Bramdean
Children will enjoy hunting down the church hidden inside the woodland of Bramdean Common on this walk.
Church in the Woods, Bramdean Common
The Route
Time: 30 mins
Distance: 2.3 km
Terrain: Woodland paths that can be muddy, grassy paths across meadows, flat
Pushchair: No, the woodland paths area narrow and uneven
Dogs: Yes, but on leads from 1st March to 31st July to protect ground nesting birds on open access land. We noticed Paws Meadow, a farm with an off-lead paddock for hire just across the road from the church
Refreshments: Although not on the route, nearby Bramdean has a pub with a good sized garden called The Fox
Toilets: None
Public Transport: Stagecoach bus route 67, Petersfield to Winchester, stopping at The Fox public house. Walk in Petersfiled direction along A272 and join footpath on left just after Bramdean Farm. This will take you to Bramdean Common.
Parking: A small, free parking area on Bramdean Common at the junction of Wood Lane, Old Park Road and Uncle Bills (Postcode: SO24 0JH - W3W: replenish/organs/gravitate)
The woodland of Bramdean Common
You can only reach this church by following footpaths through woodland. It is an absolutely enchanting little place and our guide will help you find it, whilst enjoying a circular route around Bramdean Common.
The Basics
Begin at the small parking area at the junction of Wood Lane and Old Park Road. Walk away from the road as far as a metal post and then turn left. Walk between two oak trees and stop when you reach a restricted byway access track. Turn left here, back towards the road. Cross the road and join the wide grassy path opposite, bearing right (there is some parking here if the aforementioned place was full).
The grassy path will take you across Bramdean Common. Ignore the first path on your left and keep going to roughly the middle of the open area. Just as the pair of cottages to your right begin to fade from your periphery, look for a path going up to your left, defined by tire tracks. This will take you up to the road (there is another parking area here if the others are full).
Cross the road and enter the woodland opposite by going around the large metal gate. Follow the path into the trees, passing a barn along the way. When the path reaches a junction, bear right. You are now entering the area where the church can be found, but it still is not easy to spot, especially when the trees are in full leaf! The first thing you should see before seeing the church is the picket fence around it away to your left. The little church is usually closed, but there are some information signs and you can peep inside the windows. We have added some information about the history of the church below.
When you have finished at the church, look for the path that runs parallel to the left of the church. You should walk up it with the church directly to your right. The path is initially quite narrow and muddy, but does soon improve. When you reach an obvious crossroad with some larger forest tracks, turn left.
Walk along the forestry track until you come to a staggered crosspaths around a central tree. Take the path to the left. You will pass a small tyre discarded on the ground to your left and the path will narrow considerably. At the end of this section, you will reach a small T-junction. Turn right here.
Continue along this path until you almost reach the edge of the woodland. At the boundary to the woodland, where there is nothing between you and fields except for a line of beech trees, you will come to a wider path. Turn left here and follow the path out to the road. You will see your car ahead of you.
Did you know?
The Upper Itchen Benefice Church in the Woods was built in 1883 at the bequest of Reverend Alfred Ceaser Bishop in order that the commoners, gypsy itinerants and charcoal burners who used Bramdean Common would have a place to worship.
His widow Louisa Francis Katharine died in 1893 and her will gave monies to be held in trust to ensure the future preservation of the church.
The current trustees do a grand job in this preservation, with a recent replacement of the bell tower looking splendid in shiny new copper. If you are interested in going inside, Evensong is held on the second and fourth Sunday each month from May to September at 3pm, with a carol service on the second Sunday in December.
If you enjoyed this walk…
..try this one at Bedham, near Petworth. The church is merely a ruin, but its woodland location is equally enchanting.
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