Meon Valley

Chalk river valley through the South Downs with pretty villages, vineyards, and a former railway trail

The Meon Valley is the river valley of the River Meon, which rises near East Meon in the chalk downland of the South Downs and flows south through a string of villages to reach the Solent at Hill Head. The valley runs for roughly fifteen miles through some of the most attractive countryside in Hampshire, and the villages along its course retain a strongly rural character with flint and brick cottages, ancient churches, and traditional pubs. The upper valley lies within the South Downs National Park, and the villages of East Meon, West Meon, and Warnford have a peaceful, tucked-away quality. East Meon's Norman church, with its remarkable Tournai marble font, is one of the finest village churches in Hampshire. Further south, the valley opens out through Droxford, Soberton, and Wickham, each with its own distinct character. Droxford station, now closed, was where Churchill's war cabinet met in a special train in 1944 to plan the D-Day landings. The lower Meon Valley, below Wickham and Fareham, is flatter and more developed, but the river corridor remains green and provides a wildlife link between the chalk downs and the coast. The Meon Valley Trail, a walking and cycling route that follows the bed of the former Meon Valley Railway, runs for eleven miles between Wickham and West Meon, passing through farmland, woodland, and the quiet villages in between. The valley has become known in recent years for its vineyards, with several estates producing award-winning English sparkling wine. Hambledon Vineyard, on the chalk slopes above the village that claims to be the cradle of cricket, is among the most prominent. The Meon Valley combines outstanding natural beauty, deep history, and a thriving rural economy.