Route Overview
- Trail: Walking
- Grade: Easy
- Distance: 1.9 miles (3km)
- Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
- OS map: Explorer 132 ;
- Terrain: The route takes you across fields, some of which hold livestock and crops. Half of the route is on country roads so please be aware of any potential vehicles on this part of the route.
Begin Trail:
Start: Gated entrance just offithe main drive, behind the Church, grid ref: SU597275
1) The church in our grounds is the starting point for this walk. Once there, go through a small gate and turn right following the red arrows and Wayfarers walk.
What's in a name?
The Stewkeley Estate Walk is named after the first family to be documented living at Hinton Ampner. Leased from 1542, from the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral, it has stayed in the family and its descendants (Stawell and Dutton) for over 400 years.
2) Walk with Hinton's parkland to your right, down the hill to two sets of gates, go through both into the .paddock and continue straight on up the hill.
A house with a view
Take the time to look back towards the house as you walk through this field. Ralph Dutton made particular use of the countryside around him to frame his garden. The various garden 'rooms' he created and linked to the landscape, sometimes making frames with dramatic impact, sometimes seamlessly linking the formal with the more wild elements of the downland.
3) Just beyond the brow of the hill go through the gate and head across the field to the stile at the other end.
4) Cross the next meadow, keeping to the right hand side of the meadow, then go out onto the road, turning left to continue on this walking route or right to explore the village of Kilmeston.
Kilmeston village
Just to your right is the village of Kilmeston. With its impressive manor house and Norman church it makes an interesting detour. The manor house, like Hinton Ampner used to be owned by the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral until 1810. The Church of St Andrews is worth a visit if you have time.
5)Follow the road round, bearing left at the fork.
6) Soon you will come to Continue down the road.
Creating the rural idyll
Part of Ralph Dutton's vision for Hinton Ampner was the wider estate. He not only wanted to recreate the feel of a Georgian house with 20th century comforts, and a garden which framed and complemented the surrounding area, but also to have a working estate which was picturesque. This beech avenue was likely planted in 1936 just as Ralph was starting work on remodeling the Victorian house and formalising the gardens.
7) At end of the avenue you will come to a crossroads of footpath and the road. Turn left along the track.
8) Soon you will reach the gate familiar from point 2. Turn right back up the hill to the start, with Hinton Ampner parkland and garden on your left-hand side.
End: Gated entrance just off the main drive, behind the Church, grid ref: SU597275
Facilities:
Car parking is located at the end of the drive off the A272.
Refreshments are available in the tea-rooms near visitor reception.
Toilet facilities are located next to the tea-rooms, 30 metres from visitor reception.
Dogs are welcome, but we ask that they be kept on a lead at all times.
Contact us
Telephone: 01962 771305