The sort of walk that makes Basingstoke feel considerably less like Basingstoke.
Old Basing is barely a mile from the town centre, but the River Loddon, its water meadows and the remains of a Tudor palace make it feel much further out. This is less a single fixed route than a network of paths along the river and round the village, so treat it as somewhere to wander rather than a trail to complete.
The route
The easiest start is the north car park at the Lime Pits. From there the waymarked Basing Trail runs round the lower slopes of Basingstoke Common, crosses a stile and the old canal bridge, and follows Redbridge Lane to Basing Road.
Turn left along the pavement for about 100 yards, then right onto the riverside footpath towards Basing House. From here you are following the Loddon through grazing fields towards the railway bridge and the village.
You can also start from the free Basing House car park off Barton’s Lane and walk the riverside path from the other direction.
What you pass
- The River Loddon and its water meadows, where watercress beds were once fed by the river.
- The old Basingstoke Canal, closed to traffic over a century ago; some of its bridges survive.
- Basing House and the Great Barn, the ruins of the palace besieged in the Civil War.
- St Mary’s Church, which still has bullet holes from the siege.
- The Bolton Arms, the village pub, named after the Dukes of Bolton.
Before you go
Expect grass and gravel paths, some quiet lanes and several stiles. That rules it out for pushchairs and wheelchairs. There is livestock on the common, so dogs need to be on a lead there and in the village lanes.
The parish council publishes a walking booklet with routes round the village. It dates from 1998, so treat it as a guide rather than gospel: paths and stiles may have changed. A full step-by-step write-up, with distances and a map, is on our list once we have walked and recorded it properly.
