The Ampfield Heritage Area is an area of unspoilt countryside, which encompasses the whole of Ampfield and spreads into the parishes of Hursley, Otterbourne, North Baddesley and Romsey Extra.

It is made up of many small fields; copses and settlements that have evolved over hundreds of years and to this day remain relatively unchanged. The Hursley Map of 1588 shows field patterns and parkland such as Hursley and Cranbury that are still identifiable today and in 1851 John Keble wrote against "High Farming and the threat of felling the copse on Ladwell Hill and the beautiful woods of oak and beach in Ampfield.

The Ampfield Countryside Heritage Group was set up in January 1991; it meets on a regular base and is made up of landowners, parish councils, other organisations and individuals who have an interest in promoting and safeguarding the countryside.

The main aim of the organisation is to encourage greater understanding of the landscape and promote schemes of ecological and landscape enhancement by co-ordination and encouraging others to look after their environment.

It is very necessary to safeguard and conserve those features that are of wildlife or historical importance so that they can be passed on to the next generation.

A report of the Ampfield Countryside Heritage Area Steering Group was published in 1992.

The Heritage area has a fine network of countryside walks that allow the traveller to see many of the features that have been written about and has published a walks booklet known as "Keble's Way" it covers numerous circular walks ranging from 1 to 18 miles.

The Chandlers Ford Round Walk is below.

THE KEBLE WAY

CONTENTS
The Keble Way  Map
Welcome
Useful Information
Stage 1 Ampfield to Hursley
Stage 2 Hursley to Shawford Down
Stage 3 Shawford Down to Otterbourne
Stage 4 Otterbourne to Hocombe Crossroads
Stage 5 Hocombe Crossroads to Knightwood Road
Stage 6 Knightwood Road to Straight Mile
Stage 7 Straight Mile to Braishfield
Stage 8 Braishfield to Ampfield
Round Ampfield                                          Page  22
Round Hursley Village & Silkstead                       Page  24
Round Otterbourne & ltchen Navigation                   Page  26
Cranbury Park to Ladwell & Back                         Page  28
Round Chandlers Ford                                    Page  30
Round Valley Park & North Baddesley                     Page  32
Round North Baddesley & Baddesley Common                Page  34
Round Braishfield                                       Page  35
Round Ampfield & Chandlers Ford                         Page  36
Gazetteer
Notes                                                   Page  46