The Meon Valley's nature reserve

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Our view

"Rising dramatically above the Meon Valley, Old Winchester Hill is a favoured haunt of historians and naturalists."

Walk directions

From the car park go through the gate onto the open downland and turn left, leaving the information board on your right. Follow the path around the perimeter of the reserve, merge with the South Downs Way (SDW) and bear right towards the hill fort. Go straight through a gate then bear left, then right, across the centre of the fort.

Descend through the ramparts, downhill to a kissing gate on the edge of woodland. Pass beneath yew trees and beside a redundant gate, then along a field, and when the path swings right at a fingerpost, go left onto the SDW.

Follow the enclosed path downhill to reach a junction of paths. Cross the footbridge and turn left, following the signposted ‘SDW’. Climb the steps on to the former Meon Valley railway, and turn left along the old line for just over half a mile (800m).

Turn left at a gate and drop down to a lane, turn right under the missing bridge, then immediately left at the junction. Walk along Stocks Lane to the A32 and carefully cross the main road into Beacon Hill Lane, and over the river. Turn left just before The Shoe Inn, and shortly after bear left along Allens Farm Lane.

At a sharp right-hand bend, keep ahead along the path beside Exton Farm. Go through two gates on a fenced path then through a small field to a kissing gate and then another fenced path to a stile. Pass beside The Farmhouse, the White House and the church, bearing left to the A32.

Carefully cross the A32, turn left along the pavement and right by the shop. Take the metalled path beside the last house on your right and enter Meonstoke churchyard. Turn left along the lane to a T-junction beside The Bucks Head. Turn left, then left again at the junction. Follow the lane right (Pound Lane) to cross the old railway and reach a crossroads.

Climb the stile on your left. Go across the field and cross a stile to pass behind gardens, eventually reaching a stile and crossing a lane. Climb the stile opposite and keep to the right-hand field edge to cross another stile. At the next stile, bear diagonally left towards a house, Harvestgate, and road.

Turn right and take the track left just before Harvestgate Farm. Keep ahead through a gate. At the top of the track, bear left uphill along the field edge, then sharp right onto SDW, following the bridleway along the hedge and into the next field. Turn through a kissing gate on your left into the nature reserve and ascend steeply to the hill fort ramparts.

Bear right and then right again to join the outward route by the fort entrance. Turn left to walk down the steps beside a seat and information board, and then continue to follow a path just beneath the downland rim. Bear right to a kissing gate and retrace your steps to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field paths, footpaths, tracks and sections of road, 7 stiles

Landscape - Chalk downland, gently rolling farmland and river valley

Dog friendliness - Lead required through villages and around nature reserve

Parking - Natural England car park off Old Winchester Hill Lane

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Hampshire Dog-friendly walks in Hampshire

About the walk

Old Winchester Hill dominates the Meon Valley. From its summit, some 648ft (197m) above sea level, are far-reaching views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, west to the New Forest and Wiltshire, and north to Beacon Hill. It’s long been a natural vantage point, attracting early settlers who...

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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.