10 – Rowlands Castle to Havant

Description

The Hills to Harbour Trail is a series of self-guided walking routes that link the stations along the railway line between Guildford and Portsmouth. You can walk between any pair of stations.

Walk 10 is 4.7 miles in length and takes you from Rowlands Castle to Havant railway station.

Leave Rowlands Castle, with its typical, Hampshire village green, and follow the Staunton way to the country park of the same name where there is plenty to see. The route then follows mostly quiet roads and paths to Havant.

There are pubs and a cafe in Rowlands Castle but they may not be open every day. Check their websites for information. There is a cafe in Staunton Country Park and a plentiful choice of cafes, pubs, and shops in Havant.

Start and End

Rowlands Castle/Havant

Distance

4.7 miles

Time

2 hours 30 mins

Grade

3/10 - Mostly surfaced paths.

Accessibility

Potentially push/wheelchair accessible except for kerbs and narrow paths.

Route Map
Download GPX File

Upload the GPX file to your walking app

Walk Instructions

  1. Turn left out of the station and walk down the hill.
  2. At the T-junction, turn left and continue down the hill to the village of Rowlands Castle.
  3. At the T-junction in the village, turn right.
    (If you are looking for refreshments, Rowlands Castle has a cafe and several pubs. These may not be open every day. Check websites for opening hours.)
  4. Bear slightly to the right to follow the right-hand side of the village green.
  5. At the far end of the green, keep forward along Links Lane (un-signed.)
  6. At the sharp bend to the right, take the footpath on your left. Keep to the right-hand side of the carpark and then follow the path through Rowlands Castle Golf Course.
    (For your own safety and for the enjoyment of those playing golf, try to keep behind the ball being played and avoid moving when someone is about to play.)
  7. At the far side of the golf course, the path emerges from between houses onto Castle Road (un-signed). Turn right.
  8. Turn left into Nightingale Close.
  9. Keep to the left-hand pavement. This suddenly finishes but, after about 15 yards of grass, take the footpath to your left.
  10. At the end of the path continue forward along Blackcap Close (un-signed).
  11. At the T-junction, turn right along Mallard Road (un-signed).
  12. At the next T-junction, turn left along Manor Lodge Road.
  13. In just under 100 yards (third lamppost), cross the road to follow the path into the woodland. The path is difficult to make out until you are right opposite it.
  14. You have been following the Staunton Way but the way-marking green disks (showing a stag’s head) are not visible at every turn. At the end of the path, turn left. The next mile or so takes you into the Staunton Country Park.
  15. Keep forward along the main path until you see the road to your left. Don’t go through the gate to the road but curve right to keep on the main path.
  16. Initially, the tree lined track is dead straight. It then bands slightly to the left and continues through woodland. Keep forward along the main path following the green ‘Staunton Way’ markers.
  17. At the top of the hill, the woodland gives way to the more open parkland of Staunton Country Park.
    (There are seats throughout the park.)
  18. At the cross paths, the cafe and toilets are to your left. Keep forward to continue the walk.
    (There is much to see in the park. See the park website for details.)
  19. Immediately after the cross paths, there is a circular border. Bear to the right of this and over to the top of the terrace which offers a fine view of the lake. To continue, you can go down the steps or, for a more gentle descent, retrace your steps to the back of the terrace and follow the slope down to the path that runs along the left-hand side of the lake.
  20. Continue to the far end of the lake and turn left through the kissing gate into the field.
  21. Keep on the gravel path to the far side of the field. Then cross the footbridge over a small stream to emerge in a grassed area beside houses (Bitterne Close).
  22. At the far end of Bitterne Close, turn left and then immediately cross the road to go forward onto the path beside the houses opposite.
  23. Keep forward following the main path with garden fence to your right. Bear slightly left as the path becomes surfaced.
  24. The path passes beside a large warehouse on your right. After the warehouse, don’t go through to the road but bear immediately right to follow the gravel path.
  25. The path emerges onto Dunsbury Way (un-signed.) Cross over and turn right along the pavement on the other side.
  26. Turn left along Bramdean Drive.
  27. Turn first left along Riders Lane.
  28. At the end of the road, turn left and immediately right into the continuation of Riders Lane.
  29. In about 50 yards, bear right on the path away from Riders Lane.
  30. The path emerges onto Ditcham Crescent. Turn right to cross the stream and then immediately left into Corhampton Crescent (un-signed.)
  31. At the bend in Corhampton Crescent, bear left along the concrete track then onto the footpath.
  32. Cross the footbridge and bear right to follow the stream.
  33. Ignore the bridge to your right and continue forward beside the stream.
  34. Go under the pipeline and continue forward along the surfaced path.
  35. When you are within sight of Stockheath Lane (un-signed), bear right to follow the path parallel to the road.
  36. At the T-junction, turn left along Barncroft Way.
  37. At the end of Barcroft Way, turn left along New Road (a dual carriageway).
  38. At the roundabout, you are going to continue forward along Elmleigh Road but you will need to turn left to the light controlled crossing and then right to get back to the roundabout.
  39. Continue along Elmleigh Road to the pedestrian/cycle crossing by the Job Centre. Cross the road and turn left and immediately right to the ramp over the railway and hence to Havant Station.
  40. (As you descend the ramp on the far side of the railway, the centre of Havant is to your right through the precinct. There are many cafes, pubs, and shops to choose from.)

Safe Walking

Walking is a sociable activity so travel with someone else if you can. It’s also best for safety. Follow the usual walking guidelines about clothing, footwear, drinks, food, and first aid kit. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back

Refreshments

Many stations have opportunities nearby for refreshments when you arrive. The towns have cafes and pubs, and there are some along the route as well. They may have more restricted opening than those in London, particularly for serving food, so check websites for opening times when planning.

Reporting footpath issues

The Hills to Harbour Trail crosses three counties, all of which have good, on-line facilities for reporting rights of way issues. If you find something that needs fixing, please report it on the appropriate webpage.

Search for “report rights of way” followed by the county name.