The Itchen Way and Alre Valley Trail
Many thanks to Martin for carefully planning an excellent route through charming and peaceful Hampshire villages, with an excellent pub. 14 of us enjoyed the sunshine and good walking We were only sorry Martin could not be with us but thanks to Andy for stepping in
Travel by car to Arlebury Park recreation ground Alresford as follows:
West on M4 to M25 South to M3 junction 4 onto the A331 to Farnham bypass and Winchester via the A31. Continue on the A31 by-passing Alton through Four Marks and Ropley to a roundabout. Turn off right onto the B 3047 signposted Alresford and Bishops Sutton. Pass through BS and arrive in East street Alresford. Continue through the Town passing Broad Street on your right slowly proceeding to the west edge of Town preparing to turn right and looking out for Perrins School on your left immediately followed by a blue “P” parking sign pointing right to the Arlebury Park Town Council Recreation Ground Sports Clubs. Carefully turn right into the car park
A circular route starting westward along edge of Alresford onto the Itchen Way via open countryside and crossing the Itchen river water meadows to the villages of Tichborne and Ovington for lunch destination. We return along the Itchen river to Itchen Stoke to the Alre river which we follow back Alresford.
Bush Inn in Ovington. Menus will be circulated, pease let Martin Parsley (Martinparsleypersonal@gmail.com) know your choices by Thursday evening.
Possibilities of a cup of tea in Alresford Town.
Interesting facets of the walk are the chance to see close at hand:
Two of our finest chalk streams with an abundance of grayling (the salmon family) and trout.
Watercress beds, water meadows and Alresford Pond.
The Watercress Line at Alresford Station including old rolling stock. (Railway to Alton and back). The line to London closed some years ago. The disused railway line.
Deer and other wild animals.
Heron and other birds.
The variable Hampshire countryside with farms and fine country houses.
A vineyard.
The unique Georgian town of Alresford.
The quaint thatched cottages of the villages of Tichborne, Itchen Stoke and Ovington.
The ancient Fulling Mill and Eel House
4 interesting churches one dating back to the 11th century.