- Date: 12 June 2024
- Walk Leaders: Mandy Ray and Sheila Gadd
- Distance: 7.5 miles (approx.)
Queen Elizabeth Country Park – Butser Hill – Wild Flowers
Fifteen ramblers met at Hall Hill car park at the top of Kiln Lane, Buriton and started the walk with a climb up the track to enter the QEP. We followed the track through Holt Down Plantation, passing the site where a Roman building once stood. Crossing under the A3 near the visitor centre, the group ascended Butser Hill via the path to the right of the one most commonly used.
The sun was shining through a wonderful cloudscape. As we were approaching the top of the hill, the path took us through chalk grassland full of Common Spotted Orchids and eventually opened out to treat the group to a sea of Red Sorrel swaying in the breeze.
With 360° spectacular panoramic views across Petersfield, The South Downs and The Solent, we made our way to Grandfather’s Bottom, an impressive valley with views of East Meon and the Meon Valley beyond. Along the path, more flora was visible in the form of foxgloves and dog roses.
Descending Butser, we were fortunate to come across the Exmoor ponies grazing the slopes of the hill. Returning via the route under the A3, we followed the zigzag path through the QEP, joining Hangers Way for a short distance before peeling off the trail to walk across the field and back to Hall Hill.
Author and Photographer: Mandy Ray