View from Beacon Hill – Old Winchester Hill loop from Bishop's Waltham

Mountain biking trails

View from Beacon Hill – Old Winchester Hill loop from Bishop's Waltham

Moderate

riders

View from Beacon Hill – Old Winchester Hill loop from Bishop's Waltham

02:12

29.1km

470m

Mountain biking

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

South Downs National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

9.63 km

View from Beacon Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

To the south of Beacon Hill, you can see the Hampshire basin in all its majesty.

As it's a chalk hill (they all are around here) it can get pretty slippery when it's wet – but you probably already knew that.

There's been controversy over the routing of the Way over Beacon hill due to the fragility of the surface – so if you come across any diversionary signs, make sure to follow them.

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10.5 km

Beaconhill Beeches

Forest

12.0 km

Shark Sculptures, South Downs National Park

Highlight • Monument

15.4 km

Bullshead Copse

Forest

15.9 km

Alan's Coffee Van at Old Winchester Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

Alan's Coffee van on top of Old Winchester Hill. .. It's beautiful up there with views on both sides and popular with cyclists and walkers. He's there most days between 10am-2pm

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17.1 km

Old Winchester Hill

Highlight • Climb

The route for bikes skirts the bottom of the fort instead of heading straight over it, so you're in for a steep climb, but if you've got the time it's well worth poking your nose around. Little remains of the fort itself except for the substantial earthern ramparts – but even if you decide to press on, the views are fantastic.

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17.5 km

Old Winchester Hill Hill Fort

Highlight • Natural Monument

The South Downs Way passes over Old Winchester Hill, affording views as far as Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. The hill is a wildlife-rich National Nature Reserve and Iron Age hill fort.

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21.1 km

Meon Valley Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

21.1 km

Meon Valley Trail: Meonstoke to Brockbridge

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

The Meon Valley Trail is a ten mile (16 km) multi-user trail that follows a disused railway track through the Meon Valley. It's basically flat and suitable for most users; this means it's well-used by families and horses, so you can't race.

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