A Scenic Treat where Three Counties Meet

Despite being at the meeting point of three populous counties, so sylvan and steep is the tricounty area of West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire that we'll have the world all to ourselves on this walk. And what a world it will be: dense woodlands, open heaths, sunken lanes, fairytale cottages, unexpected vistas. And at lunchtime we will be on the top of this world, a strenuous ascent to a favourite haunt of mine, or indeed, ours: Woolbeding Common. Here, we'll be rewarded with a sublime view over the Wealden landscape to the South Downs of Hampshire and Sussex, Blackdown in Sussex and the Hog's Back in Surrey. A final stop for drinks in The Links in Liphook will slake our thirsts. 

The sights:

Stedham Marsh: The path is causewayed over this boggy Site of Special Scientific Interest. Dragonflies and butterflies throng the ponds (not in late autumn) and locally rare sundew plants might be seen.

Woolbeding Common: Here oak, sweet chestnut, birch and rowan growing on the greensand give way to bilberry, gorse and heather. These areas don't feel like the Sussex of rolling downs, but more like the edge of Dartmoor. We might encounter green and greater spotted woodpeckers and linnets, and chiffchaffs and blackcaps before they take wing for the Mediterranean. Since time immemorial the heath provided local people with heather to burn, and now the National Trust is cutting back birch trees to prevent forest taking over the biodiverse heathland. 

The route (please click on the link to see it at the Ordnance Survey website):

We'll follow the New Lipchis Way all the way from Liphook to Woolbeding Common Viewpoint for lunch. After lunch, the Serpent Trail will take us west to Titty Hill. Lambourne Lane will the take us north to Wardley. Where we'll continue north west up and over Wardley Hanger to meet the Sussex Border Path which we'll cross to follow Wheatsheaf Enclosure to meet the Portsmouth Road for a pub stop at The Links. A short walk along the main road on the pavement will return us to Liphook Railway Station. 

Dogs:

I love having dogs on the walks I lead, and this walk is very suitable for them although there are some country lanes to walk along and roads to cross. A dog off its lead must be under control.

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(Picture credits: View over Woolbeding Common: Photo © Peter Holmes (cc-by-sa/2.0); View towards Redford: Photo © Chris Gunns (cc-by-sa/2.0); Bridleway to Stanley Common: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0); Footpath, West Leithe: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0); Autumn colours: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0); Bridleway below Hatch Hanger: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). The Links Hotel, Liphook: Photo © Maigheach-gheal (cc-by-sa/2.0). All pictures are copyrighted but are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.0 and are here attributed to their copyright holders.)