West Meon
On this walk, children will enjoy the ‘secret’ park and a paddle in The River Meon in the summer.
The Basics
Time: 1hr 20mins
Distance: 4.8km
Terrain: Flat disused railway track, country lanes, fields with stiles, busy road to cross. There is a section of lane to walk on where cars (and bikes) can come quite fast. However, it is a wide lane and we have often walked it with our children without even seeing a car at all.
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: Yes, and they are allowed in the park. There are two stiles.
Refreshments: You will pass the The George and Falcon, with riverside seating, half way around in Warnford. There are also picnic benches at Warnford Park and at The Meon Valley Trail Car Park. As a slight extension from this walk, you could also head to The Thomas Lord pub in West Meon.
Toilets: None.
Parking: Meon Valley Trail car park, off Station Road - free (Postcode: GU32 1JJ - W3W: reclaimed/dreamers/battling)
Starting out on the disused railway track of the Meon Line, this walk then circles round to the riverside village of Warnford, where children can play and paddle at the rural park.
The Route
The car park is beside what was once West Meon Train Station. There are picnic benches here and children will enjoy exploring the old tracks and bridge. The walk itself begins with The Meon Valley Trail, signposted at the far end of the car park.
Follow the trail in a straight line until you see the first path leading off the main trail. This path will be on your right and will go up the embankment, signposted Warnford village.
The path will lead you up onto a road. You need to turn right here, but first it is fun to stand on the bridge to your left and look back over the path you just walked along. Walk along Hayden Lane. The road has no pavement, but is wide and relatively quiet with perhaps more cyclists than cars! When cars do come, they can be speedy, so be cautious.
As you approach Warnford, you will need to cross the busy A32 with care. Take the lane directly opposite, passing the George and Falcon on the corner. The stream on your left will open to a ford where you should cross the bridge and turn right onto Lippen Lane.
Almost immediately, look out for the playground sign and a gap in the hedge on your right. There is a lovely, quiet park here with a play area, picnic benches and access to a wide, shallow section of The River Meon.
Turn right when exiting the park and continue along Lippen Lane. Pass all the cottages and follow the much quieter country lane as it climbs up a gradual hill. After all of the houses have been left behind you, look out for a footpath sign on your right, opposite a grain store and just before the road returns to National Speed Limit. The footpath begins with a stile going into a field.
Follow the path along the top of the field with views to a fishery pond away to your right. When you reach the hedge at the far side of the field, you will need to turn right. Look for the stile in the hedge here (it can be hard to spot in summer!). Go over the stile along a short narrow section before emerging at the top of a second field. Walk along the top of this field and views of West Meon and the church will slowly come into view before you will descend down to the village.
As you come to the end of the field, you will cross a gravelled access area. Walk straight ahead and look for a very narrow ‘walkers only’ footpath between fences that goes behind some houses and ends at the graveyard. Go over the stone stile into the graveyard and turn right down the gravelly the church path.
Follow the gravel path down hill, out of the churchyard and between a series of cottages. The path will end at the A32 where you will need to carefully cross again. Almost directly opposite, but slightly to your left, you will see the start of Station Road and a signpost directing you to The Meon Valley Trail. Follow this lane as it curves around and back up to the entrance to the car park.
Before the car park, there is a footpath on your left signed for West Meon shops and pub. You can follow this as a small diversion if you fancy a visit to the village stores and The Thomas Lord pub.
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.
