Altpet two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked Alton to Petersfield on 15 March 2025. Route is generally countryside footpaths/bridleways/byways through woods, alongside and across arable fields. Can be soft after rain, and usual variety of state of repair of fingerposts, waymark posts etc.

Pleasant walk mostly on safe footpaths with nice views. Strenuous at Shoulder of Mutton hill - beware!

Observations:
- Contrary to other reviews, there is no need to walk down the A32 at Chawton. The Chawton House estate has a wide, well established footpath running in the trees parallel to the A32 (see https://chawtonhouse.org/visit/parkland/) and see map photo 3 and waymark post in photo 4
- As per previous review, path along Selborne Hill open access land is notorously muddy (see photo 8)
- Some paths across ploughed fields with footpath not yet re-established (see photo 7 , dry this day, thankfully)
- Short road section between Noar Hill Common/Vann Farm quiet road, but off-road option exists to partially reduce amount on road
- As per previous review, route between Hawkley to Oakshott is a dog-leg on the road. This would be better along the route of the Hangers Way which is an off-road dog-leg option that is about the same distance
- Shoulder of Mutton hill (photo 12) is very steep up and down. On the north side, you can zig-zag the steepest section in the open access area. On the south side, in wet and slippery conditions, it is recommended to zig-zag down the well defined route of the Hangers Way which adds a few hundreds of metres walking but easier on the knees.


As per methodology


1. be safe - generally off-road (A32 easily avoided)
2. respect local codes and laws - all rights of way
3. be accessible to as many people as possible - not super accessible: very steep hill. Some stiles. Steps in hollow - see photo 9.
4. be direct - yes
5. be off road - mostly
6. have resting places to eat or sleep every 5-10km - tea house at Chawton. Pub at Upper Farringdon and Hawkley (though not sure if either are open), would recommend not to rely on anything other than Alton and Petersfield without checking beforehand
7. pass through train and bus stations - yes, both transport hubs (no transport direct between Alton and Petersfield though)
8. be easy to navigate - yes
9. be enjoyable and beautiful - very
10. use established routes (such as the Welsh Coast Path), but not be distracted by them! Mostly Hangers Way and some Writers Way.

I ran this route in mid May after a lot of rain. It's a nice route except for a short piece that uses the A32 with no path.
I also found the path at Selborne Common to be very muddy which slowed me to a walk (after the mud stole my shoe!).
This route would work for most people as there are more gates than stiles, but there are still some stiles and Shoulder of Mutton Hill is very steep on both sides and required careful walking to get up and over. The view from the top was quite impressive.
Stations, shops and toilets can be found at both Alton and Petersfield, and there were various pubs along the way. (I would recommend the tea room at Chawton.)
A nice run which I'd be up for trying again in drier conditions.

I walked this route from Petersfield to Alton on Wednesday 23rd June 2021 using GPS.
The ground was soft in parts since there had recently been rain.

The walk is within the South Downs National Park. The section between Petersfield and Selbourne is particularly beautiful with lovely views and tranquil woods. There is plenty of variety along the way but it is mainly woods, fields and some farm land. There are also streams and even a small waterfall. I had the pleasure of meeting a tiny fellow who I later identified as a water shrew.

Between Petersfield and Selbourne, the route mostly follows Hangers Way. 'Hanger' is a local term for the hills in the area so it's no surprise that there is a fair amount of up and down on this route, especially the steep hill at Ashford Hangers, Shoulder of Mutton Hill.

Hangers Way could be followed all the way between Petersfield and Alton.

There is a section of the walk from Middle Oakshott Farm to Hawkley that follows the road where there is a continuation of Hangers Way across country. I deviated from the route to stay off road and I can definitely recommend it.

The route from Farringdon to Alton takes you alongside the A32, A31 and through the town. It also takes you through Chawton which does have a tea room and Jane Austen's house but if you prefer a quieter, more rural way I can recommend the path to the east of the route from Upper Farringdon across fields towards the B3006 and Truncheaunts and under the A31 at the B3004.

From the Slow Ways methodology:

1. The route is safe, if slippery in places.
2. The route respects local codes and laws.
3. There are steep parts on the route, narrow overgrown parts, styles, gates and unpaved road which reduce accessibility.
4. The route is direct.
5. The route is mostly off road but there are parts that are on road and without a path.
6. There are resting places along the way. There is a pub at Hawkley and one at Farringdon.
7. Alton and Petersfield have train and bus stations.
8. The route was easy to navigate.
9. I very much enjoyed the walk.
10. Much of the walk is on Hangers Way. All the paths are well established.

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