Update: Walkers warned to be careful near Binswood
Police have advised walkers in the Binswood area to be careful and walk in groups due to reports of threatening behaviour from a local resident.
Regular visitors to the area may know this has been a problem in the past. The trouble spot is at the edge of Binswood at Marshgreen Farm on the path from King John's Hill (shown here with a red oval), and it forms part of the West Worldham Loop described on the Walk Alton routes page.
Police currently have no evidence enabling further action, and they advise against any action that might provoke the resident. While walking on the path, be prepared to record the audio of any verbal interaction and, if necessary, record a video of any threatening behaviour.
We will update this post if we receive any additional information.
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Help Maintain Alton's Footpaths by donating
to the East Hampshire Community Lottery
We all know that feeling of fresh air and freedom when walking, riding, or cycling through our beautiful Hampshire countryside. Footpaths are a vital part of the beautiful area we live in, but keeping them in good condition requires ongoing support and resources.
Hampshire Countryside Services, in collaboration with Alton Ramblers and other groups, leads a team effort to maintain footpaths across Alton and 20 nearby parishes. To support that work, Alton Ramblers are part of the East Hampshire Community Lottery, where 50p of every pound goes to the Alton Ramblers Footpath Maintenance Team to help maintain our footpaths.
This funding will go towards the maintenance and servicing of tools, including replacing worn-out equipment, with training to ensure the safety of the volunteers. It enables volunteers to clear footpaths, replace stiles, build bridges, maintain marker posts, and build steps to improve our walking environment.
Participating in the lottery gives you the chance to win prizes, and every donation, however small, makes an impact. We encourage all members, residents, and visitors to donate and keep our footpaths safe for everyone. Your support through the EHDC community lottery helps maintain these pathways for future generations.
Click here to donate: https://bit.ly/
Thank you for supporting our community!
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Unsure about where to park?
Do you want to go for a walk but are unsure about parking? Many walkers from Alton Ramblers have recorded car parks over the years on a map to share with others. Zoom in on the map or search through the list of over 100 parking locations. If you spot somewhere that is missing or needs updating, you can contact me via Contact Us.
Mark Buckwell
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Local Walking Routes
I have taken over the Alton Ramblers website from John Jones, who has done an excellent job maintaining and updating it over the years. Thank you, John, for your contributions to the Alton walking community.
Over the coming weeks, I'd like to remind you of all the outstanding assets that have been developed over the years, starting with the library of 210 routes recorded by walkers in the Alton branch. You can locate it in the menu Walks -> Routes Library. Anyone (not just members) can browse the map for a walk in a specific area or use the list view to look for a map of a certain length. You can download the GPX file to your walking app on your phone.
Record your walk with an app like OS Maps and send me the GPX file. I'll put it on the site for others to use. If you don't have my email, use the Contact Us page to make contact.
Mark Buckwell
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Ramblers Hampshire Area AGM, Feb 14th, 2026
The Ramblers Hampshire Area AGM this year will be hosted by the Romsey Group and will take place on Saturday, February 14th, 2026, at the Crosfield Hall in Romsey, starting at 2 p.m. Mark Lavenstein will attend the meeting on behalf of the Board of Trustees and will provide a short talk.
There will be a pre-meeting walk starting and finishing at the Romsey Rapids car park. Click on the following link for details: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/
All members of the Ramblers in Hampshire are entitled to attend, vote and raise issues for discussion at the AGM. If you would like to add anything to the agenda, please contact
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Do you enjoy walking in
our beautiful countryside?
So do we.
Being a member of Alton Ramblers means you can.
- Join regular local group walks led by our experienced walk leaders.
- Pick a walk to suit you and just turn up. No need to book.
- Share your walk safely, alongside like-minded walkers.
- Have the option to help look after our excellent local footpaths for everyone by joining our maintenance team.
- Take part in a range of social events, get clothing discounts, go on nationwide group walks and have access to hand-picked downloadable walking routes.
- Know that your subscription helps Ramblers UK work to improve countryside access for all.
If you are interested, then pick a walk from our Scheduled Walks programme. You’re welcome to come along on three walks before you decide to join. We often carshare from a starting point in Alton—usually the Alton Sports Centre lower car park. We aim to be at the start of a walk about 15 minutes beforehand to allow for a headcount and pointers about the walk. The leader’s phone number is always available for contact.
Why not join the Ramblers for just £3.75 a month?
Click here for the Ramblers page, and
then click on the Join the Ramblers button.
We are the Ramblers, Britain's walking charity.
We open the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking.
And we step up to protect the places we all love to wander.
(Ramblers Association)
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Our footpaths need you!
Have you tried using a footpath recently and found it blocked?
Or been stung with nettles and spiked by brambles?
You could help resolve the problem!
Alton Ramblers are looking to reinforce and expand our Volunteer Team. We currently have a team of 20 members who volunteer their time as Footpath Wardens monitoring the condition of the footpaths in one of Alton’s parishes; and Footpath Maintenance volunteers who help maintain the footpaths. Our active and successful maintenance team assists Hampshire County Council Countryside Service Rangers and local parishes in clearing vegetation, installing signposts, and repairing and installing steps, stiles, and gates.
To meet the increasing demands for our services from the Countryside Services Rangers, we need to recruit another 5 footpath wardens and 10 footpath maintenance team volunteers.
So if you already enjoy taking the occasional walk near to where you live, why not add to your enjoyment by keeping track of where you’re walking and helping to keep it accessible for all? If you are a keen gardener, a do-it-yourself handyperson, or someone who enjoys spending time outdoors in an active way, you may find that tasks such as wielding hedge-cutters, training to use our brush-cutters, and building bridges are appealing.
If you would like to help, please drop an email enquiry to Paul Naish, Alton Ramblers Footpath Secretary, via the Contact Us.
You can also help by supporting us through the EHDC Community Lottery,
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