Working in Partnership to Protect the South Downs South the Protect to Partnership in Working CYCLE ROUTE CYCLE ON-ROAD 10. Lock your bike – or lose it. lose or – bike your Lock 10. A 22-MILE 22-MILE A Dedicated to the memory of Pete Butler. Pete of memory the to Dedicated eye. 9. Think ahead – anticipate drivers’ actions. Catch their Catch actions. drivers’ anticipate – ahead Think 9. www.hants.gov.uk/cycling 8. Ride positively and decisively. and positively Ride 8. For more information on cycling in Hampshire visit Hampshire in cycling on information more For 7. Always look and signal before you start, stop or turn. or stop start, you before signal and look Always 7. daytime visibility. daytime mi:[email protected] Email: clothing and always use lights after dark and in poor in and dark after lights use always and clothing 6. Be visible. Ride well clear of the kerb, wear bright wear kerb, the of clear well Ride visible. Be 6. www.southdownsonline.org 5. Be courteous to other road users. road other to courteous Be 5. Hampshire Office: 02392 571381 571381 02392 Office: Hampshire South Downs Joint Committee Committee Joint Downs South downhill. between one rider and the next, taking extra care extra taking next, the and rider one between Contacts 4. In wet weather, keep a gap of at least three metres three least at of gap a keep weather, wet In 4. Never ride more than two abreast. two than more ride Never 3. Always ride in single file when the roads are narrow. are roads the when file single in ride Always 3. Survey maps for the area (Explorers 132 & 133). & 132 (Explorers area the for maps Survey take your litter home, protect wildlife, plants and trees. and plants wildlife, protect home, litter your take find it useful to have Ordnance have to useful it find may You • Waterproofs • 2. Follow the Country Code – respect the countryside, the respect – Code Country the Follow 2. Spare inner tube • Puncture repair kit and pump • Tyre levers Tyre • pump and kit repair Puncture • tube inner Spare 1. Follow the Highway Code. Highway the Follow 1. keys • First aid kit • Lights • Lock • Food and drink • Money • Money • drink and Food • Lock • Lights • kit aid First • keys Cycle helmet • Mobile phone • Adjustable spanner and Allen and spanner Adjustable • phone Mobile • helmet Cycle Ten cycle tips cycle Ten What to take take to What Why is it so special? The area embraces a variety of contrasting landscapes, from the dramatic open Why cycle? landscapes and panoramic views on the Cycling is healthy for you and the chalk downs to the environment. This bike route aims to promote steep wooded scarp slopes of hanger the enjoyment of the area by bike while woodlands, the gentle reducing road congestion, pollution and loss winding plains of the river valley and the of tranquillity. Cycling enables you to explore enclosed intimate and offers a different experience of the landscape of the Weald. surrounding countryside while attaining a The area is not important just for its sense of well being. scenery: there are many ecological and Butser Hill National Nature Reserve archaeological treasures Why not give it a go? hidden in its extensive ancient woodlands and pastures. Sunken Lane near Hawkley Wild flowers along the route Safety First... • Farm vehicles may leave mud on the roads, so take extra care Towns and Villages and watch your speed. Petersfield Square Petersfield is a bustling • Your bike should be roadworthy and well maintained, in • Watch out for car drivers also, who may not be used to seeing town, with an impressive particular the brakes, steering and tyres. If riding at night, you cyclists in the countryside. square which is used for must have front and rear lights and a rear reflector. Wear a markets on Saturdays cycle helmet and gloves, and let someone know if you are and Wednesdays and riding alone. For these reasons, the South Downs Joint Committee cannot accept liability for recommending this as a leisure route or, farmers’ markets on • Cycling in hilly countryside can be strenuous, so please save for negligence, liability for injury or damage to property. Sundays. Close to the ensure that you have allowed plenty of time and are carrying market square are pubs sufficient refreshments. and cafes, with a tourist information centre in the • This route mostly uses library. quiet country lanes, but Buriton is an unspoilt old village, they are not free from south of Petersfield, surrounded by traffic. steep wooded downland hillsides. • Horse riders and There are a choice of two pubs in the walkers appreciate village. The manor house was the hearing a bell or a home of the writer Edward Gibbon. friendly greeting as you East Meon (pictured left), to the west approach. Cyclists must of Petersfield, is a delightful small give way to horse riders village surrounded by the downs. The and walkers on the River Meon runs alongside the village bridleway bridge over street, its spring source is not far the A3. away. The village contains a fine Norman church and two pubs. START Petersfield Froxfield Green East Meon Buriton Petersfield Farewells East Hawkley METRES Harrow Steep Wheatham Hairpin Pub With Bower Park Meon Buriton ABOVE Inn Church Farm Bend Junction No Name Farm Farm Church Oxenbourne Church SEA LEVEL 250 14 16 12 17 200 13 18 10 19 150 11 20 23 2 6 7 8 9 21 22 100 5 24 25 26 3 4 27 1 50 0 A3 ‘B’ Road A272 ‘B’ Road A3 Underpass B2070 012345678910111213141516171819202122 MILES DISCOVER THE HAMPSHIRE AREA OF THE SOUTH DOWNS BY BIKE Facilities 12. Turn left, signposted Priors Dean and Colemore.This road . 12 . is very narrow – listen carefully for approaching motor vehicles. Along the route there are several pubs offering food and drink . After Goleigh Farm, there is a steep downhill section. in Petersfield, Steep, Hawkley, Colemore and Priors Dean, East The surface may be slippery here – watch your speed! . Meon and Buriton . 11.At next jn, continue straight on, following 13.At T-jn with grass triangle, turn right, . 11 then go straight ahead at the next junction. signs for Newton Valence and Selborne. These are marked as . 14.At T-jn, turn left. On your left, tucked down a . gravel track, is the ‘Pub With No Name’. Look out . for the empty pub sign. There is also a village shop in East Meon and a cycle shop in . 15.At Xroads, stop and 13 . Steep. cross carefully.Traffic is . 10. Continue straight on past telephone . very fast here. box on left, signposted Newton Vallence and . Starting the route 16. Continue . Alton.After one mile, pass pond and large . straight across . white house on left. The route is signed with these . next Xroads, 14 . Hawkley distinctive signs. signed Privett. The best option for starting the route is to bring your bike Ignore turns to 10 . 9.At next jn, turn left, signposted . on the train to Petersfield railway station. However, as left and right and 15 . Hawkley, and continue uphill, . services vary, you are advised to check with South West follow road to . taking care on the hairpin . Trains on (0845) 6000 650.Alternatively, you could cycle from Bower Farm. bend. (At the top of the hill, home, or if you wish to drive, there is a pay and display car Stay on . 16 9 you can turn left into . Hawkley to visit the ‘Hawkley park at Petersfield railway station. Begin at point one, on the tarmac road . which . Inn’ pub and the church, right hand side of this page, and follow map and directions bears . although this is not part of the anti-clockwise. left. main route.) . Map not to scale . 8 8.At next jn, bear right, following . signs to West Liss and Hawkley. Bower Farm . .. .. 7. Turn right into Mill Lane (not signposted). 17.At T-jn, turn right, signposted Froxfield Green. Continue downhill, with great views over to . You are now at the half-way point! . Ashford Hangers.Watch out for surface water at the . 17 . bottom of this slope. Ignore turns on left to Ashford. .At next jn, continue straight on. 18 . 18 . 6.After bridleway bridge, continue along Harrow Watch out for potholes and mud on the road! . A steep downhill section to the busy A272. Froxfield Green . Lane.At end, turn left, opposite ‘Harrow Inn’.A . 7 . steep zigzag climb into Steep village, passing the . Steep . church and Bedales school on left. 19.At A272, CROSS EXTREMELY . 5. Bear left down Harrow Lane, CAREFULLY, turning right, then . 6 marked ‘Dead End’. Surface may be . immediately left. Motor traffic can 19 slippery.Take bridleway bridge over A3. be very fast here. 5 Please give way to walkers and horse . riders on this bridge. 4. Continue across junction of tracks, then . turn left where track meets Tilmore Road; 4 continue for a quarter of a mile. 3 . 3. Fifty yards after roundabout, pull into left, . A272 . ... dismount and cross carefully to track opposite.This Petersfield 2 track has a smooth surface and may be muddy after . heavy rain. Please give way to walkers and horse Start . riders on this track. 20.At next T-jn, turn right, . & finish . signposted East Meon and West Meon. here 1 . 2.At roundabout, turn right, signposted 27 Steep and Froxfield. Continue into East Meon. 20 . 1. Start at Petersfield railway station covered . Turn left into 21 East Meon . cycle parking facilities are available here. Turn left out of Church Street. the railway station into Station Road and go over level Follow road 21 .