This is a walk with everything: fine views, beautiful downland and woods, and a splendid pub.

Tiny Finchdean is a delight. Hidden away in a tranquil valley, a cluster of homely houses and cottages surround a small green shaded by trees and bright with flowers. In spite of the railway close by, nowhere could be more peaceful! But in the 19th century, the scene must have been very different. The attractive houses on the green were part of a brass and iron foundry producing agricultural machinery and the lane that winds past them was once a main coaching route from Portsmouth to London. Travellers alighted from the coaches to find rest and refreshment at The George and the same warm welcome awaits us today.

The Walk

1. With your back to the pub entrance follow the lane ahead, signed 'Staunton Way, Queen Elizabeth Country Park'. Just past Ashcroft Lane climb the stile on your right and turn left to resume your original heading along the foot of a field with a hedge on your left.

2. At the end of the field turn right to walk uphill with a hedge still on your left. As you climb look back for a charming view of Finchdean nestling among the trees. When the hedge ceases, keep straight on across an open field towards a wood. In the valley on the right you will see the walled garden which once surrounded Old Idsworth House. In the 19th century it was the home of the local landowners, the Clark Jarvis family. They agreed to sell land in the valley to the railway company on condition a new house was built for them on top of Wick Hanger, over a mile away. We shall glimpse the new house later in our walk. All that remains of Idsworth is the church which you will see all by itself in a field.

3. Keep ahead with trees on your left, then through a more wooded area to a crossing track in front of an open field.

4. Turn left with the field on your right and trees on your left, still walking uphill. After about 200 yards bear right across the open field. On your left there is a glorious view over Langstone Harbour. Continue with a wood now on your left to a crossing track.

5. Turn left to keep the wood at first on your left and follow the grassy path downhill which finally tunnels between hedges to pass Wick Farm and bring you to a lane.

6. Cross the road and take the track ahead which curves right to climb through the trees of Wick Hanger to a lane.

7. Turn left along the lane to a T-junction. Turn left again and follow the lane for about mile to a footpath sign on your left.

8. Bear left as the sign directs over a stile and continue with woods on your left. At the corner of the wood follow the path straight ahead over a field to cross a stile leading into woods.

9. Follow the path over a crossing track to walk downhill, bearing right through the trees past the grounds of Idsworth House. Continue over a crossing track to a T-junction. Turn left. The track curves right and continues downhill. On the right across a clearing you can glimpse the ornate rooftop of Idsworth House.

10. When you reach the lane, turn right to retrace your steps to Finchdean.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.