Buriton: Village History, Landscape and Walking Routes

Buriton brings together historic buildings, traces of the lime industry and routes through varied landscapes. The South Downs provide the scenic backdrop to the parish. Buriton spans three significant landscape types: the broad chalk escarpment, the Greensand terrace and the wooded estate hills. Walking guides also cover a range of terrain, from fields and valleys to hillside woods and viewpoints.

Walking routes with different highlights

The Shipwrights Way runs into the village along Bolinge Hill Lane and Petersfield Road. The Hangers Way leads to Buriton through small fields and shallow, hidden valleys. The routes therefore have different settings: the named roads form part of one route, while fields and valleys characterise the other. Check the latest route information before setting out.

The named walks also differ in their starting points and routes. “Buriton through woods and fields” starts and finishes at the Halls Hill public car park. The route passes through hillside woods and offers views over the village and east along the Downs. The “Buriton following the Shipwrights Way” walk also starts at the Halls Hill car park. The Buriton Literary Walk starts at Buriton Pond, opposite St Mary's Church. Its main route is 2.5 miles long, and a shorter shortcut is also mentioned. When comparing distances, note that the 2.5 miles refers to the main route, and check the latest walking leaflet.

Landscape and nature around Buriton

Coulters Dean Nature Reserve can be reached from Buriton Pond via a footpath. The path crosses the meadows behind the church, follows the old cart track known as the Milky Way, and climbs onto the South Downs. Check local path and access conditions before your visit. The nature reserve combines a small woodland with chalk grassland and provides a refuge for rare butterflies and plants. Wildlife sightings may vary by season.

The landscape can also be explored through the different route descriptions: hillside woods and views over the village are noted for “Buriton through woods and fields”, while the route to Coulters Dean Nature Reserve starts at Buriton Pond and crosses meadows before following an old cart track. This can help you decide in advance whether to focus your outing on a described woodland walk or access to the nature reserve, without treating the routes as the same.

Church, architectural history and lime works

The Church of St Mary has a 12th-century nave, as well as a 13th-century chancel and vestry. The churchyard contains the unmarked grave of 17th-century botanist John Goodyer. The Manor House is also part of the village's architectural history: it is listed as a Grade II* building.

Buriton's lime works along Kiln Lane are part of the area's industrial history. Chalk was quarried and burned there before being shipped to factories to make “Pug” mortar and cement. The lime works were active on a significant scale for more than 70 years, up to the Second World War. The processing of chalk and its subsequent use give this part of the village's history a distinct focus alongside its churches and houses.

History on the way and throughout the year

“Walks Through Time” features six guided walks around the parish, with historical information. The publication's availability may change, so check in advance whether it is available for your visit. Another opportunity to learn about local history is the “Bygone Buriton” exhibition. It takes place annually, usually in September. Dates and programmes vary from year to year, so it is worth checking the details for the year of your trip.

Plan your starting point and journey

There is a public car park for the Buriton Literary Walk at the junction at the lower end of Kiln Lane. Petersfield station, the nearest railway station, is two miles from the Literary Walk's starting point. Check train services and connections, as well as local parking conditions, before travelling. This lets you plan the starting point and journey for this walk separately, without confusing them with the starting points for other Buriton routes.

Discover more destinations: Hayling Island, Rockbourne, Clanfield, Bishop's Waltham, Hook, Breamore, West Wellow, Romsey.

For the main travel overview: Hampshire.