Holybourne
Alton
Children will enjoy the very well equipped play area, the duck pond and spotting pigs, alpacas, sheep, geese, ponies, chickens and donkeys too!
There are lots of animals to spot from the footpaths of this walk
The Basics
Time: 45 mins
Distance: 2.5 km / 1.6 miles
Terrain: Flat field paths, pavements, quiet country lanes.
Pushchair: A pushchair will make it around the first half of the walk as the kissing gates are designed to be wheelchair friendly.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk but they should be one leads around farm animals and are not allowed into the park.
Refreshments: The White Hart is on the route and has a brilliant play area and a covered outdoor dining section.
Toilets: There are no public toilets on this route.
Public Transport: Cresta Coaches route 206 from Alton stops at Vindomis Close, opposite the play area.
Parking: Free parking at the side of London Road, opposite Town and Country Cars, next to the park is a good place to aim for (Postcode: GU34 4HA - W3W: ///impresses.unzipped.light)
Holybourne Park has a brilliant play area with lots to keep children busy
Holybourne is an attractive village on the outskirts of Alton. Our walk starts from the excellent children’s play area and takes an easy route past some of the neighbouring farms where children can spot a wide range of animals from the paths. As you return to the village you will also walk past the church, duckpond and family-friendly pub with its own play area. Although it is only a short walk, it has enough to fill a few hours.
The Route
The walk starts at Lower Neatham Mill Lane, which leads off London Road, the main village road, between Town and Country Cars and The White Hart. Follow this quiet lane and walk under the railway bridge. When you almost reach the busy A31, turn right through the kissing gate and walk along the footpath.
As you walk along this path look out for some farm animals in the paddocks on your right including sheep, alpacas, donkeys and pigs. Go through the next kissing gate and then cross over a little stream. When we last walked the next stretch of path there were some very tame and friendly sheep grazing. You should also look out for a little second-hand book swap box and a bench from which to enjoy your book by the stream.
Exit through another kissing gate and turn right at the lane on the other side. Pass under the railway again and head up to the main village road. Turn right and pass the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall before crossing the road when you see the school. Walk with the school to your left and then turn left up Howard’s Lane.
At the top of Howard’s Lane, the quiet country road will bend round to the right and you will then see the church. Enter the churchyard through the lychgate. Pass the church to your left and then exit the churchyard with the duck pond immediately to your right (those with pushchairs will need to miss out section five as the field paths would be too tricky. Instead, turn right and walk back to the village along the lane).
Turn left as you come out of the churchyard and walk up the lane. Just after the house with the flagpole, turn right onto a footpath that is just to the left of their black metal railings. Turn right when you see an arch of ivy and enter a field. Keeping the boundary of the field to your right, follow the path to the other side. Exit the field and pass Field Cottage on your left and then re-join the footpath by going through the gate into the paddock. Walk through ‘the power cable portal’ (that description will make sense when you see it), cross the paddock and then go through the next gate. As you walk through the next paddocks, you will see free range chickens to your right and ponies to your left. Go out through the gate and back to the main village road.
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Did you know?
The first set of animals that you will see on this walk belong to Mill Cottage Farm Experience, a family run mobile farm experience where the animals visit schools, care homes, nurseries, birthday parties etc. You can find out more on their website. Be aware that if the animals are out for the day, you may not see them on this walk!
If you enjoyed this walk…
Try this one at Greatham which has a play area made by the same company.
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