Bishop’s Waltham is a small market town with the substantial ruins of a medieval bishop’s palace at its heart, sitting at the head of the Meon Valley — one of Hampshire’s loveliest chalk stream valleys. The Wayfarer’s Walk long-distance path passes through, and the South Downs rise a short distance to the east.

A small, historic market town with a fine ruined palace and access to the gentle Meon Valley, Bishop’s Waltham makes a pleasant and underused base for chalk stream and downland walking in central Hampshire.