5 Places For Outdoor Walks In East Hampshire
Walking is a great way to explore Hampshire and whether you want a National Park Family Adventure, a short walk with amazing views you will find great walks across the county.
Walking in East Hampshire is one of the best ways to see the county. Hampshire is filled with miles of beautiful countryside, two national parks, bridleways and by ways and a coastline offering views of the Isle of Wight. Surrounded by nature in the great outdoors for an enjoyable and inexpensive day out, there are plenty of great places in to take elderly loved ones to stretch their legs and our five suggestions should help get you moving.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
The Queen Elizabeth Country Park is part of the South Downs National Park with spectacular views in this idyllic spot. From short easy strolls to longer saunters, there are routes to suit all ages and abilities. The park’s leaflet gives details of three walking trails that are waymarked. ‘The dragon of Buster Hill’ is a short interactive walk designed for children’s attention and longer trails include the ‘South Downs Way’, ‘Staunton Way’, the ‘Shipwrights Way’ and the ‘Hangers Way’. The park is also home to adventure play areas for children, cycling trails for both beginners and advanced cyclists, a military style assault course and plays host to a range of events and activities throughout the year.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park is open every day with the main parking area being open 24/7. You can also find an on-site Café/restaurant and many picnic sites throughout the area with BBQ areas also available for hire, Accessible toilets and a Visitor Centre Shop for local produce, park maps, trails, gifts and information. Find directions here.
Meon Valley Trail
Discover a trail that leads you through English history. Once a railway line running from Fareham to Alton, the trail runs through 11 miles of beautiful English countryside starting from West Meon and ending in Wickham. The Meon Valley Trail is the perfect introduction to the South Downs, linking to many established long-distance trails.
With a route suitable for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders, this mostly flat and wide path is also suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters. Find the trail here, with PDF routes available for download here.
Alice Holt Forest
If you are looking for a thrilling treetop adventure, a relaxing bike ride, or a peaceful walk through our forest, Alice Holt has something for everyone! There are many trails and play areas for you to explore, as well as their popular Gruffalo sculptures to see.
Alice Holt is a royal forest in Hampshire, 4 miles south of Farnham. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was particularly important for providing timber for Royal Navy ships. In 1946, Forestry England established a research station in the former manor house ‘Alice Holt Lodge’ after the forest was taken over by Forestry England in 1924. It was once primarily an ancient oak forest but has since been dominated by conifers. In 2010, the forest became part of the South Downs National Park, which formed the park’s most northern gateway.
Almost anyone can enjoy some exercise in the woods, from a gentle walk with the family to a long, intense stroll, Ideal if you’re bringing anyone who loves being surrounded by nature. The park has charged on-site parking with 12 accessible spaces, a picnic area with a Café that provides both food and drink. To find Alice Holt, Take the A325 from Farnham to Bucks Horn Oak and follow signs to Alice Holt.
Jane Austen Circular Walk
Take a 4.5-mile circuit in the heart of Jane Austen country. It begins at Jane Austen’s house in Chawton and takes you through fields and through the village of Farringdon. This beautiful country influenced Jane Austen to write and revise all her novels.
Between 1809 and 1817, Jane Austen lived in Chawton for her final eight years of life. There is a museum in the 17th-century house where Jane lived with her mother, sister, Cassandra, and Martha Lloyd. Here, she wrote or revised her six great novels.
Jane Austen was inspired by this beautiful countryside to write all her novels. If you want to learn more about her life, following this route is a must. Follow in her footsteps across fields and through the village of Farringdon.
Find this route in Chawton, which is one mile southwest of Alton, Signposted off the roundabout at the junction of the A31 Winchester Road with the A32 Fareham Road. Parking is also available in Chawton Village. You can also download the route and leaflet here.
The Lavender Fields
Hartley Park Farm’s lavender fields lie in the heart of Hampshire. A third-generation farmer, The Lavender Fields value their local landscape, and they introduced lavender ten years ago to their farm, making it a local landmark. When the fragrant fields are in full bloom, it makes a great time to visit Hampshire’s beautiful countryside.
Enjoy a stroll through the fields, listen to talks about lavender, take a tractor ride, or enjoy the atmosphere. On site you can find the Farmhouse Garden, where you can enjoy a refreshment. The lavender Farm Shop is open all year round selling a wide range of products, including our very own body care, home, and giftware ranges, which are created using the lavender that is grown on the farm. You can find the Lavender Fields here.
East Hampshire is full of miles of beautiful English country side and home to the South Downs, There’s lots to see and enjoy in any outing, so be sure to bring your loved ones to these amazing places to exercise and get them some much-needed fresh air.
There are lots of exciting and rewarding opportunities for supported living around the area, so find out if home care in East Hampshire and Midhurst could be right for your loved ones.