Upper Wield, Lower Wield and the Oxdrove Way

A Walk from a Thatched Village Along an Old Drove Road in the Hampshire Downs

Set in the undulating landscape of the North Downs is the timeless village of Upper Wield, where thatched cottages cluster round a green and a pond. Hidden down a side lane of the village is a delightful, though heavily restored example of a small Norman church dedicated to St James the Great, built by William the Conqueror's grandson Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester.

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Start Point

Upper Wield

Grid Ref: SU 62936 38761

Total Distance

5.6 miles (9.1 km)

Total Climbing

122 metres

Estimated Time

3 hours

Difficulty Grade

Easy

Trail Navigation Files:

💾 Download GPX Route Google Earth (KMZ) 📖 About Upper Wield

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

Essential paper maps for exploring Winchester, New Alresford, Basingstoke and Alton:

OL32 Winchester & New Alresford → 144 Basingstoke & Alton →

The Walk Report

Not far from the village across expansive fields runs the Ox Drove, now titled the Oxdrove Way long distance footpath. This ancient road between Winchester and Odiham was used for driving cattle and sheep to market, and was part of King John's regular route between his castles at Winchester and Windsor (passing along this way in 2015 — 1215).

Passing near Preston House and Lower Wield (home to the Yew Tree Inn), the route returns to Upper Wield past the old village schoolhouse.

The path from Lower Wield to Upper Wield

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.

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Upper Wield, Lower Wield and the Oxdrove Way

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

The Walk Report

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