Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight

<p>A lovely selection of walks for next year &#8211; not now with the inclement weather we are having! </p>
<p>This comment applies to the walks.</p>



<p>We&#8217;ve hunted down some fabulous spots around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to take in some fresh air, stave off the cabin fever and enjoy some of the glorious countryside. Best foot forward!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-of-bere-nbsp-wickham-medium-nbsp-effort">Forest of Bere,&nbsp;Wickham &#8211; Medium&nbsp;effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/England-Forest-Winter.jpg" alt="England Hampshire Forest Winter" class="wp-image-10044" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/England-Forest-Winter.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/England-Forest-Winter-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/England-Forest-Winter-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/England-Forest-Winter-720x405.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Located just off Hundred Acres Road, you probably won&#8217;t find Pooh Bear down in these woods but you will find a couple of options for a good old stroll. There are a couple of trails to choose from, one with a sharp incline to get your Fitbit stair&nbsp;count up and one that&#8217;s a bit more slowpoke friendly (that&#8217;ll be me then). You have to pay for parking so make sure to bring some change.</p>



<p><a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/hampshire/forest-of-bere-west-walk-circular-walk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>alltrails.com</em></a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-queen-elizabeth-country-park-horndean-leisurely-nbsp-effort">Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Horndean &#8211; Leisurely&nbsp;effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Butser-Hill.jpg" alt="Butser Hill Hampshire" class="wp-image-10041" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Butser-Hill.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Butser-Hill-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Butser-Hill-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Butser-Hill-667x500.jpg 667w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Beloved by dog walkers and those with small children, this 1,400-acre&nbsp;spot is a beautiful place to work off those mince pies. With a mixture of woodland and green space, you can climb to the top of Butser Hill for amazing views around Hampshire (and even the Isle of Wight, if it&#8217;s clear).</p>



<p>There&#8217;s a car park starting at £2 for up to an hour and café facilities, all day parking costs £6. If you&#8217;re in the mood for a swift drink and spot of good pub grub after your walk, then head to the nearby&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sevenstarsstroud.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seven Stars</a>, just outside of Petersfield, for a roaring fire and cosy vibe.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/qecp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hants.gov.uk</a></em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tall-trees-trail-blackwater-leisurely-effort">Tall Trees Trail, Blackwater &#8211; Leisurely effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/New-Forest-Winter.jpg" alt="New Forest Winter" class="wp-image-10042" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/New-Forest-Winter.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/New-Forest-Winter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/New-Forest-Winter-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/New-Forest-Winter-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>One for all you nature lovers. This New Forest walk will take you through the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive of redwoods and Douglas fir trees. There&#8217;s also a particularly huge tree called a Wellingtonia (strong name), and it can grow larger than any other tree on earth. Kudos.</p>



<p>Along the way, you may be lucky enough to get a glimpse of the famous New Forest ponies and even deer as well. The added bonus is the trail is quite flat and well maintained, so easier for those with mobility issues.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/blackwater/tall-trees-trail-blackwater" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>forestryengland.uk</em></a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steephill-cove-ventnor-isle-of-wight-medium-effort">Steephill Cove, Ventnor, Isle of Wight &#8211; Medium effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-9922 size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="748" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Steephill-Cove-Phil-Kemp.jpg" alt="Steephill Cove Phil Kemp" class="wp-image-9922" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Steephill-Cove-Phil-Kemp.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Steephill-Cove-Phil-Kemp-300x224.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Steephill-Cove-Phil-Kemp-768x574.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Steephill-Cove-Phil-Kemp-668x500.jpg 668w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Phil Kemp</figcaption></figure>



<p>This is less of a walk and more of an escape to the past. Starting off at the rather lovely <a href="https://thespyglass.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spyglass Inn in Ventnor</a>, follow the trail to find Steephill Cove. This little spot is usually very deserted with lobster pots and a couple of fishermen&#8217;s cottages dotted around but was once the centre of a lot of smuggling activity.</p>



<p>There&#8217;s a private car park nearby and although its a short walk (about 20 minutes), it does get rather steep so probably not best for those with small kids and limited mobility.</p>



<p><em><a href="http://www.steephillcove-isleofwight.co.uk/steephill_cove.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">steephillcove-isleofwight.co.uk</a></em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jane-austen-circular-walk-alton-medium-effort">Jane Austen Circular Walk, Alton &#8211; Medium effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="744" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Chawton-Winter.jpg" alt="Chawton House Winter" class="wp-image-10045" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Chawton-Winter.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Chawton-Winter-300x223.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Chawton-Winter-768x571.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/Chawton-Winter-672x500.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you fancy throwing yourself into a literary fantasy à la <em>Sense &amp; Sensibility</em>, this bookish stroll will be right up your footpath.</p>



<p>Following the steps that Jane Austen took when she lived in Hampshire all those years ago, you can discover the inspiration behind some of her novels and spots that she mentions in correspondence.&nbsp;The walk is just under three hours and covers around 4.5 miles. Following all that exertion, then make sure to stop by the local watering hole, <a href="https://thegreyfriar.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Greyfriar</a>, which has its own little claim to fame with the Austen family.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/things-to-do/jane-austen-circular-walk-p60383" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Visitsoutheastengland.com</em></a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inkpen-west-berkshire-maximum-effort">Inkpen, West Berkshire &#8211; Maximum effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="706" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/River-Itchen.jpg" alt="River Itchen Winchester" class="wp-image-10043" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/River-Itchen.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/River-Itchen-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/River-Itchen-768x542.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/12/River-Itchen-708x500.jpg 708w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Sneak over the border to Berkshire (just for a little bit), for this rather long but amazing walk.&nbsp;This is eight miles of the rather lengthy 44 miles Test Way trail,&nbsp;and snakes down from West Berkshire/North Hampshire all the way down to the coast near Southampton.</p>



<p>This particular stretch is the very top of the route and starts high up&nbsp;near Inkpen Beacon (you apparently can see Salisbury Cathedral on a clear day) and leads down into some adorable villages and hamlets along the way. This one is quite intense so bring your A-game and a sturdy pair of shoes.</p>



<p>If you manage to conquer all eight miles,&nbsp;then stop off at <a href="http://georgeanddragon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The George &amp; Dragon</a> in Hurstbourne Tarrant, to reward yourself for a job well done (and to replenish yourself before you head back to the car. Gulp!)</p>



<p><em><a href="http://documents.hants.gov.uk/countryside/walks/TestWay-InkpentoHurstbourneTarrant.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hants.gov.uk</a></em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dutton Estate Walk at Hinton Ampner, Bramdean, near Alresford &#8211; Medium effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690.jpg" alt="Dutton Estate Walk at Hinton Ampner, Bramdean, near Alresford" class="wp-image-29473" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/12/Hinton-Ampner-Dutton-Estate-walk-in-winter-National-Trust-Images-Alison-Marsh-1392690-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pic: National Trust Images, Alison Marsh</figcaption></figure>



<p>With its far-reaching views, Hinton Ampner is a wonderful place for a feel-good walk. The large National Trust country estate has three routes to choose from, taking in woodland, quiet country lanes (look out for goldfinches flitting between the hedges) and ancient parkland. Take a photo of the routes on the board by the church in the garden. Varying in length – the walks start at just two miles &#8211; you can follow in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers, and take in the picturesque nearby village of Kilmeston. The four mile Dutton Estate Trail is a particular highlight, taking you along field edges with fine views and into magnificent beech woodland, before delivering you back to the gardens where you can warm up in the café with a nice hot drink.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/hinton-ampner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>nationaltrust.org.uk</em></a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fleet-pond-nature-reserve-leisurely-effort">Fleet Pond Nature Reserve &#8211; Leisurely effort</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="640" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/Fleet-Pond-2-Aimee-Rivers.jpg" alt="Fleet Pond Aimee Rivers" class="wp-image-15670" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/Fleet-Pond-2-Aimee-Rivers.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/Fleet-Pond-2-Aimee-Rivers-300x192.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/Fleet-Pond-2-Aimee-Rivers-768x492.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/Fleet-Pond-2-Aimee-Rivers-720x461.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Aimee Rivers</figcaption></figure>



<p>Fleet Pond is Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake, covering a vast 141 acres. On the border with Farnborough and relatively under-the-radar beyond the immediate locale, the nature reserve takes in heathland, marshes, woodland and open water, with plenty of wildlife to boot. </p>



<p>From the (free) car park, or nearby Fleet railway station, strike out on a leisurely 1km stroll following the red markers, or longer 3km and 4km rambles following the yellow and blue routes. Kids of a certain age will love the engaging 2km story trail from Hampshire County Council’s Countryside team – <a href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/princesspikeandpond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">the story of the princess, the pike and the pond</a>. </p>



<p>Afterwards, warm up by the fire at the cosy, nautical-inspired <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.destinationinns.co.uk/pubs/theherononthelake/" target="_blank">Heron on the Lake</a>, with good contemporary grown-up and kids’ menus and respectable wine list. Salut!</p>



<p><a href="https://www.farnhamrocks.co.uk/things-to-do/fleet-pond-circular-walk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Farnhamrocks.co.uk</em></a></p>


Great winter walks around Hampshire

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