This six mile ride links Hampshire’s oldest pub with the county's largest country park. The route also includes a section of the South Downs Way National Trail.
Butser Ancient Farm was founded by Dr Peter Reynolds in 1972 to improve the understanding of prehistoric farming methods. The original farm was established west of the A3 at Rakefield Hanger, some three miles north of the present site. Although research continued at this remote location until 1989, it wasn’t the ideal place to develop the farm’s educational role.
In 1976, a new site was developed at Hillhampton Down, just across the A3 from the country park visitor centre. This site boasted a large, thatched roundhouse, with fields of crops and an industrial research area for producing charcoal and early metals like iron, copper, tin and bronze. The farm moved to its present site at Bascomb Copse in 1991; here the buildings, animals and crops reproduce living conditions on a British Iron Age farm of about 2,300 years ago.
The farm now boasts a reception area with a video introduction, souvenir shop and toilets. There’s also an activity centre where visitors can try their hand at grinding corn, spinning, weaving or making clay pots. The ancient farm is open to the public between March and September for weekend events, including demonstrations of prehistoric cookery, textiles and clothing.
The ride
Leave the car park and turn left past the Red Lion, then immediately left again at the junction towards Clanfield and Petersfield. Pass under the power lines and continue for 700 yards to the bottom of the hill opposite the Butser Ancient Farm.
Fork right here onto the bridleway and off-road cycle trail, a bumpy track with lovely views across the fields to Windmill Hill and the ancient farm behind you on your left. The bridleway climbs steeply as it approaches the woods at the corner of the country park, and it’s probably safer to dismount and push your bike at this point.
Follow the bridleway as it skirts the western side of the forest and drops gently down to the tarred Forest Drive and picnic areas.
Here you can turn left for the 300 yard diversion to the park’s visitor centre, café and toilets. Alternatively, turn right to continue your ride. This section, which follows part of the South Downs Way National Trail, takes you past the Benhams Bushes barbecue site (advance booking required).
Follow the Forest Drive for 600 yards and, when you reach the hairpin bend, fork right through Benhams Bushes car park onto the waymarked off-road cycle trail. Now, simply follow the bumpy gravel road for just over ½ mile to a junction near the top of the hill.
Bear left here, then fork right a few yards further on, sticking with the gravel road as it drops to a wooden gate at the Forestry Commission’s Halls Hill car park. Continue through the car park and stop at the road exit.
Leave the South Downs Way here, and turn right onto the narrow lane that drops down towards Chalton and Finchdean. This easy ride takes you deep into a rural, wooded landscape; sheep graze in small open fields between the beechwoods and hazel coppices, and you may spot the occasional deer.
At length you’ll pass under a line of electricity wires, before the road climbs around a right-hand bend and runs beside the railway for a short distance. Two hundred yards further on, look out for a signposted byway on your right-hand side.
Fork right here for the short, sharp climb up onto Chalton Peak. There are fine views on your right towards Windmill Hill, with dog rose, bramble and knapweed colouring the hedges beside this pleasant, level section.
Stop at the end of the byway, then turn right for the final 200 yards back to the junction where you fork left to the Red Lion and the car park where your ride began.
© Automobile Association Developments Ltd
"Many thanks for your very efficient work on this project."
David Hancock
Editor, AA Pub walks & cycle rides