North Hampshire CAMRA - Basingstoke and Odiham Canal Walkabout

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*This Page:*	North Hampshire CAMRA Branch: Basingstoke and Odiham Canal Walkabout
*Published:*	April 2009

Basingstoke and Odiham Canal Walkabout
... written by Phil M - North Hampshire CAMRA

We started our walk from the Basingstoke Canal Car Park, which is just beyond the Water Witch Pub on the outskirts of Odiham, but as this is a loop you could start from which ever point en route is the most convenient for you.

We headed off to the right and in a northerly direction following the canal towpath, with the rear of the Water Witch across the water to our left. The path is a fairly easy walk with only the odd uneven or muddy section to watch out for, it’s a popular path for dog walkers and cyclists as well. Keeping to the towpath we walk parallel to the A287 for about a mile passing a farm track bridge and a sign for Newlyns Farm Shop before reaching the sign for the Jolly Miller Public House, which points us across the field.

Jolly Miller, Hook

We decide to press on with the walk and take advantage of some rest stops later. We pass under the road bridge resisting the temptation of the Swan PH and continue along the towpath passing the swing bridge before reaching the ruin of Odiham’s King John Castle to our right.

Ruins of King John's Castle, Odiham

We decide to take this opportunity for a short break from walking and immerse ourselves in a little history for a while. Back on track, or to be more accurate, towpath we continue past the narrow boat turning point, some ducks and pass over the River Whitewater towards the Greywell Tunnel entrance. The tunnel is now blocked and is a conservation area for many bats.

Greywell Tunnel

This is as far as we go on the canal, so we walk across the top of the tunnel, following the footpath and join the road, turning right we make our way up the incline to the Fox & Goose for refreshments. It had taken approximately 90 minutes so far and we were about half way around, so a good time to have a pint from choice of 3 hand pulled real ales (I enjoyed the Ansells Mild), but a little early to sample some of the food, as tempting as the wafts from the kitchen were.

Fox & Goose, Greywell - www.foxandgoosegreywell.co.uk

Leaving the Fox & Goose we turn right through the village and pass a lovely old building called the Malthouse on our right, towards the entrance to St Mary’s Church on our left, passing through the gate we walk towards the church turning left through the gate opposite and into the field. Here we head across the field following the right hand side before turning right into the recess over a stile and across a bridge over the River Whitewater and through a gate. To the right we see a small stone memorial to the botanist E.C. Wallace. To our right, through a gate is Greywell Moors Nature Reserve, worthy of a rest stop, but we carry straight ahead over a stile into an open field, taking the path across the field heading slightly to the left and South Westerly up the incline, taking in views of the castle in the distance to our left, all the way to the stile and the road.

At this point we could turn left and follow the road into North Warnborough to the Anchor where at our last visit, two of Andwells beers were being served, but walking, not drinking was today’s priority. And so we crossed the road turning left for a few yards then right at the footpath sign and into the field. To our left is a gap in the hedge with a direction marker to guide us diagonally through the pasture, down to another gap in the hedge, following a straight line across the corner of the field we find a stile out of the field and onto the road. We cross the road to the footpath and another stile to take us into the field opposite which we need to cross diagonally to the right towards the 3 chimneys of the school. However we are faced by a herd of cows with calves patrolling the perimeter fence and decide to take the slightly longer route along the road to the right and then left around the corner to the school, where we join our original route. Passing the school to our left we follow the path of West Street as it bears to the right.

Just before the junction where the main road turns left and West Street becomes a no through road, we turn right into a side street, then left at the footpath sign at the edge of the park area. Keeping left we follow the path as it passes behind residential properties to the road and the Crown Pub to our left. We cross the road, continuing our original course with a new gravel driveway to our right and the wall of a newly restored gated development to our left.

All Saints Church, Odiham

As we continue we enter the graveyard of All Saints Church and bear left passed the stocks to our right and head for the Bell PH in the Bury for our lunch stop, just before the 2 o’clock deadline. There were another three handpulled ales to choose from, even if one was Courage Best. I plumped for one of the guest beers, Theakstons Pleasure and a ham & stilton baguette to replenish all the energy that I’d used en route.

The Bell Inn, The Bury, Odiham

From this point your route could take in many possibilities, soaking up the atmosphere of this historical market town including the George on the High Street if you so wish or if public transport is required the 200 bus passes through town.

The George, Odiham

We headed left out of the Bell past beautifully tended courtyard houses and cottages before tuning left towards the High Street, we then turn right and head away from the centre of town passing the war memorial before bearing left towards the Water Witch, the canal and our finishing point.