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The walk starts in the attractive village of Chawton, famous for its Jane Austen connections, at the entrance to Chawton House. Chawton is about a 30min walk from Alton Town Centre and there is a subway to cross the busy A31 bypass. Chawton is served directly by bus route 23, and the more frequent 64 route stops at the A31/32 roundabout. There is free parking on Gosport Road, and a free car park at the end of this Road. Start by walking down the drive to Chawton House and taking the permissive path across the parkland to the right of the ticket/coffee-hut. Walk in front of Chawton Parish Church and head towards Dyer’s barn in the distance.
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Passing the barn on your right, continue to follow the path across parkland, going through gate and keeping the wood on your left. Pass through Noar Copse towards a cultivated (sometimes ploughed!) field.
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Follow the path up the righthand side of the field and enter the wood on a gentle uphill path to reach the highest point on the walk at 497 feet. The path emerges from the wood, with a good view of the village of Upper Farringdon. Proceed downhill to crossroads and turn left in front of the Village Garden. For a shorter walk turn right and jump to Section 6.
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After about 300yds follow the track to the right with a large brick building, Massey’s Folly visible in the distance. Massey’s Folly is an unusual building to find in a small village and was conceived by the Rev. Thomas Massey in the second half of the nineteenth century. Also, if you divert into the churchyard on your left, you can see the Farringdon Yew tree which is over 3000 years old. Turn left on Church Road, and then turn right onto Crows lane after 100 yds. The Rose and Crown Inn on your left is a good walker friendly pub to stop for refreshments. At the road-junction, turn right into The Street.
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After a further 300 yds turn right into Church Street, following the finger post towards Worldham, and then bear left into Parsonage Close, and immediately take the path on the right in front of the red Ex-telephone box. Proceed back to the cross-roads from earlier and turn left.
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Follow the track down the hill and cross the A32 road. Continue straight-on along lane, taking the path on right just before old railway over-bridge. Proceed down steep staircase onto track-bed of the disused Meon Valley Railway, which closed in 1955. Follow the track-bed north.
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After about 1 mile the path passes under an old railway over-bridge, and shortly afterwards evidence of the old railway dissolves as the land has been returned to agricultural use. There was an impressive display of wild-flowers here in spring 2024.
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The path crosses the field then bends to right to pass through a small copse before turning back towards the A32. Carefully descend steps and cross the A32. Climb the steps the other side and follow the narrow path which emerges in Ferney Close. At the end of the close turn right onto Gosport Road and walk the short distance back to the start.
