A traditional cache in a panoramic location - easily accessible for all
LOCAL INFORMATION
Butser Hill is the highest point in Hampshire and the high point on the 100 mile long South Downs Way. At 270m, however, it is not quite the highest point in the South Downs National Park. This honour goes to Black Down in West Sussex which is 280m. The height of the hill does give it the interesting status of being classified as a ‘Marilyn’, a hill of over 150m. The name is a homophonous pun on the Scottish designation of a Munro, a mountain over 3000 feet high. There are 176 Marilyns in England.
Butser Hill offers spectacular 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside and is also popular with hangliders who take advantage of the good air currents over the steep north west slopes of the hill. The site is a National Nature Reserve, designated for its diverse chalk grassland.
The hill itself is on the route of the long-distance National Trail, the South Downs Way. The 100 miles (160 Km) long South Downs Way National Trail is the only National Trail in the country to be wholly within a National Park. The route follows the old routes and droveways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the East.
DISCOVERING MORE
Butser Hill is part of the Queen Elizabeth County Park which consists of 1,400 acres of downland and woodland. There is a visitor centre at the bottom of the hill which has free entry and houses an exhibition space, a theatre and a shop. There are numerous way-marked walks, horseriding and cycle rides throughout the Country Park. The Country Park also hosts playtrails and play areas and there are parking and toilet facilities available for disabled visitors.
As well as the South Downs Way, another long distance trail, the Hangars Way links the Country Park to Alton. This trail is 21miles long and takes in the spectacular wooded hangars of this part of the county.
Other nearby points of interest include the Buriton Chalk pits which can be reached via the 94 bus from Petersfield. Alternatively from QECP take the South Downs Way path to the Halls Hill car park, the entrance to the site is over the road and well signposted. This site was home to over 70 years of industrial heritage as chalk was extracted up until the end of the Second World War. There are two fascinating trails around the site that can be downloaded for free form the Buriton chalk pits website
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY
The nearest train station is at Petersfield which is 4 miles away as the crow flies. The number 38 Stagecoach bus service will stop at the A3 bus stop adjacent to the park.
PERMISSION
Cache placed with kind permission from Queen Elizabeth Country Park