At the start of the walk, you’ll want to take the canal footpath to the right. Take the footpath under the bridge and keep going straight keeping the river on your left. You will then come to another bridge after a slight incline.
Take the right turning in the direction of Newlyn’s Farm and walk over the bridge. As you walk onto the farm, go straight and walk inbetween the large green farm buildings. You will then see a red brick building on your left.
Turn left by the footpath sign, and follow the track that opens up and turns into a road, keep left and follow the road straight until you see an opening on your left and signs for Newlyn’s Farm Shop. You might want to stop and have a quick bite to eat, or grab a sausage roll for the walk.
Walk at a glance
- Start: Colt Hill Car Park, Colt Hill, Odiham, Hook RG29 1AL
- Distance: 7.06 kilometres
- Time: 1 hr 52 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
- URL: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/22928217
- Map: OS Explorer 144 Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch
- Toilets: Yes
- Nearest Pub (and café): Waterwitch pub, Colt Hill, London Rd, Odiham, Hook RG29 1AL
- OS Maps App rating: 4.5
After Newlyn’s Farm shop, the road bends round to the right but keep going straight ahead and follow the footpath that takes you through the tunnel and along the river. Keep following the path and cross the field until you reach the fence and tree line, and follow the path to your right until you reach a metal gate and stile.
Go over the stile and cross the road. Walk down Mill Lane and follow the road as it bends round to the left. Keep left and walk through the gate by the cattle grid.
Keep walking straight until you reach another cattle grid on your right, turn left and walk past the ford. Walk through the gate until you reach the second ford where you may want to stop and eat your sausage roll from earlier or dip your toes in the water.
On your right, walk through the kissing gate and cross the field. When you hit the canal footpath turn right. Shortly afterwards you will see the ruins of Odiham Castle, also known locally as King John’s Castle.
This landmark has been a part of many historical events, including the signing of the Magna Carta.
After exploring the castle, turn left and walk back along Basingstoke Canal until you reach the North Warnborough Lift Bridge, which you may be lucky enough to see in operation if there are any canal boats.
Turn right onto Tunnel Lane, and then take the stile on your right and cross over the field. Walk over the next two stiles until you are in the field and follow the fence line on your left. Cross over the stile into the next field and walk diagonally to the right-hand corner and walk through the stile.
Take the footpath that runs between the houses until you reach North Warnborough Street. Turn right and keeping walking straight, after Laurel Close on your left take the next left turning and follow the footpath straight. Keep walking straight up the gentle hill keeping the school playing fields on your left.
At the top walk down the steps, turn left and follow the road past the school. As the road bends round to the left, turn right onto Recreation Road and take the first turning on your left. Keep walking straight until you reach the main road. Cross at the traffic lights, keeping the converted Crown pub on your left and take the next footpath on your left. Keep walking straight until you reach All Saints Church.
Follow the path on the right around the church and at the top of the church yard turn left and take the road past Odiham Cottage Hospital. After the car park, turn left and you will immediately reach the road.
On the far-right hand side you will see a footpath, cross the road and follow the footpath along the edge of the field and as it bends around to the left.
Follow the footpath until you reach the edge of the field and go straight. The path will then bend round to the left. At the end of the path walk through the kissing gate, crossover the road and follow the path straight ahead through another kissing gate.
Keep walking, pass the new housing development on your right until you reach the road and then turn right.
You should recognise where you are as the car park is at the end of Colt Hill road on the right. But equally, should you want to rest your feet and have some lunch, then the Waterwitch is a great pub on your left and a stone’s throw away from your final destination.
Written by David Jones, Senior Press Officer at Ordnance Survey
Three tips to navigate with OS Maps App
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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