Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Bishop's Waltham (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Bishop's Waltham Palace, The Moors, and Claylands. Also, be sure to include Betty Mundy's Bottom in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Bishop's Waltham (England).
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Bishop's Waltham Palace
Building in Bishop's Waltham, England. Bishop's Waltham Palace is a moated Bishop's Palace ruin in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, England. It is a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade II* listed building[1]
Address: Fairlawn 3 Station Road, SO32 1DH Bishop's Waltham
The Moors
The Moors, Bishop's Waltham is a 28-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review and an area of 14.5 hectares is a Local Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Hampshire County Council.
These unimproved wet meadows and alder carr drain into Mill Pond at the centre of the site. The meadows have a rich and diverse flora, dominated by greater pond sedge in wetter areas, while there are plants such as purple moor-grass and meadow foxtail in drier parts.[2]
Claylands
Claylands is a 5.8-hectare Local Nature Reserve in Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service.
This former clay working has woodland, ponds, meadows and scrub. The ponds have populations of great crested newts. There are butterflies such as marbled white, common blue and green hairstreak.[3]
Betty Mundy's Bottom
Betty Mundy's Bottom is a wooded valley in the South Downs of Hampshire.
There are a variety of folk tales about the name, which goes back centuries. One theory is that it is from the Latin beati mundae, meaning the most beautiful place in the world. Another has it that Betty Mundy lived in a cottage there and that she would waylay discharged sailors walking along the Sailor's Lane, murdering them for their wages or leading them to a press gang. Other stories are that she was a witch or fairy that would curse or trick people.
In 1941, there was building work to renovate two cottages owned by Major Pelly. In 2012, a substantial country house known as Mundy's House was rebuilt there.[4]
Bishops Waltham Branch LNR
Bishops Waltham Branch LNR is a 1.6-hectare local nature reserve in Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire. It is owned and managed by Hampshire County Council.
This site is a 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) footpath along the former railway line from Bishop's Waltham to Botley. The path is lined by trees such as oaks and field maples, and flowering plants including wood avens and herb robert.
The King's Way and Pilgrims' Trail pass through the site.[5]
Dundridge Meadows
Dundridge Meadows is a 7.5-hectare Local Nature Reserve near Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire County Council Countryside Service.
These meadows are chalk grassland managed for hay. There are also two ponds, ancient woodlands and species-rich hedges. Flowering plants include cowslips and hayrattle.[6]