Exton: Trails, River and History

Exton can be explored through several themes: the South Downs Way and the Meon Valley Trail offer different route options, while Beacon Hill provides sweeping views over the village and links to its history. The River Meon introduces a natural aspect as a chalk stream, and St Peter and St Paul adds a listed church to the local history. When planning your trip, you can give different weight to outdoor activities, nature and history. The division of the South Downs Way into different routes and the area's varied historical connections offer particularly concrete points to help you make this choice.

Routes for different user groups

The South Downs Way is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. After Beacon Hill, the route splits: one route is for walkers only, while the other is for horse riders and cyclists; both pass through Exton. This division is key when choosing your section: the walking route is an option on foot, while the other is for cycling or riding a horse. From Exton, you can also take the Meon Valley Trail towards West Meon. The routes have different points to consider when comparing them: on the South Downs Way, the user group for each section is the deciding factor; on the Meon Valley Trail, it is the direction towards West Meon.

Views and history on Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill offers sweeping views over the village of Exton. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the hill was used as a beacon against the Spanish Armada. Beacon Hill is also home to six bowl barrows and one saucer barrow. The hill is therefore more than just a viewpoint: it combines views of the landscape with two specific historical connections. Its use as a beacon describes the hill's role in the past, while the number and type of barrows represent another aspect of the site.

The River Meon as a natural feature

The River Meon flows through Exton and is a chalk stream. It supports valuable wildlife habitats as well as water crowfoot, brown trout, kingfishers and otters. Its natural significance thus ranges from its character as a chalk stream to the habitats and the plant and animal species it supports. This sets the river apart from the routes: they are about user groups or direction, while the Meon is about the nature of the watercourse and its wildlife.

St Peter and St Paul in Exton

St Peter and St Paul in Exton is a Grade II listed church dating from the 13th century. The church is a cultural and historical landmark in its own right in Exton. In terms of dates, it represents the 13th century, while Beacon Hill was used as a beacon against the Spanish Armada towards the end of the Middle Ages. This allows two distinct historical themes to be contrasted: a church building and the use of a hill as a beacon.

Discover more destinations: West Wellow, Swanmore, Hedge End, Bartley, Hythe, Houghton, Sherfield English, Gosport

For the broader travel overview: Hampshire.