Butser Hill Walk
Climb to the highest point on the South Downs on this walk near Petersfield.
There's a good sized car park off Limekiln Lane just to the west of the hill. From here it is a short climb to the 271 metres (889 ft) high summit of the hill. At the top you can enjoy wonderful views over the South Downs to the Isle of Wight.
The area is also a nature reserve with woodland, lowland, chalk grassland habitats. Look out for variety of butterflies including Duke of Burgundy, Chalkhill Blue and Silver-Spotted Skipper.
Fans of the comedy Only Fools and Horses may remember a scene with Del Boy reluctantly taking off on a hang glider. This scene was filmed on the western slopes of Butser Hill.
The South Downs Way National Trail passes the car park so it's easy to extend your walk. Following it south will take you into Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Here you will find miles of woodland trails and some super mountain bike trails. You can also pick up the Staunton Way and Hangers Way long distance trails in the park.
Postcode
GU32 1RT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsButser Hill Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Butser Hill Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Butser Hill OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Butser Hill Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
After your walk you can stop for refreshments at The Old Drum on Chapel St at postcode GU32 3DP. The contemporary country pub is located in the centre of Petersfield and has a lovely beer garden. Built in the 18th Century, it is the oldest in the area and has been beautifully restored to keep its character and charm.
Dog Walking
The hill is a great place for a dog walk but please keep them on leads where cattle is grazing.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you head east from the hill you'll soon come to the idyllic village of Buriton. It's a delighfully picturesque place with a pretty duck pond and an old church. The St Mary's church is worth investigating as it contains some ancient pieces including medieval Sedilia (seats), Norman arches, a 13th century mural, a Norman font and Pillars bearing carvings of water Lilies, Foliage and Scallops. It's a lovely place to relax after your climb and has a nice pub for refreshments too. The Five Bells is a traditional country pub with a lovely rustic outside seating area at the front of the pub and a selection of cosy nooks and crannies to choose from inside. You can find it north of the pond, on the High Street with a postcode of GU31 5RX for your sat navs. The Buriton Circular Walk starts from the village and visits the hill before exploring the surrounding country lanes.
Buriton Pond and church - a worthy place to visit close to the hill.
A few miles to the east there's another a splendid viewpoint at Harting Down. There's also the nearby village of South Harting where you could pay a visit to the National Trust's Uppark. Here you'll find a fine 17th century Georgian House surrounded by lovely gardens with views of the English Channel. The author H.G Wells stayed in the house during the late 19th century. The class divisions he observed here inspired his socialist views which later manifested themselves in work such as 'The Time Machine'. You can find the house at postcode GU31 5QR.
Just to the south you can pick up the Clanfield Walk and visit Butser Ancient Farm and Windmill Hill. The farm is one of the area highlights and includes an archaeological open-air museum with reconstructions of Neolithic dwellings, Iron Age roundhouses, a Romano-British villa and an early Saxon house.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Hampshire Walks and the South Downs Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Rakefield Hanger at the foot of Butser Hill
Looking north from Butser Hill at the chalk slopes of Ramsdean Down and Rake Bottom (called Grandfather's Bottom on the maps at the hill) below.
This gate is a convenient place to catch ones breath on the long climb up the hill. There was an organised walk taking place on this day, and the bloke in the reflective jacket and cycling helmet was marshalling.
Portsdown Hill and Bembridge Down, from Butser Hill. Dead Man's Copse, a well known local landmark, widely visible in this area. 1246311 The monument on Bembridge down is just visible.
Radio mast on the hill. The name Butser derives from the Old English Bryttes Oran meaning Briht's slope. Oran or Ora is Old English for a flat topped hill or a steep slope.
The trig point
Dome shaped kiosk and picnic bench at the foot of the hill near the car park.
Ramsdean Down and Rake Bottom from the hill. This striking landscape lies just north west of the hill. Bridle paths can be followed north along the western edge of Rake Bottom to the village of Ramsdean.