Enjoy far-reaching views across quiet Hampshire countryside on this circuit linking the villages of Medstead and Bighton
Situated a few miles south-west of Alton, Medstead is one of Hampshire’s highest villages at around 700 feet above sea level. Medstead & Four Marks Station, one of four on the Watercress Line, a heritage railway which runs from Alton to Alresford, lies to the south. The station, which was originally known just as Medstead, is close to the highest point on the railway. The line, called the Mid Hants Railway, was first opened in 1865 and closed in 1973. A preservation society was formed and it was re-opened to visitors as a heritage railway in 1977. In the past it was used to transport locally grown watercress to London’s Covent Garden market, which gave it its nickname.
Medstead has a long history. In the heart of the village is the attractive church of St Andrew, which dates to the 12th century, but was significantly rebuilt during the Victorian era. Just west of Medstead is the hamlet of Hattingley and one of the vineyards of the award-winning Hattingley Valley Wines, which specialises in producing English sparkling wines.
The walk takes you past the vineyard, planted on a south-facing slope, with fine views to be enjoyed from the path. Thereafter it continues through fields, joining a track called the Oxdrove Way, once a route for cattle. This stretch is part of a 25-mile route, which can be used by cyclists and horse-riders as well as walkers. The walk leaves it to turn off down a quiet lane, providing more fine views, to the village of Bighton, where the Three Horseshoes pub makes a welcome stop. The return leg is along country lanes and paths, initially on the level then gently uphill back to Medstead. The village also has a pub, the unusually named Castle of Comfort, where you can enjoy some end-of-walk refreshment.
The walk
1 (SU658369) From the lay-by, facing the road, turn left along the surfaced path parallel to the road. Follow the path round to the left past the pond, then right beside South Town Road on your left, to the road junction. Cross South Town Road and bear left along the pavement beside High Street. Keep ahead at the crossroads passing the church on your right and just after it, Castle Street also on the right (the pub is located along it). Continue ahead to the next junction, and turn left along the road (Common Hill), signed for Alresford and Bighton, for about 50 yards.
2 (SU652372) Turn right over a stile and follow the footpath across the grass to a kissing gate. Continue beside the hedge on the right, go through another gate and keep ahead beside the hedge on the right. At the end of the field, go through a tall metal kissing gate into the vineyard, continuing along the path by the hedge on the right, fine views to your left. Keep ahead at the path intersection and continue to the next one, turning briefly right on a surfaced track then left to maintain direction, still beside the hedge on the right. Follow the path gently downhill to the lane, Chalky Hill. For the shorter option, turn left down to the crossroads, keeping ahead along West End Lane to re-join the route at waypoint 8.
3 (SU634366) Cross the road and go over another stile. Follow the path beside the hedge on the left, continuing along the left edge of the next field. In the following one, the path carries on briefly beside the trees on the left, then continues in a north-westerly direction across the field to the top left corner. Keep ahead in the next field along its left-hand side to the junction with the Oxdrove Way.
4 (SU621369) Turn left along the track and follow it for 1½ miles to the junction with Nettlebeds Lane.
5 (SU604354) Turn left down Nettlebeds Lane to Bighton, enjoying some more good views on the way. A visit to Bighton Church is worth a detour if you are interested: to do so turn right at the junction with Bighton Lane and take the next right, which leads up to the entrance gates to Bighton Manor, the gate into the churchyard on the right. Otherwise, just before the junction with Bighton Lane, turn left along a footpath/residential access road via the village hall car park down to the road.
6 (SU614343) Turn left passing the Three Horseshoes pub on the left. Keep ahead along Bighton Road, where a lane forks right, and continue for another ¾ mile.
7 (SU627351) Opposite a gated track on the left fork right along a restricted byway (path), maintaining direction at a junction. Join an access road leading to a junction. Turn left along West End Lane for about 160 yards.
8 (SU640356) Turn right along a footpath diagonally across fields to a junction at West End Lodge. Keep ahead along the track to Goatacre Road. Turn left to the junction with Bighton Road, then right.
9 (SU647364) Where Common Road bends left, fork right into Homestead Road and immediately left through a gap in the hedge along a footpath. At the following path junctions keep ahead passing the cemetery on the right to reach South Town Road. If the playing field is not in use, walk across the grass to the lay-by; otherwise follow the path to the left down to the pond and back up the other side.
Compass points
Start/finish: Lay-by parking area along Roe Downs Road adjoining playing field, Medstead (SU658369)
Map: OS Explorer OL32
Distance: 8⅓ miles (13.5km). Shorter option: 4 miles (6.3km)
Terrain: Fairly gentle walking along field paths, tracks and country lanes
Time: 3½ - 4 hours; shorter option: 1½ - 2 hours
Refreshments: Castle of Comfort, Medstead (01420 562112); Three Horseshoes, Bighton (01962 735876)
Public transport: Bus service 208 from Alton to Medstead; bus 613 Alton to Basingstoke via Medstead (once a day, Mon to Fri, school days only)
