Clanfield
On this walk, children will enjoy a stop at Peel Park where there is plenty of play equipment.
Views across the fields towards Clanfield
The Basics
Time: 1hr 15mins
Distance: 5 km
Terrain: Field tracks, pavements, quiet lanes with no pavements and woodland paths
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes, but they are not allowed in the park
Refreshments: The Rising Sun, Clanfield
Toilets: None
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 37 between Petersfield and Havant and 638 between Alton and Cowplain stop on Green Lane where you can join this walk
Parking: Free car park at Peel Park on Chalton Lane (Postcode: PO8 0PR - W3W: stockpile/tides/out)
One of the amazing beech trees in the woodland of this walk
Nestled on the edge of The South Downs, Clanfield has woodland splashed with bluebells in spring and a park where children will want to stay all afternoon. This route starts at the park and loops through bridleways, woodland and lanes passing the pub and duck pond on the way back.
The Route
Leave the car park and turn left to walk down Chalton Lane. You will need to cross the road to get to the pavement. As you reach the bottom of the hill, take the first foot path on the left immediately after the bus shelter and leave the road.
Follow the path with fields and hedges on either side until you come out onto Petersfield Lane. Cross the lane and take Thieve’s Lane (which is more of a track) directly opposite, passing a couple of houses on your left.
Continue ahead and the path will eventually curve up to the left and enter woodland beside a gate that says ‘private’ (this is an excellent bluebell spot in spring). There is a huge beech tree just along here, as pictured above, with logs scattered around which makes a nice place to rest and play.
Continue along the path as it gently rises and then, after levelling out, bends to the left, drops down and gradually leaves the woodland behind. Look out for beautiful views over the hedgerow to Clanfield and Windmill Hill beyond. Follow the track downhill to meet with North Lane. Turn left and walk down the tarmac lane.
You could walk directly down quiet North Lane to get back to Clanfield, but we prefer to extend the walk slightly by taking the right turn along a bridle path into Lowton Copse/Little Hyden Woods. You will spot this narrow entrance to the woods on your right after only a few metres of walking down the lane (fingerpost in opposite hedge). If it is bluebell season, then this diversion is an absolute MUST! The locals call this ‘Bluebell Wood’ for good reason!
Follow the bridle path as it cuts straight across the woods. Ignore all paths to the left and right and continue directly across the woodland until you hit the edge of the trees and you cannot walk ahead any further. Turn left at the track you now find yourself on and follow it until you meet some houses and it merges into the tarmacked Little Hyden Lane.
Follow the lane into the village, keeping left by the school. As you come into the village, you will meet The Rising Sun on a junction.
Cross the road here and turn left to join Chalton Lane again. Walk along the pavement, passing the duck pond on your right in a short while. Children will enjoy stopping here and viewing the resident ducks inside the enclosure. Continue up the hill and cross the road to enter Peel Park. The park ahs play equipment for all ages, a skate ramp and benches.
Did you know?
Officially named Lowton Copse, but known to locals as Little Hyden Wood and Bluebell Woods, the area is privately owned by a local family who purchased the woodland in an attempt to conserve it and return it to its original state through a careful system of woodland management.
