A Circular Walk from Buriton, Near Petersfield, Hampshire

Distance 8.5 miles

A small car park is available at the village pond/Church, where the walk starts. The car park can be wet and muddy after rain! There is also a couple of very nice pubs in the village for refreshments after the walk.
(photo:  Village house at Buriton))

Leave the southern end of the car park, cross a stile and head southwest across the field to another stile. Cross over and proceed up the steep path through the wooded area. Join the road, turn right to the ‘T’ junction and across into the parking area. Leave the parking area through the gate into Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Follow the gravel track up hill and then along the top, avoiding any turn-offs.  Keep to the east of the park.
(photo:  Heading along the South Downs Way)

The gravel track eventually becomes earth (muddy after rain!) and gently curves left to join the Staunton Way.  This now follows the contours of New Barn Hangar, then back in a southerly direction.
(photo:  Looking towards Buriton and the South Downs.)

 The Staunton Way heads south across the fields to the village of Chalton.  Follow the path, then farm track, to reach a metalled road.  Go straight on for a short distance to the Red Lion public house.  (A very fine 16^th century thatched building) Opposite is Chalton Church.
(photo:  The Staunton Way to Chalton village)

(photo, left:  Red Lion Public House, Chalton)

Enter the church yard and follow the footpath signs around the back of the church. At the open field, take the left of the 3 paths.  Continue over to reach the country lane passing over the London/Portsmouth rail line.  
(photo:  Crossing the London/Portsmouth rail line)

  (photo:  On the way up the narrow track of Huckswood Lane)

Continue up Huckswood Copse, then left onto a foot path across a field.  (There is also a path off to the right at this point)  The path follows the right edge of the field until just left of diagonally opposite.
(photo:  I wonder who Niky is?  on the signpost at the turning off Huckswood Lane)

 (photo:  Lonely blackberries)

he path is then signposted along a farm track, continue until where it meets the track to Lady Holt.   Turn left and at Lady Holt, right to follow the path down into the woods of adjoining West Harting Down.
(photo:  Trees on the way to Lady Holt)

At the bottom, continue north on the wide forest track.  When the track bears right, follow the path straight on (finger posted) to the fence.  Turn left and follow the path up a steep hill, then at the top right to join a track.  Turn left to the road at Ditcham Park School, right and after a couple of hundred yards, join the footpath left.
(photo:  Looking down into Downley Bottom from near Lady Holt)

Follow the path to a track in Oakham Bottom wood.  Turn right up the track, then join the footpath left off the track.  This path soon crosses over another track and descends through the wood.
(photo:  Downley Bottom)

Pass through a gate near the bottom, and continue to join a metalled road which is part of the South Downs Way.  At the road turn right, then at a bend go left onto a track into the woods.  A sign post indicates to Buriton.
(photo:  Path down through Oakham Bottom Wood)

Follow the track along and down through the Milky Way (Yes, that’s its name!) to fields at the bottom.  Turn left over the stile, continue through the fields over other stiles, and finally right at Buriton Church to the car park.
(photo:  Salt-lick for cows as we near Buriton)