St Mary Bourne: Trails, Nature and Village History

St Mary Bourne combines a varied waterscape with walking trails, wooded areas and a visible village history. The village lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For a holiday in which nature and culture provide different focuses, the surrounding area therefore offers several specific starting points for planning your days.

Lakeside Trails and the Bourne Rivulet

The St Mary Bourne Lake walk begins at St Mary Bourne recreation ground. The Recreation Ground is an open area that can be used by members of the community and visitors. The trail runs along the lake and connects there with the Test Way. This makes the Test Way another trail option along the Bourne Rivulet.

The Test Way passes Stokehill Farm on its way down to St Mary Bourne and runs along the Bourne Rivulet. This stream is a chalk tributary of the River Test. Anyone who pays particular attention to waterways and trail routes when choosing activities can view the St Mary Bourne Lake walk and the section of the Test Way as different points of focus.

Water Meadows, Woodland and Wildlife

The wooded areas around St Mary Bourne, particularly south of the lake, are home to a wide variety of wildlife. This landscape is complemented by the traditional water meadows on both sides of the Bourne Rivulet. They form grazing land from the lake to the viaduct. In this compact thematic area, woodland and water therefore meet not only each other, but also different types of landscape that can be consciously appreciated during walks and wildlife observations.

For families or travel groups with different interests, this variety can influence the choice of accommodation: some days can focus more on trails and landscapes, while on others the village’s history can take centre stage. Excellent parking facilities are available at St Mary Bourne Village Centre. This information can be taken into account when practically planning an excursion.

Village History and Historic Views

St Mary Bourne also has notable historical associations away from the trails. From Summerhaugh Bridge on the village green, the view extends upstream across buildings dating back to the 16th century. St Mary Bourne and Stoke also form a Conservation Area. Anyone interested in village views, older buildings and the development of a village will find a distinct way of experiencing the destination here, separate from the nature and walking perspective.

St Peter's Church was originally dedicated to Saint Mary; this early dedication was retained in the name of the village of St Mary Bourne. The church is therefore part of the area’s history and the history of its name. A holiday apartment in St Mary Bourne can be a suitable base for travellers who do not want to plan their days around just one activity, but instead wish to choose between the lake, stream, woodland, grazing land and village history. The key consideration is which of these themes forms the focus of their holiday.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to extend your search to other places, here are some additional destinations: Yateley, Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hythe, Tadley, Littleton, Boldre, Micheldever Station and Fareham.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hampshire.