Haslemere Black Down Loop

Route Overview:
Haslemere Black Down Loop. Follow the road through Haslemere High Street and then start a slow climb up the quiet Tennyson’s Lane to Black Down car park. Follow a wide bridle path around the summit and look out for signs for the Sussex Border Path. Follow the Border Path signs, dropping down the hill slightly and going round Black Down through some woods. The Path opens out through a field, and then another wood, before a short decent out of the field through a gate onto a metalled road, with Valewood Farm on the right hand side. The lane winds slowly down to the main A286. Turn right along the main road and then immediately left on the A297 to Camelsdale. Look out for a right hand turn to Kings Road which will take you all the way back to the station.

Places of interest: Black Down| Valewood National Trust

Turn left out of Haslemere Station and round the bend of Lower Street. At the junction with the High Street and the memorial carry straight ahead on the Petworth Road. Turn right up Haste Hill and at a green turn right on to Chase Lane. Its steep but short! At the crossroads turn right into the narrow Tennyson’s Lane and start a gentle climb through a sunken lane up to Blackdown. The Lane is quiet with large houses either side, and after about 20 minutes you will reach a car park on the right hand side. Cycle through the car park and join the bridlepath after the second car park. The bridleway opens up into heathland with wide views of the surrounding hills. Look out for a viewpoint on the left hand side with a bench where you can see the South Downs.

After a boggy lake the bridleway bends to the right – keep a look our for green Sussex Border Path signs and turn right on the wide track., As the path starts to go down hill bear left – following the border path signs into some woods (Photo 8). Follow the path around the side of Black Down through some more woods, and exit through a cattle gate down a gravel path. The path bends round and comes out into a fields, again with wide ranging views of Haslemere. Exiting the field into another field, there is a steep drop down out of the field (you can cycle around the perimeter instead for a more gentle route) and through a small gate, you reach Bell Vale Lane. This Lane is another beautiful gentle downhill.

Eventually, the lane meets the busy A287 Midhurst Road. Turn right onto this road, and then bear immediately left onto Sturt Road. Follow Sturt Road to right into Camelsdale. Turn right into Kings Road, and follow this road back to Haslemere Station.