West Meon
On this walk, children will enjoy the ‘secret’ park and a paddle in The River Meon in the summer.
Children can access the River Meon from the park at Warnford
The Basics
Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Distance: 4.8 km / 3 miles
Terrain: Flat disused railway track, country lanes with no pavements, stiles, busy road to cross.
Pushchair: You won’t be able to do this circular walk with a pushchair, but if you are looking for a pushchair walk in the area, the linear Meon Valley Trail that starts from this car park is suitable.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk and in the park.
Refreshments: There are picnic benches at Warnford Park and at The Meon Valley Trail car park. As a slight extension, you could walk to The Thomas Lord pub.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 67 between Petersfield and Winchester stops in the centre of West Meon. Join this walk at Station Road.
Parking: Meon Valley Trail car park off Station Road, free (Postcode: GU32 1JJ - W3W: ///reclaimed.dreamers.battling)
The disused Meon Valley line provides a starting point for this walk
Starting out on the disused railway track of the Meon Line, this walk circles round to the riverside village of Warnford, where children can play and paddle at the rural park. The return brings you along the top of the river valley and into the delightful village of West Meon with its striking church and well-loved pub.
The Route
1. The walk begins on the Meon Valley Trail, signed at the far end of the car park. Follow the trail along the old track bed of the railway until you see the first path leading off to your right, going up the embankment, signed Warnford. The path leads up to Hayden Lane. Turn right and walk down the road - be aware there is no pavement for the next kilometre.
2. At Warnford, cross the A32. Take the lane opposite, passing the closed George & Falcon on your left. Cross the bridge and turn right onto Lippen Lane. Almost immediately, look out for the playground sign on your right. On the other side of the hedge is a play area, picnic benches and access to a wide, shallow section of The River Meon.
3. Turn right when exiting the park and continue along Lippen Lane. Pass all the cottages and gradually climb up hill. After the last house, take the footpath on your right, opposite a grain store. Go over the stile into a field.
4. Follow the path along the top of the field with a fishery away to your right. At the hedge on the far side, turn right, then immediately go over the stile and along a short, narrow section of path before emerging into a second field. Walk along the top of the field and views of the church will come into sight as you descend to the village.
5. At the edge of the field, cross a gravel area. Walk straight ahead and follow a narrow ‘walkers only’ footpath between garden fences to the graveyard. Go over the stone stile and turn right down the church path. Follow it down hill, out of the graveyard and between a series of cottages. Cross the A32 at the bottom.
6. Bear left and walk up Station Road, following the sign to the Meon Valley Trail. Follow the lane back up to the entrance to the car park. On a bend, there is a footpath on your left signed ‘West Meon shops and pub’. Follow this as a short diversion to The Thomas Lord pub.
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Did you know?
The terrain around West Meon needed some smart and costly engineering when construction of The Meon Valley Line took place. A bridge was needed, a tunnel and a wrought iron viaduct.
The four span viaduct was demolished in 1957 and the station buildings were taken down and the rubble used as hardcore for a car park in Denmead!
Two contrasting alumni of West Meon lie at the graveyard this walk crosses. One is the founder of Lords cricket ground, Sir Thomas Lord, and the other is former soviet spy Guy Burgess. The former’s tomb can be passed by on this route.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Droxford where you can also paddle in the River Meon
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