Wayfarer's Walk: Denmead to Droxford

According to Arthur Mee’s book on Hampshire, ‘Hambledon has a warm place in the heart of every Englishman.’ Mee is referring to the village’s status as the home of the game of games – the quintessentially English sport of cricket. The village itself is very English and character, as are neighbouring Soberton and Droxford, where this stretch finishes, and in between there are miles of fields and belts of pretty woodland. The final mile or so is beside the Meon, one of Hampshire’s loveliest rivers. Izaak Walton fished here, reflecting that the valley “exceeds all England for swift, shallow, clear, pleasant brooks and store of trout.” His daughter married the local vicar.

Beginning just off the route of the Wayfarer’s Walk, leave the car park at its northern end, turning right on to Kidmore Lane. Pass between houses and turn left along Cemetery Lane. Pass the cemetery and turn right just beyond it along the signposted Wayfarer’s Walk. The houses of Denmead recede now as the trail returns to the peace and tranquility of the countryside. Head north across Anthill Common to Rookwood Farm and following the route for another couple of miles, at one point passing just to the west of Rushmere Farm, the rooftops of Hambledon are suddenly glimpsed from the wooded hillside above.

his sizeable village, characterised by rows of Georgian and timber-framed houses, is one of the prettiest in Hampshire and an excellent place to stop and rest awhile. The Bishop of Winchester granted Hambledon a weekly market in the 13th century and looking at it today, it is hard to imagine it was once a prosperous, fast-growing town with its own market. Perhaps even more surprising is the village’s close proximity to the urban sprawl of Portsmouth and Southampton. Walk up towards the 11th-century Saxon church, then follow the footpath across fields to the B2150 Droxford road, with fine views back to the church.

Cross the road by modern houses and then follow the path uphill through the trees of Litheys Hanger. Heading west on high ground towards Soberton, on the approach to the slopes of the Meon Valley, the trail reveals a distant view of the pipes and chimneys of Fawley oil refinery on the edge of the New Forest. On arrival in Soberton, where there is a useful Wayfarer’s Walk milepost (Emsworth 17 – Inkpen Beacon 53) the route crosses a disused railway line before turning right to cross a pastoral landscape of fields, pretty meadows and horse chestnut trees. Nearby is the meandering River Meon. Cross a narrow footbridge to reach the village of Droxford beyond the churchyard.