Meon Valley Trail

The Meon Valley Trail stretches for 10 miles from Wickham to West Meon, along a disused railway bed. This recreational trail, open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, passes through the beautiful Meon Valley, providing breathe taking views across Hampshire’s Countryside.

The Meon Valley Railway was originally built to connect London with the South Coast, with the 22-mile section of railway opened in June 1903. The line played a vital role in history transporting troops during the First World War, and providing the back drop for Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet in 1944, whilst final preparations were made for the D-Day invasion in Normandy. However, the line never prospered, and the decline took its toll in 1968, with all services withdrawn.

The trail is now a thriving wildlife corridor, enriched in butterflies, primroses and even flocks of fieldfares and redwings can be seen feeding from the woodland berries in autumn. The River Meon is an additional spectacle along this scenic route, supporting a mosaic of valuable wildlife including Water Crowfoot, Brown Trout, Kingfishers and Otters.