Butser Hill
Petersfield
On this walk, children will enjoy an ice-cream from the roundhouse in summer and flying a kite on a windy day.
Butser Hill is perfect for a sunset walk
The Basics
Time: 35 mins
Distance: 1.88 km / 1.1 miles
Terrain: Downland grassy paths. By parking at the top, this route is mainly flat.
Pushchair: The grassy paths are not ideal for pushchairs but when the ground is firm in summer you may get it around.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: The Roundhouse Kiosk run by God Save the Bean, weekends 9am - 3pm.
Toilets: There are public toilets in The Roundhouse (close 4:30).
Public Transport: There is no public transport to the top car park where this walk starts, but you could use the bus stop for Queen Elizabeth Country Park on the A3, with services from Petersfield, Havant and Waterlooville, and walk up.
Parking: Large car park, charges apply, number plate recognition, pay on exit (Postcode: GU32 1RT - W3W: ///escalates.sparrows.seaguls)
Views to Petersfield and as far as Surrey from the top of Butser Hill
As one of the highest points in Hampshire, it is no wonder Butser also provides some of the best views. Part of the Queen Elizabeth Park, you can either walk up from there or follow this child friendly walk and avoid the steep climb.
The Route
Follow the paved track up to the metal gate. This walk circles the top of the hill and follows the red route. There are some posts along the way to guide you and a large map beside the entrance gate.
Keep the fence to your left and follow the path closest to the fence. Continue along the ridge of the hill with the radio mast on your right. The path goes up an incline and then levels out to provide spectacular views of Petersfield and surrounding villages.
At the point where you reach the steep slope and viewpoint ahead, turn right and continue in a circle with the mast up and away to your right and the view/slope to your left. At the line of scrubby trees, turn right and follow the path slightly up hill in the direction of the mast.
Keep to the left path as it curves away from the mast and brings in views of the A3, the trees of Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the distant coastline. Keep going until you see the paved track leading from the mast. You can follow this back to the car park.
There are some brilliant view interpretation boards dotted around, which my children love using to pinpoint landmarks that they know.
You can walk down the hill, through the gate in the direction of the A3 to access Queen Elizabeth Country Park. On this face of the hill, you may well come across some of the resident ponies who are ‘employed’ to help with natural grazing of the grassland.
Hampshire Countryside Services have produced a children’s story walk to go with a route around the hill.
As a member, you gain instant access to all 162 PDF files. Members also benefit from special members-only discounts at some of our favourite pit-stops.
Did you know?
Over 30 species of butterfly have been recorded within the nature reserve, including The Duke of Burgundy and The Silver-spotted Skipper, making it an important conservation area.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one which explores the rest of Queen Elizabeth Country Park
We are passionate about keeping The Ambling Path as a free resource available to everyone, forever. If you have enjoyed using our walking guides, then please consider leaving us a donation. This will help to cover our costs as well as rewarding the considerable time and effort needed to maintain the site. Thank you.
