St Hubert’s and the Idsworth Valley circular walk

Hidden gem: The Little Church in the Field

Combine with the Rowlands Castle and St Hubert’s Church walk to make a longer walk.
Some inclines, maybe muddy underfoot.

Getting here

By bus: There are regular services to Rowlands Castle, visit traveline.info/se
By rail: Rowlands Castle station is on the direct line to London Waterloo. Check nationalrail.co.uk for details.

St Hubert’s Church

Set in stunning Bronze Age landscape in the South Downs National Park, the earliest recorded reference to ‘the little church in the field’ is from 1053 but its foundations show evidence of an earlier history, with the north and west walls likely to date from the 900s and re-use of Roman material in the arches. Inside you will discover nationally acclaimed 14th century Wall Paintings and a Millennium Wall Painting by Fleur Kelly. The church is open throughout the year, visit idsworthchurchfriends.org for more information about this special place and details of The Idsworth Church Friends Trust.

Directions

1. After visiting St Hubert’s church follow the grassy path left past the church to a gate in the hedge. Go through the gate turning left to follow the footpath.
2. Go through another gate, cross the lane and pass through the gate to follow the footpath through arable fields.
3. At the path junction, follow the yellow footpath arrow to turn left along an ancient rew (traditional hedge).
4. At the field corner go through the trees and gate to the road. Please be careful as this is a national speed limit road. Turn left and follow the road round a sharp bend. At the second sharp bend, look for the signpost and stile on the right side of the road. Go over the stile and follow the footpath as it bears right along the field edge next to the railway.
5. After a short walk turn left to pass under the railway through the pedestrian tunnel. Continue along the footpath through an arable field.
6. Continue to follow the path as it goes through a thicket until you reach a wooden gate.
7. Go through the gate into Open Access land. Bear right to follow the path along the hedge line and then up and across Idsworth Down.
8. Continue through the kissing gate at the top of the hill and follow the path through the middle of a crop field. Continue through a gap in the hedge and along the path through another field.
9. Go through the kissing gate and follow the grassy path down to St Michael’s Church and the Red Lion Inn at Chalton.
10. Leave Chalton by retracing your steps back through the churchyard to the arable field. Take the right hand of the three paths and head towards the gate.
11. Pass through two kissing gates continuing on the footpath. Pass through the third gate to follow the path along the field edge.
12. At the junction of paths turn left following the bridleway, then bear right following the bridleway sign. At the edge of the copse turn left following the bridleway sign down the grassy track to the railway.
13. Turn left onto the road and walk parallel to the railway track. Turn right opposite the farm to pass through the tunnel under the railway and back to your starting point opposite St Hubert’s Church.