Exploring Harewood Forest

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"In search of Deadman's Plack Monument and grim legends of murder."

Walk directions

Walk through the churchyard, exit via the gate opposite the main door and turn right to follow the Test Way (TW) across the water meadow. Go through two gates and bear left along the lane into the village of Forton. Go round the sharp right-hand bend by a barn at Forton Farmhouse to a T-junction. Pass through the gate opposite to a path running diagonally across the field, then bear right along a rough track.

Cross the course of the old Hurstbourne-to-Fullerton branch line, then keep ahead beside a low hedge on your right. Go through a gap in the top corner of the field, then bear right at a marker post, still following the hedge on your right. Continue into the next field and follow the waymarked path to the left of a small wood, ignoring the main track forking to the right. Shortly, cross a track to follow the path along the left-hand edge of a large field at the base of a shallow valley. On reaching the field corner, keep ahead through trees to a lane and left turn.

To visit Deadman’s Plack follow the lane for 500yds (457m). Turn left over a stile and cross the meadow into woods. Keep ahead over a concrete track, then drop gently to another concrete track and turn left along the signed ‘Permissive footpath to the monument’. After 110yds (100m) turn left to reach the monument hidden in the trees.

Retrace your steps back to just before Point 3. Turn left, then cross the stile in the hedge on the left and follow a path between fields and then alongside woodland. Bear left by a marker post to join the main track through Harewood Forest. Keep ahead at a crossing of paths by a large conifer tree and then eventually join a gravel drive to the B3400.

Turn right, then almost immediately left up the drive to Andover Down Farm. Keep to the right of the farm and a small industrial site. Bear off the drive, left at gates to a house and follow the track right. Head downhill towards Faulkners Down Farm.

At the farm, bear right along its drive, in front of the house. Proceed downhill, turning right off the road at the ‘Private Road, No Thoroughfare’ sign on to the TW, a track between fields. Go through a gap in the hedge (TW), and then follow the left-hand field edge to a gap near cottages. Bear left on the drive to the B3400.

Cross the road and go through the gap in the hedge opposite to follow the grassy track (TW) beside rolling arable land. Gently climb, then descend, to join a stony track, coming from the right, beneath the beech canopy. Shortly, bear left (TW) along a track to a metalled track.

Bear left along the track, cross over the old railway on a bridge and then continue onto a metalled driveway. Keep left at a fork and continue ahead when the metalled surface becomes a gravel track. Follow this left and out of the woods to shortly reach a junction of tracks. Turn right (TW) to Longparish. At the village lane, turn right, back to the church or village hall.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field, woodland paths and tracks, 3 stiles

Landscape - Water meadow, rolling farmland and thick woodland

Dog friendliness - Can run free through Harewood Forest

Parking - Car park at St Nicholas Church or by village hall

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Hampshire Dog-friendly walks in Hampshire

About the walk

Hidden away in the heart of Harewood Forest, at an eerie place called Deadman’s Plack, is a solitary pink granite cross. Despite standing over 70ft (21m) tall, it’s shrouded by trees and can be difficult to find. The reasons for its construction will send shivers down your spine. Colonel...

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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.