Continue for 1km before turning to drop off the dismantled railway line and stay on the SDW bridleway route. Emerge from woods and turn along the field edge, then before beginning to climb fairly steeply up the western flank of Old Winchester Hill. The path levels before climbing more steeply. Turn sharp and descend a short way along a track then turn sharp . Continue for 700m before turning sharp and climbing very steeply for 200m.
2 At the top of the climb, the path bears right and leads round to a gate near the summit of Old Winchester Hill. Go through and turn along a bridleway track. Follow the track around to a gate by Old Winchester Hill Lane but don’t go through. Instead, turn along the bridleway, which runs parallel to the road for 500m before it crosses over just before a car park and runs along the other side of the road. Arrive at a gate near a fork in the road.
6 Go through the gate, descend a track across a very steep escarpment – control your speed – and pass through a gate at the bottom. Continue on a track to Whitewool Farm, turning past a large barn and continuing through the farm and past Meon Springs fishing ponds, before turning along a farm road at a . After 500m, turn along a concrete track and soon begin climbing quite steeply to a ridge. At a turn on a tree-lined track along the ridge. Cross over a road at Coombe Cross to continue on a bridleway and soon begin climbing very steeply along a path up Salt Hill, which is very slippery when wet. At the top, the path continues along a field edge and passes a radio mast before emerging onto Droxford Road. Turn and continue along the road. At a bear then keep over two more s to continue along track. Continue and climb almost imperceptibly for over 2km before arriving at a .
Approaching Butser Hill
7 Turn along the road and continue towards the car park near the summit of Butser Hill, before bearing onto a bridleway (SDW) and arriving at a gate. Go through and follow the obvious track as it descends, gradually at first – becoming much steeper, along the grassy S flank of Butser Hill. Go through a gate halfway down and continue to descend the grassy slope before arriving at a gate along the field edge. Go through and up a slight rise; cross over two tracks – following signs for the SDW – and join a slip road to descend under the A3 road bridge.
Looking back to Butser Hill
8 Continue into the QECP car park and pass around to the of the visitor centre and café to continue along the road past parking and picnicking areas. Follow the road as it bends left, climbing gradually. Where the road harpins left, keep on a broad gravel track, passing around a forestry gate. Continue climbing gradually for 1.5km. The track then descends, steadily at first then more steeply, as it swings E and drops through the Kiln Lane car park. Exit the car park and continue over Kiln Lane and onto a minor road.
9 Continue along the winding narrow road with a little up and down, then climb through woods, continuing () at a as the road emerges from the forest and descends a little towards Sunwood Farm. Pass the farm and, shortly after the road bends left, turn sharp onto a broad bridleway track and climb steeply up to Hundred Acres. Continue along a broad track for the next 2km or so, losing and gaining a little height and passing over a onto Forty Acre Lane before arriving at the B2146. Cross the road to continue along bridleway, climbing steeply through woods to arrive at the B2141. Cross the road to rejoin the bridleway and climb steadily to Harting Downs.
10 Continue along the ridge before descending steeply along a chalk track to a gate. Go through and descend a little further to a . Turn with the SDW and climb steeply around the W flank of Beacon Hill. At a turn along the E flank of Beacon Hill, then descend to a and continue
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