St Andrew’s Church and 18th-century Kilmeston Manor are worth a look before you leave the village. A footpath leads north out of Kilmeston and over a small hill towards Hinton Ampner. Near here, to the west, is the source of the River Itchen, one of Hampshire’s most famous rivers. Heading across farmland and parkland offers memorable views of Hinton Ampner House nestling peacefully amid the trees. Occupying an idyllic setting, the house is surrounded by a rich spread of countryside. The 1,640-acre estate is now managed by the National Trust, and the house, together with its gardens and parkland, can be viewed by the public. Head up by the side of the ornamental gardens before emerging by the small church of All Saints.

From Hinton Ampner, which is really no more than a hamlet formed by one very large house and its collection of associated buildings, the route leads downhill past the Old Rectory, with more fine parkland to the left. Cross the A272 Winchester-Petersfield road and turn left at a bridleway crossroads. Continue in to the village of Cheriton. From here, the route follows a footpath along water meadows to the west of the village, joining the road by Cheriton Mill.

Cross the B3046 to join a track, which runs up the side of a field, turning left at a junction. Continue to the road by farm buildings opposite Tichborne Park. Follow the road briefly, then bear right to follow a track through woodland before dropping downhill to a golf course on the outskirts of New Alresford. Cross the course and make for the footbridge spanning the A31, turning right and then left uphill, following the road along the east side of the town. Beyond the railway line, you reach the B3047. In the centre of New Alresford turn right down the rather grand Broad Street.

At the bottom the route bears left on a narrow lane, then along a track by the side of Alresford’s complex waterworks, the creation of the 12th-century Bishop de Lucy of Winchester, who dammed up small local streams to provide enough water to make the Itchen navigable by boat as far as Southampton. The trail passes a thatched cottage, a former fulling mill dating back over 300 years and much photographed. Note the trout in this river as it flows swiftly beside the path. The way crosses several roads before turning right at a bridleway crossroads on Itchen Stoke Down for Abbostone. There is nothing to see of this medieval village apart from some earthworks and several depressions in the ground. From this site, follow the Wayfarer’s Walk north-east to Abbotstone Down.