Butser Hill from East Meon

South Downs Walk

Hill Walk + Pub Walk = Great Views

Walk Route Description

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Walk from East Meon exploring the downs to the south and east of the village. The route includes the source of the River Meon, a section of the South Downs Way (SDW), and Butser Hill from where you can enjoy some wonderful panoramas across the South Downs National Park.

The walk starts from the village hall car park in East Meon (grid ref. SU678222). This car park is signed from the village centre. After parking make your way to the car park entrance and take the signed footpath on the right. Cross the village green to an exit between houses. Bear right and follow Duncombe Road to a T-junction. Turn left and after 120 metres turn left into a parking area (grid ref. SU678219). At the end of the car park go through a kissing gate to join a path heading south. The path crosses several fields and joins a track running along the left-hand side of a field into a wooded area. Exit the trees and turn left to follow a grassy track across a field with a hedge on your left. At the end, turn left through the hedge and continue with hedge left across another field. Pass through the hedge and turn left to follow the path around the left-hand edge of a field to a road by Lower Farm.

Turn right and then left through kissing gate by adjacent driveway (grid ref. SU684208). Cross the grass, pass through another gate and bear left along drive through South Farm. Continue along the drive across the River Meon near its source. Stay on the driveway which leads into a track. Pass between barns and continue through a gate into a field. The rising path follows the left-hand edge and continues up to a stile and the South Downs Way (grid ref. SU693190).

Turn left and follow the SDW which leads into a tarmac lane and a road junction. Fork left along a road. At the next fork keep right and continue ahead following tarmac lane into the car park and the small café. To visit the summit of Butser Hill follow a path to the left of the telecoms tower to reach the OS trig column (grid ref. SU7172030) and enjoy the extensive view. To continue retrace your steps back to the café and turn right across the grass to a kissing gate in a wooden fence. Pass through the gate and follow the path ahead. Trend left and downhill at path junctions and descend to a gate (grid ref. SU709205). Pass through the gate onto a track and turn left and immediately right to join Limekiln Lane.

Follow track, pass Lythe House Farm on your right and continue to a lane and turn left. After 400 metres turn right onto track with motors restricted. After 700 metres you reach a junction of paths. Turn left and follow path to a lane (grid ref. SU688220). Cross lane to track opposite. This leads into a field. Cross filed to a stile and turn right along field edge. Follow fenced path crossing two stiles to a road (grid ref. SU684222). Turn left. Just before a bridge over the River Meon, bear left along a tarmac path which leads past allotments on your right to a junction. Turn left back to the river and continue in front of the Izaak Walton pub and turn right along High Street. Pass the war memorial on your right and continue ahead to continue along High Street. At next junction bear right signed to village hall car park and the start of the walk.

Walk GradingMore South Downs Walks

Other walks nearby

Walk 2533	Old Winchester Hill from East Meon	moderate	12.0 miles
Walk 2394	East Meon & Wether Down Circular	easy/mod	8.0 miles
Walk 3260	Butser Hill Circular	easy/mod	6.9 miles
Walk 2662	Beacon Hill and Warnford from Exton	easy/mod	6.0 miles
Walk 2710	Old Winchester Hill from Exton	easy/mod	5.5 miles