Greywell Moors, Greywell and the castle
Fen, village pub and canal.
Walk 2 of 8 · 3.4 miles (5.4 km)
Canal towpath to King John's Castle
The easy, flat canal walk.
Start point
Colt Hill car park, by Colt Hill Wharf, London Road, Odiham
Postcode RG29 1DH
How to get there
Follow the route in an app
Works with AllTrails, OS Maps, Komoot and most walking apps. Import the file and follow along.
- Distance
- 3.4 miles (5.4 km) there and back
- Time
- About 1½ hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Terrain
- Easy. A level, firm towpath all the way, with a few puddles after rain. No stiles. Out and back on the same path.
- Start
- Colt Hill car park, by Colt Hill Wharf, London Road, Odiham. Postcode RG29 1DH · Map of the start
- Parking
- Free car park at Colt Hill Wharf. If you only want the castle, there's also a small car park on Mill Lane in North Warnborough, about 10 minutes' walk away.
- From Laurel Cottage
- About 25 minutes on foot to Colt Hill. Or walk 15 minutes to the lift bridge in North Warnborough and do the castle half from there.
- Dogs
- No livestock and no roads once you're on the towpath, so it's relaxing with a dog. Cyclists and anglers share the path, so keep dogs close when it's busy. Plenty of water along the way.
- Pubs and cafés
- The Waterwitch, right by the start, with a big garden down to the water. Galleon Marine, coffee bar at the boatyard on Colt Hill Wharf.
If you want a gentle walk with something to see at the end, this is the one. The towpath from Colt Hill Wharf to King John's Castle is flat and firm, and peaceful once you're past the moored boats. Look out for moorhens, swans, herons and, if you're lucky, a kingfisher.
Turn round at the castle, or carry on for another kilometre to the mouth of Greywell Tunnel if you've still got energy.
Route map
The numbers on the map match the directions below.
Download GPX
Start point on OpenStreetMap
Open the GPX file in your favourite walking app to follow the route on your phone.
Directions
Colt Hill Wharf
From the car park, walk to the canal by Colt Hill Bridge and head west along the towpath, away from the Waterwitch. You soon leave the boats behind, with open fields on one side. Much of this land was once Odiham's medieval deer park, first recorded in the 1100s.
Round North Warnborough
The canal makes a wide loop around the edge of North Warnborough, then turns south and passes under Hook Road. Keep going past the lift bridge in North Warnborough.
King John's Castle
About 300 metres beyond the lift bridge, the castle ruins stand just off the towpath. There are information boards inside. When you're ready, retrace your steps to Colt Hill. If you'd like to add the tunnel, it's about another kilometre along the towpath, past a small aqueduct over the River Whitewater.
Before you set off
We've drawn these routes from OpenStreetMap and checked them against Hampshire County Council's public rights of way map, but the countryside changes. Paths get diverted, bridges close for repairs and fields fill up with crops or cattle. Please treat our directions as a friendly guide, not a guarantee, and follow the signs and waymarks you find on the ground.
- Take a map or app. OS Explorer 144 covers the area, or load our GPX file into your favourite walking app.
- Expect mud. The Common, the moors and the field paths get very wet between autumn and spring. Wellies or proper boots make a big difference.
- Cattle and livestock. Close gates behind you, keep dogs on a short lead near animals, and let go of the lead if cattle chase you, so you can both get to safety.
- Roads. Some routes cross or follow busy roads, including the A287. Take care, keep dogs on leads and walk facing oncoming traffic where there's no pavement.
- By the water. The canal is deep in places, and the towpath edge can be crumbly. Watch little ones and keep an eye on dogs that love a swim.
- Leave it as you found it. Bag and bin your dog's poo, take your litter home, and follow the Countryside Code.
You walk these routes at your own risk. If you spot something that has changed, we'd love to hear about it at [email protected].
More walks around Odiham
See all 8 routes on our Odiham walks page, or browse our local guide for pubs, cafés and things to do.
The Mill House, Butter Wood and Greywell Tunnel
Common, woods and the tunnel.
Odiham Common and the canal
A short woodland loop for dogs.
Stay with us at Laurel Cottage
Fancy a walking weekend? Our dog-friendly cottage is a short stroll from Odiham High Street, so several of these walks start almost from the door. Muddy boots and muddy paws are both welcome. Book direct for our best price.
Check dates