09 – Petersfield to Rowlands Castle

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 09 is 11.9 miles long and takes you from Petersfield to Rowlands Castle railway station.

This is the longest section of the Hills to Harbour trail but has much to offer. From Petersfield, with its market square and inviting backstreets, cross open farmland to the village pond of Buriton and then climb into the chalk downland around Queen Elizabeth Country Park. The isolated hill top church of St Huberts is well worht a visit before descending once more to the village green at Rowlands Castle.

Train is the only public transport option in the area. To break the walk into shorter sections you could aim to finish at one of the pubs near the route and book a taxi back to a station.

The route crosses open hillsides so wrap up well in winter and take plenty of water, a hat, and sun protection in summer.

Start and End

Petersfield/Rowlands Castle

Distance

11.9 miles

Time

7 hours

Grade

6/10 - Farmland may be muddy in winter. Significant climbs and exposed on high ground

Accessibility

Not push/wheelchair accessible

Route Map
Download GPX File

Upload the GPX file to your walking app

Walk Instructions

  1. Leave the station via the Portsmouth bound platform. (Toilets are available at the station.)
    Cross the station forecourt and walk directly ahead down Lavant Street.
  2. Cross Charles Street and continue forward along Lavant Street.
    (If you want some refreshment before setting off, there is a plentiful choice of cafes and pubs in the next half mile as you pass through Petersfield Note that after Petersfield, there are no further refreshment opportunities actually on the route until you arrive at Rowlands Castle.)
  3. At the end of Lavant Street turn right along Chapel Street.
  4. Turn left to The Square.
  5. Cross over to follow the right-hand side of the square and turn right into Sheep Street
  6. At the end of Sheep Street turn right onto The Spain.
  7. At the small green, bear left and continue into Borough Road. (Ignore signs for ‘The Spain’ at the green itself.)
  8. Turn left onto Alderfield.
  9. When Alderfield bends to the left continue forward across a small stream to follow a footpath through a park.
  10. Keep forward to emerge from the park by houses. Keep forward again (along Meadow Lands.)
  11. Turn left along Grange Road (unsigned.)
  12. At the end of Grange Road turn left along Cranford Road.
  13. At the end of Cranford Road turn right to find a crossing point to help you across this busy road. Once across the road, follow the wide path next to Weald Way.
  14. At the end of the path, turn right along Farm Drive. There is a footpath parallel to the road slightly to your left.
    (You are now following The Hangers Way but it is not especially well signed.)
  15. At the end of Farm Drive, cross the road to continue forward along the footpath ahead which crosses a small stream.
  16. At the end of the path turn right along Willow Drive.
  17. Turn left (Elm Drive) but almost immediately keep left along a short road towards the fields.
  18. Bear right onto the footpath.
    (This continues The Hangers Way. Initially there is a long, unsigned section through many fields but the abundance of ‘No Entry’ notices on the field gates will keep you on the correct route!)
  19. After crossing a minor stream with a gate either side, walk ahead up modest slope to cross a tractor route and then head towards a small landslip scar. Keep straight ahead as the path changes to a flinty, uphill track for 120 yards and then continue forward in front of an old barn.
  20. Seat
    As you approach the outskirts of Burriton, continue forward at the seat.
  21. Turn right, as indicated by the green Hangers Way sign and go through the gravel area beside a thatched cottage.
  22. At the road, turn left along Bones Lane (unsigned.)
    (A short diversion of about 170 yards takes you to a pub. To find it, cross Bones Lane to follow the path directly ahead. At the end of the path turn right along Heatherfield, immediately following it around the bend to the left.)
  23. Just before the end of Bones Lane, take the surfaced path to your right.
  24. You emerge on the High Street with Buriton Pond slightly to your right.
    Go straight across to pass through the car park for St Mary’s Church.
  25. Continue round to the left then pass through the gate to your right. Immediately turn left to follow the path parallel to the edge of the field.
  26. Turn right along the byway which starts to ascend the hill with a gate signed ‘Burriton Estates’ to your right.
  27. Turn right onto the surfaced road.
    (You join The South Downs Way for a short distance.)
  28. In about 100 yards, bear left away from the surfaced road and onto a path up through dense beech woodland.
  29. (You have now left The South Downs Way and joined The Staunton Way which you will follow all the way to Rowlands Castle. The Staunton Way well marked with the logo shown.)
  30. The path doglegs left and then, at the far side of the field, meets a road.
  31. At the road, turn right.
  32. The surfaced road turns off into Ditcham Park School. Keep forward along the unsurfaced track.
  33. The track continues downhill for a little over a mile. Bear left at the farm/small settlement of houses. The Portsmouth line runs along this valley, in the wooded hillside opposite.
    (The Staunton Way branches in two directions at this point. You will follow the southerly route to your left.)
    (A diversion of about three quarters of a mile takes you to a pub. To find it go straight ahead at the junction to follow the western branch of The Staunton Way to Chalton.)
  34. At the cross-roads, turn left along gravel track.
  35. Turn right. through the metal pedestrian gate and follow the right-hand side of the field.
  36. At the road, cross straight over to the footpath immediately opposite. The path doglegs right behind the hedge before bending left once more along the ridge.
  37. A short detour to the right takes you to the isolated and somewhat mysterious St Hubert’s Saxon Church. Return to this point and continue along the path after your visit.
  38. At the bottom of the hill, pass through the gate to your right and then turn left around the pond. Take the footpath up hill, following the left-hand edge of the field, and into the woodland.
  39. As you leave the woodland, take the path across the field to the left (not the one that goes straight ahead).
  40. Pass through the gate and continue forward along the grassy path and then a paved driveway.
  41. At the junction, turn right to follow The Staunton Way down the hill.
    (There is an alternative and slightly shorter route straight ahead.)
  42. The route continues down the hill through the avenue of trees.
    (A diversion of 550 yards takes you to a pub. To find it, turn right along the path that runs by the hedge and go under the railway. At the road, turn right towards Finchdean and the pub is immediately on the right.)
  43. Descend through an avenue of trees and, at the next junction, turn sharp left along the track.
  44. At the cross tracks by the farm with a thatched garage, turn right.
  45. Pass through the woodland and cross an open field following the line of a telephone cable on two poles. Then drop down between the houses to a road. Turn right.
  46. After 200 yards, turn left at the end of an informal layby to join the footpath as it descends through the field.
  47. Cross into the next field and then immediately bear right for about 30 yards to pass through a kissing gate. This takes you into woodland along a rough and narrow path.
  48. When you emerge from the woodland, bear right for 30 yards and pass into the next field. This is a long and narrow strip of field. Continue to the end of this narrow field with woodland on the left and a fence on the right.
  49. At the far end of the field, continue forward through woodland to pass through a metal kissing gate. Ignore the path to the right and continue forward for 20 yards then bear right to a vertical signboard indicating the Staunton Way. Follow the Staunton Way to another metal kissing gate and pass through into the open field. Bear left to follow the hedge along the right-hand side of this long field with open views to the right.
  50. At the end of the field, pass through a wooden kissing gate and turn immediately right through woodland.
  51. In about 100 yards, at the T-junction of paths, turn right and keep forward along the gravel path.
  52. Cross a wooden footbridge and turn immediately right towards the road. Pass through the metal kissing gate onto Finchdean Road and turn left towards a railway bridge ahead.
  53. Pass under the railway bridge and turn right up Bowes Hill.
  54. Bear right and continue up the hill to the station.

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.