Shipwrights Way - Liss to Petersfield

A short history of The Shipwright's Way

The Shipwright's 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

The village of Liss offers cafés, pubs, shops and car parking. Around three miles from Liss is the Harrow Inn. This award-winning pub offers refreshments and meals, and even has its own cook-book. Petersfield marks the end of this section and offers toilets, pubs, cafés, shops and two museums.

Both Liss and Petersfield have rail stations and the journey between them is only 5 minutes, departing approximately hourly in either direction.

Key

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    • Route
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    • Temporarily closed
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    • Restricted use

Directions

This section is just under 5 miles long; you can return along the same route, use other rights of way or use the train.

The section starts at Liss Rail station and runs along quiet country lanes. It crosses the rail line and then follows a tarmac walk/cycle path in the verge of the A3 before returning to quiet lanes and paths.

After passing the Harrow Inn the route uses a bridge over the A3 which links two quiet lanes. The lane descends gently into Petersfield. Pause to see the views across the town with the ridge of the South Downs beyond.

This section is open to walkers (and dogs) and cyclists and provides a good route for pushchairs and mobility vehicles, via the northern rail crossing shown. Be aware that there is no pavement for part of this route. Horse-riders can use the route as far as the level crossing, and can also use the route through Steep Marsh. But unfortunately there is no easy way of linking these on horseback.

Apart from 300 metres of well-surfaced path at Steep Marsh, this section is all on tarmac; there are a few climbs but no large hills. Once away from the centres of Liss and Petersfield there are no pavements but most of the lanes are quiet (several being no through roads for vehicles). Take particular care on the path next to the A3 and when crossing the main road near Petersfield station.

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