Tichborne and the Wayfarer's Walk

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Our view

"A gentle walk across a Civil War battlefield and through the Itchen Valley."

Walk directions

From the village lane, cross the small brick bridge opposite Old Kennetts Cottage and bear right in front of the school. Just beyond a house (Martyrwell), turn left along a narrow fenced path (signed Wayfarers Walk) and climb out of the village. Turn right and then left around the field edge to a stile and crossing of paths.

Proceed straight ahead along the grassy track to a crossing of routes. Turn left downhill. The fields to your right were the site of the Battle of Cheriton in 1644. Keep to the track to a lane beside a pair of barns.

Cross the lane and walk along the farm track. A track merges from the left, beyond which you climb to a junction of paths. Enjoying lovely views across the Itchen Valley, turn left downhill, following the track to the B3046, heading towards a cluster of buildings.

Turn right and, after 70yds (64m), cross the road and take the path left, across the field and at the field boundary turn slightly right across the second field, parallel with the river, to a narrow belt of trees. Walk through the trees, cross the stile and keep to the left-hand edge of pasture (Tichborne House is to the left) to a stile by the drive entrance.

Turn right and keep ahead, then, where the metalled estate road curves left, proceed along a track. Just before you reach some woodland, bear off right along a grassy track through a line of trees into a field. Take the permissive path left along the field edge.

Turn left onto the lane, pass Vernal Farm, then cross the infant River Itchen to a lane. Take the path opposite, uphill along the field edge. In the top lefthand corner, passing a bench, follow the track left into a second field. Turn left along the field edge, downhill towards St Andrew’s church. Ignore tracks right and left and continue to the village (The Tichborne Arms is to the left).

Just before the road, take the path right uphill to the church. On leaving the church, follow the access lane downhill to a T-junction. Turn right and follow the quiet road for a mile (1.6km), close to Tichborne Park and the river, to Cheriton Mill.

Follow the Wayfarer’s Walk right, beside the mill to a gate. Walk in front of a neat cottage to a kissing gate and continue ahead, parallel with the river. Go through two gates very close together and maintain your direction over stiles by gates. Continue to an angled gap in the fence and turn left along the lane to the B3046 in Cheriton. Cross over to reach the village lane and your car.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field paths, downland tracks and some road walking, 6 stiles

Landscape - River valley and undulating farmland dotted with woodland

Dog friendliness - Keep dogs under control

Parking - Roadside parking on Cheriton village lane east of B3046

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Hampshire Dog-friendly walks in Hampshire

About the walk

Tiny Tichborne is idyllic. Thatched and timber-framed cottages line the lane that winds up to St Andrew’s Church, handsome farms and the magnificent manor house nestle close to the infant River Itchen. This gentle ramble incorporates two of Hampshire’s long-distance trails, the Itchen Way and the...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.