Enjoying the countryside Respect sites of ground-nesting birds Hampshire County Council

Hampshire boasts an extremely rich and diverse
countryside and an extensive network of public paths
which provide a range of opportunities for enjoying the
great outdoors. Rights of way are linear routes, which are
often ancient trackways through deep countryside. In fact,
there are over 3,000 miles of them in Hampshire.
The map in this leaflet shows other areas of land,
such as commons, woodlands, recreation grounds and
conservation areas, the Parish Council can give details of
events or guided walks in these areas. Many people will
be able to reach the countryside within a few hundred
yards of home and the plants, trees and views along the
same paths often change dramatically through the seasons.
We hope that this leaflet will encourage you to explore
and enjoy your local countryside.
Using the local countryside
We ask you to be responsible when using the paths in the
area and to check which paths you are entitled to use
(for example, cyclists cannot use public footpaths and
when on Forestry Commission land cyclists must stay on
the waymarked cycle routes). Wheelchairs, pushchairs and
deter use of them
dogs are allowed on all types of rights of way and areas
Should not obstruct paths or
with public access. Maintain most stiles and gates
vegetation
Keep back side growth and overhanging
Private Landowners:
Keeps the definitive map up-to-date
Authorises stiles and gates
Maintains path surfaces, some bridges and signs paths
Ensures that rights of way are not obstructed
public rights of way:
Keep dogs under close control public rights of way:
Dont light fires Ensures that rights of way are not obstructed
Take your litter home Maintains path surfaces, some bridges and signs paths
open Authorises stiles and gates
Close gates behind you unless they have been fastened
Keeps the definitive map up-to-date
forestry work
Plan ahead and follow any signs keep away from any
care when crossing roads
Be safe wear suitable clothing and shoes and take
Private Landowners:
Keep back side growth and overhanging
generations, be sure to:
vegetation
To ensure that the countryside is protected for future
Maintain most stiles and gates
with public access.
Should not obstruct paths or
dogs are allowed on all types of rights of way and areas
deter use of them
the waymarked cycle routes). Wheelchairs, pushchairs and
when on Forestry Commission land cyclists must stay on
(for example, cyclists cannot use public footpaths and
area and to check which paths you are entitled to use
We ask you to be responsible when using the paths in the
Using the local countryside
and enjoy your local countryside.
We hope that this leaflet will encourage you to explore
To ensure that the countryside is protected for future same paths often change dramatically through the seasons.
generations, be sure to: yards of home and the plants, trees and views along the
be able to reach the countryside within a few hundred
Be safe wear suitable clothing and shoes and take
care when crossing roads
events or guided walks in these areas. Many people will
conservation areas, the Parish Council can give details of
Plan ahead and follow any signs keep away from any such as commons, woodlands, recreation grounds and
forestry work The map in this leaflet shows other areas of land,
Close gates behind you unless they have been fastened there are over 3,000 miles of them in Hampshire.
open often ancient trackways through deep countryside. In fact,
Take your litter home
great outdoors. Rights of way are linear routes, which are
which provide a range of opportunities for enjoying the
Dont light fires countryside and an extensive network of public paths
Keep dogs under close control Hampshire boasts an extremely rich and diverse

Hampshire County Council Respect sites of ground-nesting birds Enjoying the countryside

Welcome to Overton
Overton is a large village and parish in Hampshire, located west
of the town of Basingstoke and east of Whitchurch. The village
contains a number of smaller hamlets: Southington, Northington,
Ashe, Polhampton and Quidhampton. The River Test, a chalk
stream world-famous for its trout fishing, and generally regarded
Useful contacts
Overton Parish Council
clerk@overtonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Exploring Overton
Mildmay Veterinary Clinic 01256 771998
as the birthplace of modern fly fishing, rises about a mile east of Overton Surgery 01256 770212
Overton at Ashe.
Defibrillator - available at the Co-op store
There are two ancient churches within the Parish: Ashe, which
was rebuilt in 1888 on the site of a much older Norman church,
and the Overton village church of St. Marys which has a diptych Public Houses
board recording rectors and vicars since 1246. There is evidence The Greyhound 01256 770241
of habitation since the Bronze Age, for example Abra Barrow, The Old House at Home 01256 770335
with finds of Neolithic flints.
The Red Lion 01256 773363
The area has a history of banknote and security paper The White Hart 01256 771431
manufacture starting in the 18th Century and Overton Mill still
produces banknotes for the Bank of England and other countries.
Restaurants, Coffee Shops & Takeaways
Most of Overton parish is entirely rural with the north of the
parish being in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding The Clock & Thyme 01256 771771
Natural Beauty (AONB). The Harroway, within the AONB, was Mariners Fish & Chips 01256 770082
originally a long distance route to Salisbury. Overton Gallery 01256 773143
Overton Kebab House 01256 771040
All walks start from Overton Hill car park (OS Explorer map
Pickles (Indian) 01256 770463
144, reference SU 517 497). The described routes collectively
The Redfort (Indian) 01256 770544
10242 PRINTED BY HAMPSHIRE PRINTING SERVICES 01962 870099

pass the River Test source, one of the barrows and Overton
Mill. Longer walks can be undertaken by combining routes 2
with 1 and 4 with 3. Overton also has Walkers are Welcome
accreditation (walkersarewelcome.org.uk)
Countryside Information
Hampshire County Council
hants.gov.uk/countryside
Rights of way maps online
localviewmaps.hants.gov.uk/LocalViewmaps/Sites/
ROWOnline
Local Ramblers
northhampshiredownsramblers.org.uk
Disclaimer: Published by Overton Parish Council and Hampshire County Council, through the
Small Grants Scheme Countryside Access. The routes described have been put forward by the
Parish Council. Whilst the County Council endeavours to maintain all rights of way to a high standard,
additional resources are not allocated to routes promoted in this leaflet. Every care has been taken
in the preparation of this leaflet, but Hampshire County Council is unable to accept any responsibility
for accident or loss resulting from following the information provided.
 Route 3: Take a picnic
2 mile; no stiles; a few steps. Note: this walk may be impassable
during and after winter; therefore use road alternative.
Exit the car park through the playing fields, bearing right, crossing
N Overton Hill Road and going uphill towards Berrydown Sports
Ground. At the top, turn left following the footpath sign and
David's Wood
@@ walk mile underneath a row of overhead lines. At the end of
the field, turn right along the field edge and continue across the
David's Wood
@@ field exiting on to a road through a gap in the hedge.
Beware of traffic as you cross the road (Straight Lane). Go into
the field and continue in the same direction as before, until you
reach an area of young trees. Go downhill.
Bear left and follow the field boundary for about 50 yards. Turn
right along the track. There are narrow footbridges to the left,
which ford the Test when in flood. If impassable,
use road alternative (see below). At the
end of this track, turn left onto the

1076.912663
PC road. After about mile, pass
Car Park
Ogmore House and take the
right of way on the right before
the next house. Follow this
hedge-lined green lane and pass
under the railway.
After passing under the railway,
take the steps on your left, and
PC enter Davids Wood (a small,
fenced plantation of trees) via a
Car Park
gate then find a bench for your picnic
or continue straight ahead and leave by the
gate at the far end to emerge onto a lane.
Turn left and follow the lane. Turn left at the T-junction, cross
the road and continue downhill past Station Approach and
Quidhampton Farm on the right. Just after the fire station,
take the footpath left up Lambs Close. Turn right opposite the
garage block when the car park will be in sight.
Alternative road route
Return to Straight Lane and turn right, heading north.
At T-junction, go right. After a large cottage on the left, go
left along the hedge-lined green lane and continue the route as
described above.

Route 4: Past the source of the Test

Alternative Short Route
(does not go past the source of the Test)
2 or 4 miles; no stiles or gates on the shorter route; 4 kissing
gates and a stile on the longer.
Turn right out of the car park and take the first road on the
left onto Waltham Road. Continue until just past the last house
and take the footpath on the left, which is just after a right-hand
bend (the footpath sign is slightly hidden in the hedge). The path
Circular routes ends at a gate at Berrydown Farm where there is a choice...
Shortcut (a)Turn left along Berrydown Lane, cross the B3400 onto
Footpath Straight Lane. Ignore the footpath on the right and continue to a
Bridleway cross path. Take the left path, crossing to the corner
of the field. Turn left up hill until the corner
Byway open to all traffic
of the sports field is reached. Turning right
takes you back to the car park.
(b)Turn right at Berrydown Farm and
Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey [100019180]. You are permitted to use this data solely to enable you to respond to, or interact with, the organisation that go along the concrete track until it
provided you with the data.You are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.
passes a footpath sign on the right,
and as the concrete track bears
Route 1: The Harroway Legend the railway station. Cross over the footbridge. Exit the station
and turn right along the road. Turn left down Copse Road.
right go left along the path on the
edge of the woods until a kissing
5 miles; two stiles; very steep steps down and up to cross the railway gate is reached. Pass through this and
When the road bears left, take the footpath to the left of the
line; further steps up and over a footbridge. Overton route 4 extension
blue grit salt bin. Bear right downhill between the houses and almost immediately another. Go up the
Turn right out of the car park to the traffic lights. Turn left mesh fence. field bearing slightly right heading for the
onto Winchester Street and turn right at the Greyhound The Harroway
On reaching the road, turn left and immediately left again onto right-hand edge of trees that can be seen in
pub onto Greyhound Lane. Continue the bridleway. At the road turn right. Just after the fire station, the distance. Exit the field through a kissing gate onto
straight ahead at the crossroads AtakeWalk for Wet
the footpath left upDays
Lambs Close. Turn right opposite the Burley Lane. Turn left and go down the lane until the B3400 is
onto Dellands. garage block when the car park is in sight. reached.
Cross straight over and continue to Ashe Church. Turn left
When the road bears sharp Circular route at the church and left again just past
right, take the track Route 2: A walk for wet days
immediately ahead. a farm pond (often dry). Almost
Ignore the first footpath
Shortcut/
5 miles; no stilesExtension
or gates. immediately turn right through a
on the right and bear Turn right out of the car park to the traffic lights. Turn left gateway and follow the track
right at the T-junction. Fording the Test
onto Winchester Street and turn right at the Greyhound to a kissing gate. (The lake
Take the next right onto pub onto Greyhound Lane. Continue straight ahead at the on the left is the source
a footpath between two Footpath
crossroads onto Dellands. of the River Test). On
banked hedges. Cross When the road bears sharp right, take the track immediately passing through the kissing
the main road (B3400) Bridleway
ahead. Ignore the first footpath on the right. At the T-junction gate, head towards a field
onto Southington Lane. take the left hand path for approximately one mile. Turn boundary corner on the
right, then continue to cross
After crossing the River Test, Byway
right and take open to all traffic
the metalled road which runs between fields
the field in the same direction
take the footpath opposite (just of livestock. The road bears right after mile, continue along
behind The Lynch road sign). On reaching the road, passing Abra Barrow and Turrell Hill Farm. Take the to a stile and a small footbridge
a track, turn right, passing the sewerage works on the left. green lane on the right and then the first footpath on the left across the stream.
Carefully cross the railway line using stiles and steps. between two banked hedges down to the B3400. Head slightly left and straight ahead up
Follow the footpath for approximately one mile, until you Cross the road and follow Southington Lane onto Silk Mill the hill and across the field until Straight Lane
reach a byway (Harroway). Turn right and walk another one Lane. At the T-junction, turn right which becomes Church is reached. Cross over and continue in the same direction,
mile until you reach the road (B3051). Cross, and continue Road passing Court Farm and St. Marys Church. At the end of crossing to the corner of the field. Turn left up hill until the
on the byway. Take the first right, passing De La Rue Mill. Just Church Lane, turn right and follow the road back to the traffic corner of the sports field is reached. Turning right towards
ase rights 2016 Ordnance Survey [100019180]. You are
before the railway bridge, take the permissive path on the right permitted to use this data solely to enable you to respond to, or interact with, the organisation
Overton that
Hill housing estate, cross the road and follow the
lights, then retrace your steps back to the car park.
ou are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form. tarmac path past the childrens playground back to the car park.
between the railway embankment and a high green fence to