Cheriton to Holden Farm
Alresford
Children will enjoy playing in the river, Cheriton park and the ride-on tractors at Holden Farm.
Holden Farm is situated on the South Downs Way and has a cafe and camping
The Basics
Time: 2 hours
Distance: 7.1 km / 4.4 miles
Terrain: Well surfaced farm tracks for most of the walk, as well as some more rutted paths. Mostly flat, one stile and one busy road crossing.
Pushchairs: Although many of the paths are ideal for pushchairs, some paths are probably too rutted and there is a stile.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk and at Holden Farm.
Refreshments: Holden Farm has a little cafe selling cakes, drinks, ice-creams and light breakfast and lunches. It is based in a grassy quadrant with farm views, huts for shelter and ride-on tractors for kids.
Toilets: There are toilets for customers of Holden Farm.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 67 between Petersfield and Winchester stops in Cheriton.
Parking: Roadside parking can be found around Cheriton, or you could park at Holden Farm and do this walk in reverse (Postcode: SO24 0QA - W3W: ///looks.snippet.emulating)
The clear waters of the Itchen run through Cheriton
Cheriton has featured in some of our walks before. We keep being drawn back to the clear waters of the Itchen, the pretty thatched cottages, the hidden park and the plethora of footpaths. This time, we walked over peaceful lanes and fields to Holden Farm, where just off the South Downs Way, you will find the perfect setting for enjoying refreshments whilst the kids play.
The Route
We began our route in Cheriton so that the refreshments at Holden Farm would be halfway through the walk. Parking can usually be found around the roads of the village. The walk then starts from the village green in the centre, where you should cross the road and walk up the footpath signed to the church.
Pass the church to your right and continue beyond it, passing the older gravestones into a more modern cemetery. Walk past all of the graves to the gate at the end. Go through the gate and walk straight across the field to the gate on the opposite side. On the other side of the gate, you will find a slim path and the village play area through another gate in front of you.
Turn right at the slim path and then walk up the field with the hedge to your right. At the corner, turn left and continue walking the perimeter of the field. Pass Thatch Cottage behind the hedge to your right and keep going until you meet a cross path. Take a step to your right, exiting the field and taking the surfaced farm track ahead of you that says ‘no motor vehicles’, still travelling in the same direction as before.
For approximately the next 1.5 km, you will follow this path in an almost entirely straight line. It will begin as an enclosed lane, and then open up into crop fields. The first time you will need to alter your trajectory is when you come to a corner of the fences, where one fence runs perpendicular away to your right and there is a kissing gate ahead.
Go through the kissing gate and enter a pony paddock (dogs on leads). Cross the gap and then continue in the same direction as before with the hedges and trees directly to your left. At the end of the field, the hedges will meet at a point and you will need to go over the stile (plenty of space underneath for dogs).
Turn left at the path and then veer right. You will now be walking under trees and should continue to the gate with ‘please shut the gate’ written in a variety of languages. On the other side of the gate, take the left hand path. When you reach a sign for Holden Farm and the South Downs Way, turn left, go through the gate and walk to the road.
Cross the busy A272 with care. Although it is a fast road, the crossing is at a straight section and there are enough gaps in the traffic to make crossing with children manageable. Follow the signs to Holden Farm café and enjoy your refreshments.
To return, retrace your steps as far as the stile into the pony paddock. This time, do not go into the paddock, but keep on the path, which has the rather quaint name of Honey Lane. The enclosed lane will take you along the top edge of the crop field you walked through before. Continue until you meet a junction with a wider farm track. Turn right and follow this track initially in a straight line and then curving right until you arrive at the point where you exited the first field in step 3. Enter the field, turn left and walk back to Cheriton.
The River Itchen runs through Cheriton creating many picturesque scenes. If children want to dip their toes in the clear water, we recommend avoiding the areas in front of houses and where the wildflowers and plants grow. The best bit is along School Road, just past the wooden footbridge. You will find a bench and a shallow, stony base where a little paddle shouldn’t disturb the wildlife or the villagers.
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Did you know?
Nearly all of Holden Farm Cafe’s suppliers can be found within a ten mile radius.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try another one that starts from Cheriton, and this time heads to the estate of Hinton Ampner.
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