Shipwrights Way - Cradle Lane to Lindford/Bordon

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

This section finishes on the outskirts of Bordon, which has the full range of facilities you would expect from a small town.

Key

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    • Route
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    • Temporarily closed
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    • Restricted use

Directions

This section is 2 miles long, you can return along the same route, or use other rights of way.

The route starts at the southern end of a track called Cradle Lane. It runs along a country lane before turning southwards on a path through heathland and woodland to a view point above Broxhead Common. After crossing a field, the path continues through common land. This is a protected area which is rich in wildlife. Use the pavement and crossing points provided for the short road section and then enter Bordon Inclosure, an area of woodland. Finally cross the stream and use some quiet roads and a track though Lindford.

This section is open to walkers (and dogs), cyclists and horse-riders, and provides a fair to good route for pushchairs and mobility vehicles. Dog walkers should put their dogs on a lead over Broxhead Common between 1st March and 31st July, to protect rare ground-nesting birds.

The route has short sections on quiet roads and lanes and the rest is on good, undulating sandy tracks. There are four bridlegates, which each open to around 5ft width. Take care at the sharp bend at the start of this section and along the lane, you may see motorcycles on Cradle Lane.

Partnership working between East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, the Forestry Commission and the South Downs National Park Authority provided the route.