Cheriton
Alresford
Children will enjoy passing the grand National Trust property on this walk or a play at the park and streams in Cheriton.
Cheriton looking beautiful in the spring.
The Basics
Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 m
Terrain: Fields tracks, parkland, quiet country lanes, narrow foot bridge and a busy road crossing. A couple of short and steady hill climbs.
Pushchairs: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk but should be on leads if livestock is encountered.
Refreshments: National Trust Cafe at Hinton Ampner (members or ticket holders), The Hinton Arms on Petersfield Road has a large garden and play area or RAIMES Vineyard for wine and nibbles.
Toilets: There are pubic toilets at Hinton Ampner, but you will need to be members or ticket holders to access the grounds.
Public Transport: The 67 Stagecoach bus route from Winchester to Petersfield stops along the A272 from where you can join this walk.
Parking: Roadside parking can usually be found around Cheriton, particularly on School Lane (Postcode: SO24 0QA - W3W: conforms/lately/relations)
You get a really good view of Hinton Ampner on this walk.
This walk starts at the pretty village of Cheriton where you will find a young River Itchen, a historical battle field, a pub and a secluded play area. It then crosses fields to reach the parkland of Hinton Ampner, where you can get a good view of the historical house and its gardens.
The Route
To begin the walk from Cheriton, take the lane passing directly in front of the school (with the school to your left) and then take the footpath on your left at the end of this lane, signed Wayfarer’s Way. This path will pass narrowly between the backs of different properties and you should continue, rising steadily, until at the top of the hill the path opens up.
At the corner of the first open section, turn right, following the finger post. Keep to the edge of the field with a fence to your left and a hedge to your right, before turning left along the top edge of the field, again with a fence to your left and a hedge to your right.
As you exit the field, you will arrive at a cross point of paths. Turn right and then almost immediately look for the gap in the hedge on your left and hop over the little bank into the field and take the path going diagonally across the middle. At the opposite corner of the field, descend steeply down the bank and onto the track. Take the path heading straight ahead and go under a barrier.
Along this track, you will pass RAIMES Vineyard where walk ins (and dogs) are welcome for some wine tasting and grazing, as well as cream teas on Sundays. Also along this track, look out for the information board depicting The Battle of Cheriton, which took place in the field to your right. At the end of the track, cross the A272 and follow the lane opposite up the hill towards Hinton Ampner.
Nip through the gap at the side of the gates, entering the grounds of Hinton Ampner. Please note that if you want to explore the house and gardens any further than the footpath, you will need to go to the ticket office on the other side of the garden. This applies to both National Trust members and non-members. For those not intending to visit the property, the walk continues by turning left along the footpath opposite the chapel and out through the gate. Turn immediately right after the gate and keep the fence of the gardens to your right. Follow this boundary as it curves around to your right and then pass directly in front of the house.
As you reach the end corner of the gardens, you will pass a picnic area to your left. Keep this to your left and continue up towards the grassy brow of the hill. When you get to the top, you will see a groundskeeper’s pavilion. Pass this to your left and keep going straight, following the wide, worn, grassy path. You will eventually come to a tall metal gate. Go through the pedestrian gate to the left and veer right through the grassland down towards another tall metal gate in the fence at the bottom boundary opposite.
Follow the path down through the trees and then turn right, reaching the lane at the end of the path. Walk towards the busy A272 and cross with care before turning right and walking along the pavement towards The Hinton Arms. If you want to visit the pub, it has a large garden with play equipment and backs onto fields with ponies. Turn left onto the foot path opposite The Hinton Arms and go through the kissing gate. Walk along the left hand edge of the historic battle field, crossing over the stream half way across.
Leave the field through the metal gate on your left and pass narrowly between properties. Go out the little wooden gate when you reach the road and then take the footpath on your right beside an egg stall. Follow this track until you come to the cross point of paths again mentioned at the start of section three. Here you should go left and retrace your steps to return to Cheriton. Alternatively, do not turn right at the egg stall, and instead, walk along the road to get back to Cheriton. There is a verge or pavement most of the way and it does pass adjacent to the beautiful river. The disadvantage of this route is that cars can come fast despite the speed limit.
Cheriton has a village stores and various attractive bridges and benches arranged over the streams. To find the play area, take the path to the church from the village green and then exit out the back gate. Follow the footpath in a straight line with an open space to your right to the play area at the opposite end.
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Note that the first four photos were taken from within Hinton Ampner after the purchase of tickets. The rest of the photos were taken from public rights of way and permissive paths.
Of the four play area photos, the first two were taken at the public park in Cheriton and the second two at the garden of The Hinton Arms.
Did you know?
The Battle of Cheriton took place on 29th March 1644 and was an important Parliamentary victory during the English Civil War. Defeat ended Royalist hopes of retaking South East England.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Petworth House, where you can explore parkland in front of another National Trust property.
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