Six Hills of Alton

1

The walk starts on The Butts, a triangular green area a short walk south-west from Alton high Street. This area was used for archery practice in medieval times. There is a noticeboard describing the Six Hills of Alton Walk on The Butts by the wooden bench. Head towards the railway bridges on the south side of The Butts, cross Whitedown Lane and pass under the right-hand railway bridge. Walk around the right-hand side of the roundabout and proceed along Winchester Road. At the end of Winchester road, take the right-hand bend into Mounters Lane, and then continue up the wide track ahead, passing under the railway bridge.

 2

The path emerges into the car park of Alton Sports Centre. Walk across the car park and follow the hard track across the Jubilee Playing Fields, passing the skate-board area on your right. At the end of the path walk towards the entrance of the playing field car-park and turn right onto Northfield Lane. Follow the road around the sharp-righthand bend (care required as this is a busy road), and take the footpath on the left, passing upwards into woodland.

 3

Follow the path rising through trees until you reach a T-junction with another path, turn right. Proceed through Ackender Wood, passing the old water-tower on the right of you. This is the last remaining structure from the former Treloar Hospital site. Just before the path starts to descend, there is a short path on the right to the edge of the woods, giving a view over Alton from Hill 1: Ackender Hill. Return to the main path and walk downhill to Pertuis Avenue.

 4

Cross the Road (Careful!), and take the path opposite through to Whitedown Lane. Cross the road and continue down the path opposite with a tall wooden fence on the left. After about 100 yards, take the easy to miss path on the left to meet High Ridge, and walk downhill to Basingstoke Road. Cross the main road (Careful!), and walk up Brick Kiln Lane.

 5

Follow Brick Kiln lane for a mile to the top of the rise, and with a view of Alton through a gateway on your right from Hill 2. Continue along Brick Kiln Lane until it emerges onto Southwood Road. Turn right and walk downhill to the New Odiham Road.

 6

Cross New Odiham Road (Caution required!), and take the footpath opposite, crossing the track into Greenmount Farm. Pass through the wooden gate and take the rising path ahead between an avenue of trees. Continue up the slope, passing through the metal kissing-gate.

 7

Continue along tree-lined path until you reach a metal kissing gate on the left. Pass through this to enter open area on top of Hill 3, Northanger Hill, with views of Alton on the right. Take the path on the left and follow around the edge of field. In the far corner you pass through another metal kissing gate, into the next field. Proceed downhill towards houses with hedge and then Hawthorn allotments on your right. At the corner of the allotments, pass through the wooden kissing gate and follow the short track to another metal kissing gate in front of the allotment entrance. Turn left, and walk down Hawthorns, and then turn left into Southview Rise.

 8

Take Southview Rise uphill to reach the Old Odiham Road. Cross this road (Careful!) and enter Gilbert White Way opposite. Proceed along here for about 300 yards and then take the steps and path on the left into the new housing estate.

 9

This path connects to Christmas Close. There is a tarmac-path opposite, passing between new houses, which connects to a grass path running behind new houses. Turn right and follow this until you reach Upper Anstey Lane. Turn left and walk up the hill for approximately 0.5 miles until you see a path on the right. There is a wooden post with a yellow arrow at the start of the path, and a metal kissing gate after about 10 yards.

 10

Follow the path gently uphill, to reach summit of Hill 4, Anstey Hill, with views of Alton on the right. Continue to kissing gate and then turn right, passing through woods into open fields. There is a great view to the east from here, looking over Holybourne and beyond.

 11

Follow the path downhill, passing through small area of woodland, for 0.75 mile until you reach a playing field. Turn left and head towards the path in the far corner of the playing field. Follow this path (St Swithun’s Way), passing Treloar’s College, until you reach Howard’s Lane. Turn left and follow road around the righthand bend. Pass Holy Rood Church on your right and reach Church Lane.

 12

Take the path opposite, with a house driveway on the immediate right and follow until you reach an open field with paths in three directions. Take the path on the right towards the village, keeping the hedge on your immediate left, towards house in the corner of the field. The path then passes immediately adjacent to this house and onto their front driveway, where there is a wooden gate onto a further footpath across a paddock. Follow the path, through a wooden gate into a further paddock and then a metal gate onto a short track which leads to London Road.

 13

Cross London Road and then go left for a short distance and take Lower Neatham Mill Lane on the right. Follow the lane under the railway bridge and continue to you reach the turning circle next to the A31. Take the track on your right, passing through the metal kissing gate. Follow the track until it narrows into a path, passing through a further metal kissing gate and taking a wooden bridge over a stream. The path eventually emerges onto Upper Neatham Mill Lane through a further metal gate.

 14

Turn left and follow the lane into Neatham Mill. Walk past Upper Neatham Mill house and take the path on the right behind the house. Follow this path until you see another path (with yellow arrow) on the left. Take this path, rising slowly and then falling sharply towards the A31 roundabout.

 15

This part of the walks crosses a busy road junction, so please take extreme care. The OS map shows the path going across the middle of the roundabout, but we strongly advise you do not follow this route. Cross the A31 eastern approach to the roundabout, walking across the large central reservation between the two carriageways. Then walk around the southern edge of the roundabout towards the A31 western exit and take the path on your left which passes through the hedge and over a style into a field. Turn left and follow the rising path around the edge of this field. There are good views over Alton behind you.

 16

Follow the path in a broadly straight direction for about a mile, passing several hedgerows, until you reach the top of the ridge. This is Hill 5, Neatham Down. The path then falls sharply in front of you towards a pylon. Proceed down the hill but look out for the path crossing at right angles before the Pylon. This is the Hanger’s Way. Take the path on the right, and head towards the corner of the field. Enter the next field and follow the path with hedge on the left. The path eventually crosses a stile and drops down to the A31 dual carriageway.

 17

Take great care here – very fast cars! Carefully cross the A31 dual carriageway, and take the footpath opposite through the gap in the crash barrier. Follow this path over a stile and stream until you reach Wilson Road. Cross the road and turn left. After about 200 yards walk up Windmill Lane on your right.

 18

Walk up the hill, until you see a path on the left between houses. Follow this until it emerges onto Hill 6, Windmill Hill. There is a copse and a mast on the top of the Hill, and good views of Alton behind you. There is a further noticeboard on the Six Hills of Alton at the top of the Hill, together with wooden benches to enjoy the views.

 19

Walk past the benches around the copse and take the furthest path on the right downhill towards the gate. Pass through the gate and continue straight ahead with a hedge on your right and then cross an open field towards Borovere Farm and new housing development. Walk right along Borovere Lane until you reach a T-junction and then turn left along Borovere lane and follow the road downhill until you reach Butts Road. Turn left towards The Butts and arrive at the starting point of the walk.