St Mary Bourne: Lakeside Walks and Village History

St Mary Bourne brings together walks beside the lake and the Bourne Rivulet, water meadows, woodland and village history. The Lake walk begins at the Recreation Ground; on the village green, Summerhaugh Bridge offers a view upstream of buildings dating back to the 16th century. To plan your stay, you can focus on the landscape, route and historic landmarks.

Walking Routes Between Lake and River

The St Mary Bourne Lake walk begins at St Mary Bourne Recreation Ground, follows the lakeside and connects to the Test Way. The St Mary Bourne Portway walk is 1.5 miles long. On the Test Way, the described route runs from Stokehill Farm down to St Mary Bourne, following the Bourne Rivulet.

The route descriptions use different points of reference: the Lake walk focuses on its starting point, the lakeshore and its connection to the Test Way. The Portway walk has a specific distance, while the Test Way is characterised by its route along the Bourne Rivulet. Check the route details before setting out if you plan to use the specific route for your day.

Water Meadows and Landscape

The wooded areas around St Mary Bourne are home to a wide variety of wildlife, particularly south of the lake. Traditional water meadows lie on both sides of the Bourne Rivulet and extend from the lake to the viaduct as grazing land. Woodland, the river and open pasture give the landscape its distinct character.

The Bourne Rivulet is a chalk stream tributary of the River Test. St Mary Bourne lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This gives you both the name of a specific watercourse and the name of the landscape area in which the village lies.

Village Views and History

From Summerhaugh Bridge on the village green, the view upstream takes in buildings dating back to the 16th century. This viewpoint links the green with a tangible impression of the village’s older buildings.

The village’s name also has a religious connection: St Peter's Church was originally dedicated to St Mary; this early dedication lives on in the name St Mary Bourne. St Mary Bourne and Stoke together form a Conservation Area. The village’s history thus brings together a connection between the church and the village name, and a shared designation for both places.

Getting Your Bearings During Your Stay

St Mary Bourne Recreation Ground is an open space that parishioners and visitors can use. St Mary Bourne Village Centre has excellent parking facilities. These are two practical points of reference that go well with the routes described and a visit to the village.

If you plan your days around a particular focus, the lakeside route, the river and the historic views offer different points of interest. Include the route details in your plans and check them before setting out, so the route described for each walk can guide your decision.

Discover more destinations: Heckfield, Clanfield, Damerham, Penton Mewsey, Monk Sherborne, Lower Froyle, Lyndhurst, Hayling Island

For the main travel overview: Hampshire.