Southwick
On this walk, children will enjoy the tea-room, play area, a splash in the river and the ruins of Southwick Priory
Investigating the ruins of Southwick Priory
The Basics
Time: 1 hour for the circular walk, plus a few minutes each way to view Southwick Priory ruins
Distance: 3.8 km / 2.4 miles
Terrain: Mostly fields and bridlepaths as well as pavements around the village. Some particularly muddy sections in winter, steps to negotiate and one busy road crossing.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome but they will need to be on leads in the sheep field. They are welcome at the tea room.
Refreshments: Southwick Village Tearooms with a large garden to the rear or two pubs, The Red Lion or The Golden Lion.
Toilets: There are toilets in the village stores if you are using the tearooms or shop.
Public Transport: There is no pubic transport to this location.
Parking: Free village car park to the rear of The Golden Lion, in front of the village hall (Postcode: PO17 6EB - W3W: ///strict.cake.oasis)
The small ruins of Southwick Priory
Start this walk in Southwick, an attractive village that has retained its historical charm, and then head out across the farmland of the wider estate. On your return you can visit the remains of Southwick Priory, now in the stewardship of English Heritage, and the village tea rooms, which come highly recommended.
The Route
Southwick Priory can be accessed as an add on at the start or finish of this walk. Cross Priory Road (which you used to enter the car park) and find the start of the access path on the opposite side of the road. It takes a few minutes to walk to the ruins, passing a large pond on your way. There is only one wall section of the priory remaining, so there is not an awful lot to see, but it stands in a tranquil spot at the side of what is now a golf course.
To start the circular walk, leave the car park in the opposite direction to the priory, and with the back of the pub and the brewery to your left, head towards High Street. Turn right, soon passing St. James’ Church on your right and the village stores and tearooms on your left. At the junction, continue straight along High Street, passing The Red Lion on your right and walk until you come to a T-junction. Turn left here onto Back Lane.
Proceed down Back Lane for a short way until you spot the cottage with a flag pole and the start of a footpath on your right. The path will go over a little footbridge before climbing through a Christmas tree plantation. At the top of the field, cross into the next much larger field planted with grape vines and follow the path to the opposite hedge.
On the other side of the hedge, you will meet a quiet country lane which you should cross and then climb the steps directly opposite to continue on the footpath. Cross another field planted with vines to a wooden footbridge over a stream (this is the first very muddy section - wellies advisable). After the stream, continue across the field in the direction of the woodland opposite.
The path will narrow and enter the woodland before soon broadening into a vehicle access track. Keep with the track as you pass through the trees. As you come out from the trees, ignore a footpath leading off to your right and continue until you come to the next footpath on your right. Go through the curved metal kissing gate and enter the large sheep field.
You should be able to make out the worn line of the footpath as it makes its way across the sheep fields. The area is divided into smaller paddocks by a series of electric fences. If the sheep are grazing elsewhere, the gates will be open and you can pass straight through. If the sheep are present, you will need to use the safety handles to lift and replace the fence at the openings. Dogs should be on short leads around livestock and there will likely be lambs in these fields in spring.
The path will exit the field at a large oak tree beside the road. Go through the gate and cross the country lane, once again taking the path directly opposite. Veer right and follow the path diagonally across the top of a field, passing a telegraph pole in the direction of the farmhouse opposite. Turn left at the gateway and walk along the farm access lane. Very shortly turn right and then immediately take the left fork which will be a grassy bridlepath.
Follow the bridlepath as it gradually descends to a river crossing at the bottom (you will find another very muddy section just before this). Cross the wooden footbridge and then continue straight on up the track.
Cross the road at the top with care and then veer left and enter Boulter Lane. Walk the length of Boulter Lane, passing all the houses and turn right at the top to enter a car park. Walk towards the razor fence of the MOD base and then turn right. Follow the tarmac path with the tall MOD fence to your left.
This path will take you back into the village via the recreation ground and play area. Turn left at the play area to return to the car park or straight on, past the church to reach the tea room.
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Did you know?
Southwick Village is part of the Southwick Estate, which has been in the hands of the same family since the 16th century. The estate includes homes, farms, businesses, shops, public houses, churches and woodland as well as Portchester Castle and the remains of Southwick Priory. Most of the houses around the picturesque village have the trademark red door and are let out to tenants. Southwick House was requisitioned by the government during World War II and is still owned by The Ministry of Defence to this day. A new community of 6000 homes called Welbourne Garden Village is set to be built within the estate’s boundaries over the next few years.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Portchester Castle, which is also part of the Southwick Estate.
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