Pub lunch and walk - Basingstoke area?

[Createanewname]

I'm meeting up with friends and Basingstoke area is more or less equidistant for us all but I don't know the area. Any suggestions of a nice place for a walk and pub lunch? (Doesn't have to be actually in Basingstoke- would prefer somewhere more rural). Thanks!

There’s a nice circular walk from The Leather Bottle https://www.alltrails.com/ar/trail/england/hampshire/the-leather-bottle-and-whitewater-valley-circular

And another from The Mill House https://media.brunningandprice.co.uk/file/d6e46c04e3cfd5a973df0d2315e05fbc.pdf

I wouldn't go to Basingstoke. It's not a nice place.

I did exactly the same thing last weekend meeting friends at a half way point.
we found this place which was near the M3.
The pub was pretty good , nice outdoor seating area looking onto a wildflower meadow. There is a sort of community parkland area and a big playground nearby. We walked around this area for an hour and then had lunch . We were with kids and everyone enjoyed it.
www.thehollyblue.co.uk/

The Royal Oak in Ecchinswell is lovely, and then walk south. There are a number of circular walks, just check on an OS map.

https://royaloakecchinswell.co.uk/

https://www.lovebasingstoke.co.uk/explore/things-to-do/parks/beggarwood-park

The Waterwitch in Odiham is right by the canal and you can walk along the canal to the castle. You can go right up to the old tunnel and then cut across county back.

Thanks everyone! Looks like we're going to try the Ecchinswell one.