Walk 5 of 8 · 1.6 miles (2.6 km)

Odiham Common and the canal

A short woodland loop for dogs.

Start point

Colt Hill car park, by Colt Hill Wharf, London Road, Odiham

Postcode RG29 1DH

How to get there

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A path leading into the trees on Odiham Common, with an information board beside it
Photo: "Odiham - Odiham Common" by Chris Talbot, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Distance
1.6 miles (2.6 km) circular
Time
45 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty
Easy
Terrain
Easy, but very muddy after rain. Woodland and meadow paths across the Common, a short stretch of quiet lane and an easy towpath.
Parking
Free car park at Colt Hill Wharf.
From Laurel Cottage
About 25 minutes on foot to Colt Hill.
Dogs
Hart District Council describes the Common as dog friendly, and it's a favourite local dog walk. Watch out for adders on sunny days in spring and summer, and keep dogs close on London Road and Bagwell Lane. The canal is handy for a drink.
Pubs and cafés
The Waterwitch, at Colt Hill, dogs welcome in the garden. Galleon Marine, coffee bar at the boatyard.

Odiham Common is one of the few surviving wood pastures outside the New Forest: big old oaks, open glades and wildflower meadows, all protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This short loop takes you through the middle of it and back along the canal.

It's our pick for a quick dog walk, but bring wellies for most of the year.

Route map

The numbers on the map match the directions below.

Map of the Odiham Common and the canal walk, with the route in red and numbered points
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Route drawn by Laurel Cottage.
Download GPX Start point on OpenStreetMap

Open the GPX file in your favourite walking app to follow the route on your phone.

Directions

  1. Colt Hill to the Common

    From the car park, take the path through the tunnel under the A287 bypass. It brings you out by London Road, near the cattle grid. Join the path heading north across the Common, with the road over to your left.

  2. Through the wood pasture

    Follow the main path north through the trees and glades, roughly parallel with London Road. Look out for the huge old oaks; one by the road, Frenchman's Oak, is said to mark how far French prisoners of war could walk from Odiham while on parole during the Napoleonic Wars. The path bears right and brings you out on Bagwell Lane.

  3. Bagwell Lane to the canal

    Turn right along Bagwell Lane for a short way, then take the footpath on the right, which starts along a drive. It heads south through the woods and comes out at the canal by Broad Oak Bridge.

  4. Back along the towpath

    Turn right onto the towpath and follow the canal back to Colt Hill.

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.

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.

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