Description
The Hills to Harbour Trail is a series of self-guided walking routes that link the stations along the railway line between Guildford and Portsmouth. You can walk between any pair of stations.
Walk 07 is 7.6 miles in length and takes you from Liphook to Liss railway station.
This is an opportunity to be out in delightful heath and woodland along the Hampshire and West Sussex border.
There is a cafe van and some local shops near Liphook Station. There is pub near the route in Rake and a cafe in the garden centre close by. There is a pub by the route at Hill Brow and, at Liss, there is a cafe, a pub, and various restaurants/takeaways.
The route uses sections of several long distance paths: The Serpent Trail, The Sussex Border Path, and The New Lipchis Way. The most substantial section is along The Serpent Trail
Start and End
Liphook/Liss
Distance
7.6 miles
Time
4 hours
Grade
4/10 - Several climbs. Heath and woodland paths.
Accessibility
Not push/wheelchair accessible
Upload the GPX file to your walking app
Walk Instructions
- To start the walk, turn right out of the station, go under the brick arch and up the steps to you left. These take you up to the road. Turn left and over the footbridge to follow the Midhurst Road (un-signed) gently up hill.
- Pass Chiltley Lane and Churcher’s College on your left and continue to the junction with Highfield Lane (un-signed.) Immediately opposite the ‘Unsuitable for HGVs’ sign, the pavement turns away from the road. Follow this wide track marked ‘Serpent Trail’ and ‘Sussex Border Path’.
- Keep forward at all junctions for about 1 mile to Liphook Golf Course. Cross two fairways. Just before the third fairway, ignore a left-pointing Serpent Trail sign to continue straight ahead.
(For your own safety and for the enjoyment of those playing golf, try to keep behind the ball being played and avoid moving when someone is about to play.) - The footpath emerges onto Milland Lane (un-signed.) Go forward along the road for a further 100 yards to the main road.
- Turn left along the main road, crossing at your first opportunity to turn right into a bridal path marked with ‘Serpent Trail’ and ‘Sussex Border Path’ stickers.
- Pass the gate and go through the woodland. Continue forward across the lane with the cricket ground to your right going through the gate marked ‘Access Land’.
- Continue forward for about 200 yards to the junction of paths. Turn left and immediately left again at the finger post. At this point the Serpent Trail diverges from The Sussex Border Path. You are following the Serpent Trail which crosses Chapel Common.
- After 0.4 miles, turn right at the marker post (about hip height). The path crosses open heathland with few trees but abundant clumps of gorse.
- After 0.4 miles, ignore the more warn path to the right and bear left at the short marker post to continue following the Serpent Trail.
- At the triangle of paths, turn right.
- Follow the path through the woodland ignoring all paths to the left and right. Then continue forward with open heathland on your right.
- Bear left down the slope and through the gate to turn left through the parking area.
- Continue up the hill keeping to the left of the track as you approach the main road. Cross over using the end of the central reservation as a refuge.
Ignore the footpath and bear to your right to take the track between the gate and Coldharbour sign. - At the top of the hill, continue along the main track down and to the left and then as it turns to the right. There are fine views here.
- Continue along the path for about 0.4 miles then bear right through the gate.
- At the road, turn right and then, in about 50 yards, turn left along the track (signed ‘Sussex Border Path’ and ‘Serpent Way’).
(Refreshments: A pub can be found about 130 yards up the hill from this point. Turn right at the pub for a further 300 yards along the main road to find a cafe in the garden centre. Return to this point afterwards.) - Continue past houses and pass the Rake Hanger information board.
- Pass a second information board then bear left at the fork. There is a fingerpost, but this is easy to miss. Continue up a gently rising path to the road.
- Bear right along the road and walk uphill. (Ignore the Serpent Trail diverging to the left.)
- Beware of oncoming traffic on the bend near the top of the hill. At the T-junction at the top of the hill, turn right, signed to ‘Petersfield’ and ‘Liss’.
- On reaching the B2070, London Road once more, the Jolly Drover will be on your right. Cross the main road and go ahead and slightly to your right into the B3006, Hill Brow Rood. There is a pavement on the right-hand side.
- Turn right into Plantation Road.
- At the end of Plantation Road turn left into Huntsbottom Lane (unsigned).
- At the bottom of the hill keep forward to continue along Huntsbottom Lane (un-signed.)
- At the end of Huntsbottom Lane, turn left along Rake Road (un-signed.) There is a pavement on the other side of the road,
- 26 At the end of Rake Road, bear left along Station Road for about 80 yards then turn right to continue along Station Road (un-signed.)
- 27 Liss Station is on your right-hand side.
Safe Walking
Walking is a sociable activity so travel with someone else if you can. It’s also best for safety. Follow the usual walking guidelines about clothing, footwear, drinks, food, and first aid kit. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back
Refreshments
Many stations have opportunities nearby for refreshments when you arrive. The towns have cafes and pubs, and there are some along the route as well. They may have more restricted opening than those in London, particularly for serving food, so check websites for opening times when planning.
Reporting footpath issues
The Hills to Harbour Trail crosses three counties, all of which have good, on-line facilities for reporting rights of way issues. If you find something that needs fixing, please report it on the appropriate webpage.
Search for “report rights of way” followed by the county name.