Soak up Denmead and ancient Creech Wood with walking route

Set off from the Harvest Home pub car park and head straight across the roundabout onto Bunkers Hill. Follow the road up until the 40 mph signs and then head left away from the pavement onto a wooded trail which will take you into Creech Woods. This ancient woodland is one of the last remaining areas of the medieval Forest of Bere, which served as a Royal Forest in Norman times. Today it is characterised by tall ancient broad-leaved trees that stretch towards the sky. Walk right through the car park to the path signposted at the far end, then turn left to join the main woodland trail that points off into the distance. Immediately the sounds will change and you’ll hear a cacophony of birds above singing from the treetops.

Follow the path for ten minutes, ignoring two separate crossroads along the way, before the dense tree cover changes to an avenue of small lime trees on either side of the path. You’ll get a first glimpse of Furzeley Golf Course on your right-hand side. Step over the bridleway at the end of the path and turn right onto Furzeley Road. Face the oncoming traffic and advance beyond the golf course sign that says ‘Holes 10 to 18’ on your right. Arrive at the T-junction and follow the signpost for Three Ways and Sheepwash heading right. Continue along this wide country road as it bends round beside the golf course, which brings a view of Portsdown Hill peaking through the trees on the horizon. Eventually arrive at an overgrown sign for Belney Lane and turn right here. Meander along the road past a field of solar panels on your right until the reach a footpath sign directing you to turn left between Cartree and Halls Cottages.

Stroll past covered haybales and continue onwards on a trail that passes between two large oaktrees. This will take you into a wide-open field, where the faint tracing of a trail can be followed straight through to the field edge where the next stile is. The path here is slightly overgrown, with a barbed wire fence on your right-hand side. Advance through for a couple of minutes until the path becomes grassier and wider. Follow the path until you reach the gate blocking off a private farm, then turn left where signposted and follow the grass as it doglegs between fields. You may interrupt pheasants in the hedgerows here.

Once you arrive at a metal gate, turn right onto Sheepwash Lane. Pass Sheepwash Farm on your right, cross a bridge over a stream and then look out for a Wayfarers Walk signpost on the left-hand side which is partially covered by overgrown branches. Head through into a woodland path, cross a wooden bridge over a stream and then arrive at the next field edge, where you turn right and follow it all the way along with an electric fence to guide you on your left. Keep to the obvious Wayfarers Walk route here, crossing stiles and bridges until you stumble upon the farm buildings at Closewood Piggeries. Keep going straight over the stiles throughout the complex where you will arrive at Newlands Lane. Climb the final stile next to a stone wall and turn left.

Progress to the T-junction at the end of the road and turn right onto Closewood Road. In the distance Waterlooville will come into view. Keep going, passing Pipers Lodge on your left. Next on the left-hand side you will see a green Wayfarers Walk sign directing you into woodland and then a field edge. Follow the field edge all the way around until you turn right at the end of it. From here the next signpost will come into view. Cross a small, wooded section before walking directly onto the fairway at Furzeley Golf Club. Follow the Wayfarers Walk sign that points you alongside a stream between two putting greens. Continue to reach the wooded permitter of the golf course and follow it around to the left until the next Wayfarers Walk sign appears that will direct you on a path between the golf course car park and the driving range.

Eventually you will come out onto Furzeley Road. Turn right and head back towards Denmead. Cross the junction with Forest Road onto the obvious footpath directly ahead. Once you reach Mead End Road, turn immediately left onto the Greenway. This paved route will take you all the way through suburban Denmead, following the village’s Jubilee fitness trail launched in 2002. Look out for numerous purple QR codes on lampposts which are easy to follow and will direct you safely back through houses, children’s playparks and greenspaces to the Harvest Home pub where you started. 

Walk at a glance

Start: The Harvest Home car park, Southwick Road, Denmead, PO7 6LB.

Distance: 7.2 km

Time: 1hr 51 minutes.

Difficulty: Moderate

URL: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/20687013

Map: OS Explorer OL3 (Meon Valley – Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham)

Toilets: None

Nearest Pub: The Harvest Home

OS Maps App rating: 5 stars

Three tips to navigate with OS Maps App

1. The red triangle on the OS Maps App is your friend. Hold your phone out in front of you like a torch, and if you turn 180 degrees, so will the triangle. That points you in the direction you need to go.

2. Don’t slavishly follow the red line on the route. Remember, in OS Maps App, this line is only a navigational guide. Pay close attention to the pathways (denoted by black dotted lines on the map). In practice these are the markings you’ll need to make your way around on the ground.

3. Keep an eye on the app whenever approaching forks in the route. Use common sense - if a suggested path looks untrodden or in bad condition, then stay on the main one.

Download OS Maps App from the Ordnance Survey shop. Full annual subscription is available for £34.99.