Hampshire

Stewkeley walk at Hinton Ampner

Enjoy the open spaces on this short walk taking visitors across the Hinton Ampner estate countryside towards the village of Kilmeston before looping back to the entry of the estate in Hampshire. Discover parkland, meadows, wildlife, an avenue of beech trees and Kilmeston's manor house and Norman church.

Near to

Hinton Ampner

Start point

Gated entrance just off the main drive behind the church, grid ref: SU597275

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.9 (km: 3.04)

Duration 50 mins to 1 hour

Dog friendly***

*The route has fields with livestock and crops and is on country roads with traffic. For further details, please see section marked Terrain.
**Designated parking and accessible toilets available. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on leads near wildlife and livestock. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Keep gates shut

There are grazing animals around the estate, so please shut any gates that you open.

Address
Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LA.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Winchester station 9 miles; Petersfield station 10 miles; Alresford station (Mid-Hants Railway steam railway, linked via mainline services at Alton) 4 miles. See bus details for transfers to Hinton Ampner.
On foot
Arrival on foot to main gates off the A272. Make your way up the main driveway to visitor reception using the gates next to both cattle grids.
Arrival from direct access from Wayfarers Way, linked to South Downs Way, please report to reception at far end of the main drive on arrival.
By bus
Winchester to Petersfield via Alresford (passing close to Winchester and Alresford train stations and passing Petersfield train station). Number 67 Velvet bus (no Sunday service) 10-minute walk eastbound bus stop, 20-minute walk westbound bus stop.
Cycling
Arrival from main entrance gates on A272, via the visitor reception.
By road
On A272, 1 mile west of Bramdean village, 8 miles east of Winchester. Leave M3 at exit 9 and follow signs to Petersfield. Use postcode SO24 0NH for satnav. This is the postcode for the Hinton arms pub which is 20 metres west from main entrance gates. The house postcode will direct you to the wrong entrance.
Use postcode SO24 0NH for satnav. This is the postcode for the Hinton Arms pub, which is 20 metres west from the main entrance gates. The Hinton Ampner house postcode will direct you to the wrong entrance.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Gated entrance just off the main drive behind the church, grid ref: SU597275
Stage 1
The church in the grounds is the starting point for this walk. From there turn right through a small gate and turn right again following the red arrows and Wayfarers Walk.
Stage 2
Walk with Hinton's parkland to your right down the hill to two sets of gates. Go through both into the paddock and head on straight up the hill.
Stage 3
Just beyond the brow of the hill go through the gate and head across the field to the stile at the other end.
Stage 4
Cross the next meadow, keeping to the right of the meadow, and then out onto the road turning left to continue on this walking route. Alternatively, turn right to explore the village of Kilmeston.
Stage 5
Follow the road round and turn left at the fork.
Stage 6
You will come to an avenue of beech trees. Continue down the road.
A rural idyll
Part of Ralph Dutton’s vision for Hinton Ampner was the wider estate. He not only wanted to re-create the feel of a Georgian house with twentieth-century comforts and a garden which framed and complemented the surrounding area, but also to have a working estate that was picturesque. This beech avenue was likely planted in 1936, just as Ralph was starting work on remodelling the old Tudor house and formalising the gardens.
Avenue lined with beech trees at Hinton Ampner | © National Trust Images/Nick Dougan
Stage 7
At end of the avenue you will come to a crossroad with the estate paths. Turn left along the track.
Stage 8
You will reach the gate from Step 2. Turn right back up the hill to the start with Hinton Ampner parkland and garden on your left-hand side.
End point
Gated entrance just off the main drive behind the church, grid ref: SU597275
Trail map
Stewkley walk at Hinton Ampner trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Path through bluebells in beech woodland, Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Trail

Dutton Estate walk at Hinton Ampner

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