From a Bed of Watercress to a Castle of Comfort

This circular walk takes us from the busy little market town of New Alresford out along the Oxdrove Way up to the village of Medstead, high on the downs, and back through Bighton.

The sights

New Alresford: Lying 8 miles from Winchester, this attractive small town has a fine Georgian centre along Broad Street, older medieval buildings  having been destroyed in a number of fires up to the 18th century. The area is famed for the production of watercress, with the crop being sent to market along the Winchester to Alton railway line. Road transport condemned the BR line to closure in 1973, but the New Alresford to Alton section survives today as the Watercress Line heritage railway.

Old Alresford: Just north of New Alresford, the village is notable for being the family home of Admiral Lord Rodney, a naval hero of the late 18th century. He is buried in St Mary the Virgin church, next to his family seat, Old Alresford House.

Oxdrove Way: The 'Ox Drove' was once part of a cross-country drove route for cattle on the Downs. The Oxdrove Way is now a 25 mile figure-of-eight off-road cycling and horse-riding trail.

Hattingley: This little hamlet just west of Medstead is home to vineyards of the award-winning Hattingley Valley Wines, based up the road in Lower Wield. The vines were planted as part of a farm diversification project in 2008, producing grapes for English sparkling wine.

Medstead: At some 210m/682 feet above sea level, this parish of 2,000 people is one the highest in Hampshire. The church of St Andrew was built in 1160 with later Victorian restoration; both it and the 1920 war memorial outside are Grade II listed.

Bighton: This village of 350 is about 3 miles from New Alresford. The church of All Saints, dating from 1190, is a largely unrestored medieval church and is exceptionally Grade I listed.

The route (please click the link in red to see it):

From Broad Street, New Alresford, we'll head north out of the town past the Fulling Mill to reach Old Alresford, where we cross the B3046 by St Mary's Church and head out of the village by Old Alresford House on the Oxdrove Way. After 3 miles, we'll head eastwards along field boundaries to reach the Hattingley Vineyards, and beyond them, Medstead where we will stop for lunch.

After the break, we follow paths through the hamlets surrounding Medstead to reach Lower Paice Lane, which leads us south-west to Bighton and on past large commercial watercress beds to reach the B3046 and footpaths back into New Alresford.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome on this walk, but if we encounter grazing livestock or walk along roads, a lead must be used. This especially applies in one large field at Upper Lanham Farm containing pregnant sheep and new lambs, and at the two points where we have to cross the busy B3046. At other times, a dog off the lead must be obedient. There are 5 stiles on the walk which you & your dog will have to negotiate, along with a large fallen tree blocking a path. The Castle of Comfort pub at lunchtime is dog-friendly.

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Photo credits:

Broad Street, New Alresford / Fulling Mill, New Alresford / St Mary's Church, Old Alresford / Old Alresford House / Waymarker, Oxdrove Way / The Oxdrove Way / Vineyards at Hattingley / The Castle of Comfort PH, Medstead / St Andrew's Church & War Memorial, Medstead / Two friends near Medstead / The Three Horseshoes PH, Bighton / Watercress beds near Old Alresford

All images taken by the walk leader 6th February 2024.