Shipwrights Way - Bordon to Liss
A short history of The Shipwrights Way
The Shipwrights Way is a long-distance route linking villages and towns in east Hampshire through some beautiful countryside. Starting at Alice Holt Forest near Farnham across the South Downs to Portsmouth. The route is open to walkers and cyclists and, where possible, horse-riders and people with disabilities.
Relevant information for this leg of the Way
Both Bordon and Liss offer a range of shops, cafés and pubs and have public toilets. Liss has a rail station, with approximately hourly services to Liphook and Petersfield. There is also a village shop on the route at the northern end of Greatham.
Key
-
- Route
-
- Temporarily closed
-
- Restricted use
Directions
This section is 7½ miles long. Just before reaching Liss there is a spur off to Liphook. This spur route offers some lovely scenery and a good variety of heathland, pine woods and sunken lanes.
Once clear of the built-up area, the path winds through trees along the edge of the military training area (you may well hear firing or see troops or tanks, but the path is safe to use!). The site was first chosen for military use in the 1860s as it was a day’s march from Aldershot. It developed a pivotal role in teaching military train drivers during both world wars. It is still well used by modern troops. The site also provides a valuable wildlife refuge, being home to all twelve native amphibians and reptiles.
The quiet village of Greatham leads on to another bridleway, initially a causeway through wet woodland and then on higher ground. A short section of road finally leads onto the disused military railway. This is now a substantial path with bespoke oak bridges winding through mature trees alongside the River Rother and emerging right in the centre of Liss.
This section is open to walkers (and dogs) and cyclists and provides a fair to good route for pushchairs and mobility vehicles. Horse-riders may use the bridleways and road link between them, but are not advised to ride in Bordon itself.
The majority is off-road, on bridleway or shared-use pavements; it is nearly all flat and there are no gates, steps or stiles. The first part of this section is through the busy areas of Lindford, Bordon and Whitehill, using pavements and cycleways. A bridleway then winds its way along the edge of the MoD ranges. It emerges to cross the A325 and then on to much quieter roads through the village of Greatham. A second bridleway then crosses the A3 via a bridge. A brief on-road section and then a wide, flat track along the disused railway line to take you to Liss.
Partnership working between East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, the Forestry Commission and the South Downs National Park Authority provided the route. This section could not have been completed without the generosity of the MoD, who gave permission and support to build 1½ miles of new bridleway on their training ground and that of the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, who funded this new path.