I start to ascend the hill it begins to drizzle and I decide as the weather looks so ominous to once again don my waterproofs.
By the time I reach a five way junction of paths it is pouring down. Here I go left and follow the lane to a minor road. Crossing the road I spot an information board, because of the rain it is tempting to carry on walking, but fortunately I stop. At this site on 22nd July 1944 three spitfires out training to fly in formation collided in the sky and crashed into the fields below. Sadly three pilots, Flight Lt. Harold Williams Adams (aged 23) Flight Sgt. John George Hughes (aged 22) and Flight Lt. Bernard Lees (aged 26) lost their lives.
I am now heading downhill on a clear track which, after passing watercress beds, reaches a junction, I turn right and follow a track to a minor road where I turn left and then very quickly fork to the right on a track which descends towards the River Alre.
The route passes the Alresford Eel house, this building was constructed and according to the Alresford Town Trust website “The Eel House contains three water channels running through it. They were built to house the iron grills that were used to trap the eels. There is evidence that these were still in working use in the early 1980’s. For more than one hundred and sixty years, on between six and eight dark autumnal nights of the year, the river keeper would arrive at The Eel House. Using a hurricane lamp for illumination he would open his sluices, set his traps and manoeuvre his catch into a boat shaped eel box. When the box was full he would tow it downstream to his keeper’s cottage to await the arrival of merchants from as far away as Billingsgate in London who took the eels away in tanks to be sold, while still alive, at fish markets”.
My route now stays close to this picturesque stretch of chalk stream river and passes a grave with the inscription “Here lies Hambone Jnr. Faithful friend of the 47th Infantry Regt. 9th Div. U.S Army, May 1944”. Apparently Hambone Jnr was a brown and white terrier who lived on a World War II Army Camp with the American troops prior to the allied invasion of Normandy.
Reaching a junction with a lane leading into Alresford I choose to ignore it and instead stay by the path beside the river.
The path takes me to the attractive Fulling Mill which dates from the 13th century. Apparently it was in a derelict state in 1951 but following renovation is now a desirable residence. The fulling process tightened and shrunk cloth, the watermill drove hammers which were used to beat the cloth. This tranquil spot would have been a noisy place until the mill fell into disuse in the 19th century.
I now follow the way markers that continue along by the river until the path veers off into the town. At the junction with Broad Street I spot the Old Fire station. This was built in 1881 but ceased to house the fire engine in the late 1930’s.
At the junction with West Street I turn right and soon reach my accommodation for the night at the Bell Inn. Rather confusingly this pub has a sign for the Bell Inn outside, but the building still has the Market Inn built into its structure. Apparently the pub is a former coaching inn and is a Grade II listed building.
Unfortunately, the pub is about to close for the evening as I arrive. I am ready for a swift pint after walking just over twenty two miles. Instead I have a warm shower, cup of tea and set off to find a pint and something to eat.
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer 144 – Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch; and OS Explorer Leisure – OL32 – Winchester
You can view this 22 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
15th July 2024
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2024)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.