Noar Hill
PLEASE NOTE, THE WOODLAND PATHS ON THIS WALK ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO ASH DIEBACK. THE PATH WILL BE CLOSED FOR MUCH OF 2024 WHILE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TAKES PLACE TO MAKE THE A SAFE. THE DOWNLAND NATURE RESERVE REMAINS OPEN.
On this walk, children will enjoy running down the old chalk pits, looking for chalk and collecting wild garlic in spring.
The Basics
Time: 1 hr 10 mins
Distance: 3.5 km
Terrain: Forest tracks, fields, open common, one steep ascent
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes, but on leads on common due to ground nesting birds
Refreshments: None
Toilets: None
Parking: Grass verge just before Charity Farm (Postcode: GU34 3LW - W3W: bronzed/bins/completed)
Noar Hill is a nature reserve near Selbourne. It has far reaching views from the hilltop common, a wooded hanger and masses of wild garlic in Spring.
The Route
Take the path beyond the metal barrier/gate just before Charity Farm. This will ascend steadily, and not too steeply, up to the nature reserve.
Enter the nature reserve and stay on the same path as it heads up and along the edge. Look back to enjoy the views! Keep on the same path as it heads through trees. This whole reserve has splendid wild flowers in spring.
You will eventually come to a gate. Go through it and the path on the other side is much narrower and rougher. Continue deeper into the hanger (wooded hillside). When you come to a T-junction, turn right and stay on the same path for some time as it curves around the side of the hill. It is at this point that you will see a proliferation of wild garlic in late spring.
Stay on the same path until you come to an area where trees have been felled to create a clearing. Continue here, passing a board with a newspaper article about the history of the farm. Just past the board, you will see a point where a number of paths converge. We continued straight ahead (right will bring you back to the nature reserve).
Soon on your right you will see a path sweeping down into the top corner of a field. Follow the grassy path along the field’s edge with the hedge on your right. The path will travel the length of the field, which has a nice strip of wild flowers, back to the lane.
Go around the metal barrier, turn right along the road, pass the farm and return to your car.
We recommend viewing the map as a Trails Map:
Did you know?
After rainfall in spring and summer, you may be able to investigate the temporary puddles for the rare fairy shrimp, a beautiful translucent crustacean that can survive as an egg when the water dries out.
Visit after dark in midsummer and you may see a sprinkling of lights from glowworm.
The pits are the remains of medieval chalk quarries. Laden carts would be pushed along the drove tracks that can still be seen here.
If you liked this walk…
…try this one through Ashford Hangers where wild garlic also grows in abundance.