Butser Hill & Queen Elizabeth Country Park Run
You can start/finish at several places along this circular route on the South Downs Way but my favourite spot has to be Butser Hill as you’ll start by flying down into Queen Elizabeth Country Park, it’s one hell of a descent.
One of the best things about Queen Elizabeth Country Park is that it’s never the same. The change in seasons here is extremely noticeable; intense auburn leaves in autumn, bright green grass come summer and often snow in winter.
As you make your way up the hill towards Buriton, don’t forget to tap the stone sheep on the head for good luck. The chalky path turns to road at Buriton Car Park but only for a couple of hundred metres uphill. If you’re lucky, you’ll find homemade flapjacks on a table outside the houses for a £1 donation in the honesty box. These have been here for four years now and I never pass empty handed, especially when I have a flask of coffee back in the car.
This section of the South Downs Way makes a fantastic run as it’s undulating and fairly dry underfoot which means you can push yourself to run the short uphills and recover on the downs. Away from the chalk of the National Trail, these footpaths are more forgiving on the knees and you’ll barely see a soul, apart from the occasional white-tailed deer. The village of Chalton is small but sweet. It has a quaint church with a beautiful colourful garden in spring and a rustic pub, the Red Lion.
One of the best things about this route is that the hills, except for Butser, are not massively taxing so you can find your rhythm and switch off. It’s easy to navigate and incredibly varied, both the scenery and the paths themselves. The loop ends with one final challenge, a walk (or run!) up Butser Hill towards your car for a strong cuppa joe and a famous Buriton flapjack.
This route guide is part of the Taylor’s of Harrogate Coffee Bag Adventures Collection and was created by OS Champion Helen Newman
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