Hurstbourne Tarrant from Andover and Newbury
The first stage of the TW starts very close to its highest point of 280m with panoramic views. The route wends its way initially over rolling downland and then through Combe Wood, past Hart Hill Down and on to Linkenholt before arriving at Ibthorpe and, shortly afterwards, Hurstbourne Tarrant where it ends at the car park which is also the start and finish of Walk 1.
Exit the car park and cross the road to the ‘ribbon of chalk and flint’ streaming across the escarpment towards Combe Gibbet on Gallows Down. Go past the gibbet keeping to the rutted track for another 500 metres to reach a three-way track junction and several towering beech trees.
Bear left and continue slightly uphill to the end of the hedge where there is a public bridleway sign. Cross the dividing grassy area between two open fields to the right-hand side of the hedge in front and, as the broad field margin curves gradually to the left, descend towards a field gate and side gate.
Go through the side gate and bear left (past a Buttermere Estate wooden sign) staying alongside the boundary as it arcs gently around the top edge of the field to another field gate that opens on to an enclosed rutted farm track with distant views to the right. Continue along the track to a junction with a bridleway (left) and a stile (right) – where there is also another Buttermere Estate sign the other side of the fence. The track becomes more loosely surfaced as it descends very sharply alongside Combe Wood. At the bottom of the dip, turn directly left into Combe Wood through an opening next to a ‘fixed’ field gate ignoring the unmarked grassy path straight ahead.
Follow the woodland track to a track junction where there is a signpost confirming that the track so far is a byway and the track ahead is a public bridleway. Continue through the woodland to a second public bridleway signpost at the point where the TW is joined by another track from the left. Emerge from Combe Wood and keep to the track along the field boundary at the base of Hart Hill Down to a single storey old farm building (left).
Alongside Combe Wood
In a further 300 metres, the track forks by a second more contemporary single storey building – an ‘outdoor activities’ facility. Take the right-hand fork for 75 metres uphill towards a modest flint cottage. Opposite the cottage is the TW waymarked path that goes directly into the woodland. The incline through the woodland of 150 metres is quite steep and the path is full of tree roots.
At the top, climb the stile on to the field margin that leads to a dark tunnel of laurel hedging and evergreen trees. At the end is a residential access drive where you should turn left to a narrow road and then left again towards Linkenholt and the unassuming – but nonetheless very attractive – Grade II-listed Church of St Peter. The Church of St Peter was largely rebuilt using flint in 1871 but retains several features of its original Norman construction.
St Peter’s at Linkenholt
Continue through the village to a road T-junction and a small triangular grassy area on which there is a brick built plinth. Raised on the plinth is metal seating that surrounds a horse chestnut tree. Bear right at the junction passing a waymarked path by several large barns (left) and go straight on for another 500 metres to a hedge and tree-lined grass and stony track that is TW waymarked (left).
Follow the track for 600 metres to a track junction and then continue for a further 800 metres to reach a track crossover where you should bear left. The track is mainly hedge and tree-lined – although at times open on both sides – as it crosses cultivated downland in a broad arc sweeping around to the right for 3km towards Ibthorpe.
Jane Austen was a regular visitor to the now Grade II-listed Georgian country house – Ibthorpe House – which it is thought she used as the model for Longbourn – the home of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice.
Shortly after passing Upper Ibthorpe Farm at the eastern edge of Ibthorpe, you will come to a junction at the unmarked Horseshoe Lane. Bear left for 200 metres to reach the gate at the entrance to a farm access track. Go through the TW waymarked side gate – which is where this stage meets Walk 1 coming from Hurstbourne Tarrant – and follow the track for 90 metres to another gate (right), which opens on to a grassy path enclosed by wooden post and rail fencing. Half way along the path is a small enclosure of trees called ‘John’s Copse 1969’ where the names of several animals are recorded on slate memorial plaques.
Continue along the path to a gate fronting a patch of scrubland and the bed of the River Swift, which is immediately to the right. Cross the few metres to a kissing gate and a grassy path enclosed by electric fencing.
The bed of the intermittent River Swift continues in parallel – a ‘winterbourne’, which from time to time feeds into the Bourne Rivulet – a tributary of the River Test. The flow of the Swift has been interrupted for very long periods in the past when there has been insufficient rain during the winter.
At the end of the path is a wide field gate that opens on to a very small area of meadow. Continue to the gate opposite and follow the enclosed grassy path to an old kissing gate that leads to a stony path and the busy A343 running through Hurstbourne Tarrant.
Between Linkenholt and Hurstbourne Tarrant
Cross the road to the residential access track that gives way to another enclosed path alongside a rendered wall. After a few metres ignore the waymarked footpath and stile (left) and continue to a second old kissing gate that opens into a rising field; descend diagonally right for 125 metres to a third old kissing gate and the B3048. Cross the road and bear left for 90 metres, passing the school, before turning right to join the rough tarmac track for the few metres to the recreation ground car park.
STAGE 2
Hurstbourne Tarrant to St Mary Bourne
| Start | The community centre and recreation ground car park, Hurstbourne Tarrant (SU 385 528) |
| Finish | Bourne Meadow recreation ground car park, St Mary Bourne (SU 422 503) |
| Distance | 5km (3 miles) |
| Time | 1hr 15min |
| Map | OS Explorer 131 |
| Refreshments | Hurstbourne Tarrant: George & Dragon (01264 736277) (400 metres off route); St Mary Bourne: The George Inn (01264 738153) and the village shop, Bourne Valley Inn (01264 738361) (600 metres off route) |
| Public transport | Trains to Andover and Newbury; bus services to Hurstbourne Tarrant from Andover and Newbury and to St Mary Bourne (very limited) from Andover |
| Accommodation | Hurstbourne Tarrant and St Mary Bourne |
Although this is the shortest stage of the TW, it is certainly not short on
