Family walks near Newbury

A short stroll around the attractive Georgian town of Alresford is the perfect outing for all the family on a winter’s day.

Walk along the River Alre where ducks and fish are usually waiting to be fed, passing the 13th century fulling mill, watercress beds and the old eel house along the way.

Length of walk: 2.5 miles

Starting point/parking: Alresford station pay and display car park (grid reference SU588325)

Terrain: Mostly pavements and gravel paths, suitable for pushchairs

Map: OS Explorer 132 Winchester, New Alresford & East Meon

The Walk:

1 From the car park, walk back down Station Road and turn right, opposite the toilets, on to a footpath leading to the churchyard then turn left to walk past the church of St John the Baptist. Just before the road there is an information board. Cross the road with care and continue straight ahead along Broad Street, which has many fine Georgian houses and interesting shops. There is an information board halfway down the street.

2 Walk down Mill Hill to another information board on the right. Turn left into Ladywell Lane, which leads to a gravel path. You are now on the Wayfarer’s Walk, a 70-mile route between Emsworth on the coast near Portsmouth to Inkpen Beacon in Berkshire. Soon you will see on the left the war memorial garden.

Continue alongside the River Alre to the thatched fulling mill, which was built in the 13th century. Along this stretch of the river there are usually ducks to feed and watercress can be seen growing on the opposite side of the river just past the mill. When you reach the road turn right to follow the footpath with the river on your right. After a short while you will see an information board by a kissing gate.

3 At this point, if you want a shorter walk, pass through the kissing gate into the recreation ground. Follow the gravel path to the right, which passes a skateboard park and a little further on is the play area. Continue along the gravel path to the road, turn left and walk into the town. Turn right into Station Road to return to the car park.

4 To continue the main walk, carry on beside the river and soon you will see a small brick building called the eel house. This was built in the 1820s and the three brick-lined channels underneath would have contained eel traps. Walk to the right of the eel house and follow the path, which eventually passes houses on the left and skirts a private parking area. Continue ahead along the footpath, which shortly merges into a lane. Follow the lane as it bears left and walk for a ¼ mile to Winchester Road.

5 Turn left and head back towards the town along The Avenue, a pleasant walk between mature lime trees. This was originally a recreation area owned by the Bishop of Winchester. Look out for Turnpike House, a red-brick hexagonal building on the left, which used to be a toll house.

It was built in this unusual shape to allow the keeper an all-round view and prevent anyone trying to avoid paying the toll. Walk into the town along Pound Hill. Cross the road and carry on along West Street. Turn right into Station Road to return to the car park.

* This walk is an extract from Kiddiwalks in Hampshire & the New Forest published by Countryside Books, Newbury.

It was previously published in our Out & About winter edition and readers can receive 20% off all Countryside Books walking guides from the website using the code O&A20 at the checkout.

Visit www.countrysidebooks.co.uk