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Queen Elizabeth Country park is situated just south
of Petersfield, Hampshire on the A3 Portsmouth to London Trunk Road.
A pay-and -display (£1.50 for all day) car park is at the park’s
Visitor Centre. Toilets, Café and a Gift shop are also at the centre. |
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Leave the car park and follow the South Downs Way
path back under the A3 road. Once under the road, cross to the left side
and enter a ‘closed’ cark park. Follow the path down into the open
meadow, turn right and pass over the stile. Continue on the right side,
adjacent to the A3, ignoring the path (the South Downs Way) that goes up
the first grassy ridge to Butser Hill.
(photo: Butser Hill at the start of the walk) |
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Cross over a stile, near the sheep pens on
the right, turn left and follow the path up the second grassy ridge. Cross
the stile at the top, then bear slightly right following a faint path
around the crest of Butser Hill. (The Triangulation Point can be seen to
the left.) The path leads to another stile.
(photo: View east across the South Downs from Butser Hill) |
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The spire of East Meon Church can be seen
if a clear day! Cross the stile and follow the path down hill. In
the latter section, it becomes a little steep and if wet, slippery on the
chalk, as it enters the bushes/trees area.
(photo: Looking towards East Meon from Butser Hill) |
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Cross the stile at the bottom, turn right
and follow the track to the road. Turn left then next right and continue
on the road. As the road bends right, take the track left. Follow this
track, avoiding any turns off, to join Frogmore lane.
(photo: Looking along the River Meon to Frogmore Lane) |
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Turn right and follow the road to where it
crosses the Meon River. Turn right to follow the path on the right side of
the river, passing in front of some quaint cottages. Continue for a short
distance through an allotment area then left to emerge between two houses,
again back at the Meon River.
(photo: Looking towards East Meon village centre) |
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Cross the bridge to the road, turn right, and
continue until the road bends right past the Old George Public House.
Follow the road left, where it soon bends left. Pass East Meon school,
right, and soon after pass round a right bend. Enter the small parking
area on the left to join the path at the top right corner.
(photo: Thatched Cottage in East Meon) |
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Cross the stile and follow the path over
up the first field, then down the path in the next field. Continue
following the path to the right of the edge row, to arrive at a stile in
the corner. Cross the stile and follow the track right up a short steep
hill. Pass through the gate, turn left and head to the next fence. A
Waymark disk on a fence post shows the path direction uphill.
(photo: View towards Salt Hill from the top of the first field out
of East Meon) |
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At the top go left through the gate and
follow the path on the top, passing through another gate, to Salt Hill.
Turn right, go down then up to the fence and across the stile onto a track
(South Downs Way).
(photo: Butser Hill from close to Mercury Park) |
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Turn left and follow the track to the main
road near Mercury Park. Turn left, cross the road, and continue for a
short distance to a path that parallels the road. (There is a ‘ No
Vehicle Access’ sign at the start.) Where the path rejoins the road,
continue straight on to follow the road. At the junction, (left to East
Meon, right to Lovedean) join the track on the left. (still on the South
Downs Way)
(photo: View across to East Meon from the South Downs Way leading to
Butser Hill) |
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Follow this track to where it joins a main
road. Turn left, continuing on the South Downs Way on the right side of
the road. Near the car park entrance to Butser Hill, follow the footpath
off to the right. (A fingerpost for South Downs Way.) Follow the path as
it eventually descends down the grassy slope. Rejoin the outward path at
the bottom and retrace the route back to the car park.
(photo: View back to the car park from Butser Hill) |
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