From Botley to Bishop's Waltham and Back, with Baubles

This walk wanders between two modest and mellow medieval market towns: Botley (where we'll start), and Bishop's Waltham (where we'll have lunch). These towns are the best of South Hampshire, the part that is squeezed between the cities of the Solent and the South Downs National Park, the edge of which Bishop's Waltham touches. The countryside is gently suburbanised but there are still enough open fields and copses, and the towns retain their character. Although this walk is only readily accessible to those on the central south coast, do come along, either as an escape from the commercialism of Christmas, or a chance for some cheer with your OutdoorLads chums.

The lunch:

I haven't been able to organise a large party at a pub so close to Christmas without having the pub's Christmas meal, so we will break up to have lunch in Bishop's Waltham at different cafés and pubs. See 'Food & drink' below for suggestions of places to book for lunch, or bring a packed lunch to have by the church.

The sights:

Botley: A surprisingly unspoiled place to find just 7 miles from the centre of Southampton. A small market town rather than a village with some fine C17 to C19 buildings. The Market House is of 1848 and has four Tuscan columns and a portico. The Dolphin Hotel and the Bugle Hotel are C18. Botley Mills, on the River Hamble, is an agglomeration of buildings of different ages from the late C18 onwards.

Bishop's Waltham: Originally a Saxon town with a minster church, it gained in importance as the settlement closest to the largest episcopal palace of the Bishops of Winchester. The Bishop's Palace was begun in 1136 by Henry of Blois, a grandson of William the Conqueror and brother of King Stephen. He was appointed Bishop of Winchester in 1129, a post he held until 1171. The palace was surrendered to the Parliamentarians in 1644 and fell into ruins. It is sadly closed to visitors outside of the summer months. The town was laid out a grid-iron and although still medieval in plan, is C17-C19 in character. In the Victorian era it gained importance as a brick and terracotta works. St Peter's Church is C12 and quite substantial, being widened and altered throughout its history. The tower of 1584-9 is interesting with its Tudor windows, and the handsome font and pulpit are of 1626. 

Curdridge: A scattered suburbanised village with some fine houses. St Peter's Church (1887-8) is large, with a 26m-tower of 1894, adorned with gargoyles, and a massive porch. The Cricketers is a pub we could have a drink in near the end of the walk.

The route (please click on the link to see the walk at the Ordnance Survey website):

We'll walk along the A334 (there's a pavement) into Botley then turn north along Winchester Road, leaving that road and the town to follow a footpath north under the railway line. At Maddoxford Lane we'll turn east, then follow Netherhill Lane north to pick up a footpath to Gregory Lane to Brown Heath. We'll then use Mincingfield Lane to take a footpath east at Durley manor Farm which will connect with the Pilgrims' Trail which goes onto Bishops Waltham. We'll cross the B2177 and then go north along the B3035 and cross the town pond into the centre of the town. After lunch we'll leave via the B3055 and find the Allan King Way which will take us to Waltham Chase, where a lane heading southwest, Clewers Hill will become Sandy Lane which will take us to Curdrdidge. A route west along Curdridge Lane will bring us to the B3035 which will take us back to Botley. Although there is a pavement along this, it'll be quieter to do a slight detour to Curdridge village centre and use Viacrage Lane. 

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is suitable for them, except that there will be some lanes to walk along and the town of Bishop's Waltham where they might not be welcome in cafes. Any dog off the lead must be obedient.

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(Picture credits: View over fields and woods from Botley Road at Curdridge: Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0); The Bishop's Palace and moat, Bishop's Waltham: Photo © Jim Champion (cc-by-sa/2.0); Botley High Street on an April morning: Photo © John Sutton (cc-by-sa/2.0); Botley Mills, Botley, Hampshire: Photo © Peter Trimming (cc-by-sa/2.0); View over Stephen's Castle Down: Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0); Footbridge across North Pond, Bishop's Waltham: Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0); The millpond and Bishop's Palace Ruins, Bishop's Waltham: Photo © Jim Champion (cc-by-sa/2.0); Splendid cottages in Bank Street: Photo © Basher Eyre (cc-by-sa/2.0); St Peter's Street, Bishop's Waltham: Photo © Peter Facey (cc-by-sa/2.0); View across the fields towards woodland: Photo © Serena Blanchflower (cc-by-sa/2.0); All photos are copyrighted but are above credited to their copyright holders and are licensed for further reuse under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).)