Shipwrights Way trail at Alice Holt

The Shipwrights Way is a long-distance route which links villages and towns in East Hampshire through some beautiful countryside.



The name of this trail reflects the journey of oak grown at Alice Holt to dockyards such as Portsmouth for medieval shipbuilding; the route finishes at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home of the famous Mary Rose and HMS Victory.

The route starts from Alice Holt Forest, it passes through Bordon, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Staunton Country Park, Havant, Hayling Island and via ferry into Portsmouth, finishing at the Historic Dockyard - around 50 miles in all, and including seven rail stations.

Alice Holt Forest hosts three of the 20 beautiful sculptures along the route of The Shipwrights Way, each depicting a story or aspect of the area where they stand. The subjects were suggested by local people and then carved by artist Richard Perry from creamy Portland stone.

This three mile section of the route starts at Alice Holt Forest and the path winds through mature woodland on wide gravel tracks, with occasional views beyond. The last mile uses an ancient trackway and includes a river crossing with a ford and footbridge.

The whole Shipwrights Way is divided into 12 sections, for more information about the whole 50 mile route visit Shipwrights Way.

Partnership working with East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority provided the route.

Take care at the two minor road crossings and at the ford. The route is not hilly but is undulating.

Be aware that you may see motorcycles on both Hardings Ride (the start of this section) and Cradle Lane, which is the end of this linear section of the route.