Great country walks: the South Downs, Hampshire
Difficulty Easy
Distance 11.4 miles/18km
Typical duration 4 hours 30 minutes
Start and finish Start at Petersfield train station and finish at Rowlands Castle
Map OS Landranger 197
Step-by-step details and maps ramblers.org.uk/petersfield
In a nutshell
From the pretty market town of Petersfield in the South Downs national park, this linear walk crosses idyllic Hampshire countryside, meandering south through the woodland of Queen Elizabeth country park, passing picture-perfect rural hamlets and ending up at Rowlands Castle village. One of the oldest pubs in Hampshire is on the route – a great lunch stop – and it’s worth taking a short diversion to admire the medieval wall paintings at 11th-century St Hubert’s Chapel.
Why it’s special
Petersfield is a lovely ancient market town, with plenty to see if you have time. Heading south, you’ll reach the pretty village of Buriton then climb up through woodland and on to the Shipwrights Way, a route once used to transport timber from the forest at Alice Holt to the docks in Portsmouth. You’ll walk through Queen Elizabeth country park, a huge area of downland and beech woods, mostly planted in the 1930s. Soon you’ll join the Staunton Way, which will take you right past the doors of the Red Lion at Chalton (it would be rude not to stop). From here you’ll continue along the Staunton Way until you reach Finchdean and finally your destination at Rowlands Castle, a cute village with a large green and choice of pubs to refuel in.
Reward yourself
Dating back to the 12th century, the Red Lion is one of the oldest pubs in Hampshire, packed with original features like the inglenook fireplace, and serving tasty food and cask ales.
Get there
South West Trains runs regular services from London Waterloo to Petersfield. At Rowlands Castle you can pick up the same line back to London (southwesttrains.co.uk). By road, Petersfield is just off the A3.