The Beach

West Wittering is an easy beach to visit with children.

There is a very large car park next to the beach.  There are also a cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

 

 

 

It can be very busy during warm summer days, with traffic blocking the roads to the beaches. 

 

 

 

East Head

At the very end of the car park is East Head, a wild spit of land managed by the National Trust with shingle and sand beaches, dunes and salt marshes.  

 

 

 

If you are very lucky, you may even spot a seal.

 

 

Nearest Town: West Wittering, Near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8AJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: All day
Buggies: Usual beach issues – some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a large paid for car park by the beach.
Cost of Parking: Varies with the time of year.  If you book in advance you receive a discount.

Wildlife You Might See: Sea life and seabirds

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: August 2023

 

Elvetham Heath Nature Reserve

The reserve is about 20 acres of heathland, woodland and marshland, criss-crossed with pathways and dotted with play areas.

 

 

 

There is also a stream and a duck pond. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wildlife

We saw plenty of wildlife – ducks, Canada geese, beetles, squirrels, birds, caterpillars, butterflies.

We also saw the grazing cows, which wander freely.

 

 

 

The M3

The M3 motorway rumbles along the side of the reserve. It is not the most peaceful place we have been to but we found that the noise soon faded into the background.

 

 

 

Finding Elvetham Heath Nature Reserve

To find the nature reserve from St Swithins Road, use the wide footpath at the top of the road. 

 

 

 

This takes you to a gate to Elvetham Heath and also to the Post Haste Play Area.

 

 

 

 

Post Haste Play Area

Post Haste Play Area is on the edge of Elvetham Heath nature reserve and has a wagon multiplay and some swings. 

 

 

 

Choice of Walks

From the Elvetham Heath Gate and Post Haste Play Area you have a couple of walks to choose from. 

 

A Second Play Area

Turn left out of the play area and onto the path that runs along the heath. This will eventually come to the Twyford Close Play Area.

This takes about ten minutes at an adult pace and can be cycled or scootered.

 

 

Finding the Duck Pond

Your second option follows the same path between Post Haste Play Area and the heath. This time take the gate on the left.

 

 

 

This path will take you across the heath, over a boardwalk

 

 

 

 

to a duck pond

 

 

 

 

 

and carved picnic tables.

 

 

 

 

 

It takes about fifteen minutes to reach the duck pond at an adult pace.

The path is stony.

Nearest Town: Fleet
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU51 1GL

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: There are buggy friendly paths. 

Parking: There is a car park next to the Elvetham Heath community centre (GU51 1HA) but we try to park on the nearby St Swithins Road (GU51 1GL), between Stephyns Road and Turbary Road.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, squirrels, ducks, Canada geese, stag beetles, birds, lizards, sundews, grass snakes, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2016
Information Checked: June 2022

 

The Play Area

The playground equipment includes:

• a multiplay with a bridge, tunnel, nets and a slide
• a climbing wall
• a seesaw springer
• a toddler swing
• a swing
• a basket swing
• a wooden climbing frame
• a play house
• a play shop
• two talking flowers.

The field is a good size and is surrounded by mature trees and a trim trail.

 

 

Finding the Play Area

Finding this playground is easy when you know how – just look for this brick gateway. The play area is a short drive through these gates on the right.

 

Nearest Town: Rotherwick
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG27 9BF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: You can park by the play area. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: August 2016

 

The Woodland Play Area

This quiet little play area is in the woods and has equipment for children under the age of 10 years:

• a multiplay with a slide, fireman’s pole, nets, and a climbing wall
• two springers
• toddler swings.

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Area

The much larger Frimley Lodge Adventure Play Area is about a five minute walk away.

 

 

Sports Facilities

In the woods by the Woodland Play Area is a trim trail.

 

 

 

 

Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway

The Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway weaves its way through the woods. The railway has public running days throughout the year. 

 

 

 

The Basingstoke Canal

The beautiful Basingstoke Canal runs along the top of the playing fields. It has ducks to feed and a towpath you can walk along.

 

Nearest Town: Frimley
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU16 6HY

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic area, cafe, snacks, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are lots of parking spaces but it can become very busy. There is a car park next to the Woodland Play Area. To find it from the entrance, drive as far right as you can. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: April 2016
Information Checked: May 2021

 

The Trails

Various trails criss-cross Alice Holt Forest. Some are easy access, others are wilder.  Some are flat, others have steep hills.

They are all marked and there are free maps available.

 

 

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

 

 

 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog.  

At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.  

 

 

You buy a map bursting with activities to try along the trail – drawings to colour, puzzles to ponder and woodland things to spot.  

 

 

 

 

Along the way you also come face to face with characters from the stories, including the Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Gruffalo’s child.

 

 

 

 

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas

 

 

 

 

and also hides huge play sculptures.

 

 

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Areas

Alice Holt has two adventure play areas.

Playwood Adventure Play Area is next to the cafe and has large wooden climbing frames, slides and swings.

 

 

 

Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with wooden climbing frames, slides, bridges and nets. 

 

 

 

Other Activities

Alice Holt also has an Activity Centre and Shop that offers cycle hire 

 

 

 

 

table tennis

 

 

 

 

 

volleyball

 

 

 

 

 

and badminton.

 

 

 

 

 

There is also orienteering 

 

 

 

 

Go Ape 

 

 

 

 

 

and lots of picnic spots to try.

 

 

 

 

 

The Cafe 

This is located next to the main entrance and Visitor Centre.

You can its picnic tables to eat food you have bought there or brought from home. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: February 2025

 

Warning: Steep and Uneven Paths!

…but it is not an easy walk and involves steep hills, so this walk isn’t for everyone and should not be chosen without careful thought.

 

 

 

 

The Walk to Combe Bottom 

Trying to locate the quarry myself was the really exciting part, and actually took me two visits.

But for anyone without the luxury of time, here are the directions. 

 

 

From West Hanger Car Park there are two ways to walk down the hill to Combe Bottom but be warned, the hill is very steep – it’s not called West Hanger for nothing…

 

 

 

 

Route 1:  Along the Road

Walk out of the car park to the road. Turn right onto Staple Lane and then right again onto Combe Lane.

Follow Combe Lane down the hill, around a sharp bend to the right and you will come to this sign on the left.

 

 

Please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

 

 

 

 

 

Route 2:  Straight Down West Hanger

Leave the car park by the path on the left and walk into the woods. 

 

 

 

 

After a short walk through the woods, you meet a trail running to your right.

 

 

 

 

Be careful – the trail is very steep and uneven

 

 

 

 

and the path may be used by mountain bikers.

 

 

 

 

Near the bottom of the hill you will see the road. 

 

 

 

 

This is Combe Lane and it runs along the bottom of the hill. 

 

 

 

 

Cross the road and walk a short way to the left, until you see the Combe Bottom sign on your right. 

Again, please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

 

 

 

Finding the Holloway

From the Combe Bottom sign, follow the wild path for five to ten minutes, under trees,

 

 

 

 

through brambles patches

 

 

 

 

 

and into a holloway.

 

 

 

 

 

If it isn’t too overgrown, you might be able to spot the pillbox on your right. 

 

 

 

 

The route to the quarry is near the end of the holloway, up the steep bank on your left. 

 

 

 

 

If you reach this sign and the end of the holloway, you have gone too far.

 

 

 

 

 

To the Quarry!

You should now be standing on top of the steep bank with the holloway behind you.

You will notice a second holloway in front of you, which seems to run parallel to the first.

Believe it or not, this is the path to the quarry!

 

Follow this to the left until you come to a fallen tree blocking the way.

This is the entrance to the lowest part of the quarry. 

 

 

 

A Neolithic Quarry

The only information I can find about this quarry is that it dates back to the Stone Age, or Neolithic period, and was used to quarry flint. 

 

 

 

Today it is a huge, bowl-shaped hole in the hillside with steep sides.

 

 

 

 

 

Flint Tools

As you walk back up to West Hanger car park, and pause for the odd rest or two, keep an eye out for flints lying around or amongst the roots of trees.

You may spot a flint tool!

Have a look at the Wessex Archaeology website for details of the types of flint to look out for. 

 

Combe Bottom

Combe Bottom is part of the enchanting Shere Woodlands and sits at the bottom of West Hanger hill.

 

 

 

There is not much to see unless you would like to find the quarry. 

 

 

Nearest Town: Shere, near Guildford, Surrey Hills
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9TE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or use one of the picnic tables. There is also a mobile cafe that visits (please see their website for details). 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Definitely not! 

Parking: West Hanger Car Park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2023

 

 

Odiham Castle

From here you can easily walk along the Basingstoke Canal to Odiham Castle (this took us ten to fifteen minutes).

 

 

 

The Basingstoke Canal

To find the ford you have to cross a small bridge over the Basingstoke Canal, either on foot or by car.

 

 

 

 

We crossed the bridge by car and parked next to the ford but there is really only space for one or two cars. There are also several parking spaces in a lay-by just before the bridge. 

Nearest Town: Odiham, North Wanborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG29 1HQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: None.

How Long We Spent There: Half an hour and then we walked to the Odiham Castle.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: A few parking spaces nearby but can be very busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans and insects.

Information Written: February 2017

 

The Story Trail

The Odiham Castle Story Trail is called “Henry The Forgetful”.

It’s a funny story about Henry, a pilgrim making his way from Winchester to Canterbury. He has a couple of mishaps along the way that made my children laugh out loud.

 

Henry eventually encounters the French army and the soldiers garrisoned at Odiham Castle, so before starting the story it is helpful to explain some of the castle’s history (thankfully outlined in the story pack!).

 

 

The Wildlife

We saw ducks, moorhens, grey herons and a huge white bird that turned out to be a great white egret.

 

 

 

 

Odiham Castle

Odiham Castle is the ruined remains of one of King John’s strongholds. 

 

 

 

 

By 1605 the castle lay in ruins.

Today all that remains are the flint cores of the walls. 

 

 

 

Where to Start

As the story pack suggested, we parked in Greywell village at the Fox and Goose pub (RG29 1BY).

 

 

 

To reach the towpath from the pub, leave the car park and turn left and then immediately right onto Deptford Lane (RG29 1BS).

There are no pavements between the pub and the footpath. 

 

 

At the end of the fir hedge on the left-hand side of the lane, is a narrow footpath.  This will take you over the Basingstoke Canal, down a short hill and onto the towpath.

 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths were mostly wide level but the towpath can be quite stoney.

I did not have any access issues with a double, all-terrain buggy, although it was a little muddy in places.

 

 

Hampshire CC’s Story Trails

This is one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails.

These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, which are told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and divided into numbered sections. Numbered markers prompt you to read the sections of the story along the trail.

 

Find a Story Pack

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a copy of a story trail from the internet in written or audio form.

Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail

 

Nearest Town: Odiham
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG29 1BY

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: Picnic table.

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: We parked in Greywell village at the Fox and Goose pub (RG29 1BY), which the story pack suggested. The pub has a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, moorhens, herons, birds and insects. 

Information Written: February 2017

 

The play equipment includes:

• a multiplay and slide with a bridge, net and climbing wall 
• a roundabout
• swings
• toddler swings
• talk tubes
• seats.

Nearest Town: Godalming
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU7 3RG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket.
Facilities: None.

How Long We Spent There: 30 minutes
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: You can park next to the play area on Barnes Road.
Cost of Parking: Free 

Information Written: July 2022

 

 

 

Finding Fossils

Fossils can be found all over the beach, including:

• fossil shells 

 

• shark teeth 

 

• ray teeth.

You don’t need any special equipment to find the fossils but it is a good idea to bring some towels, containers, and kitchen roll to keep them safe.

The best time to look for fossils is from about an hour before low tide. 

 

 

Other Things to Find

As well as fossils, you can find bits of driftwood, seaweed, shells, crabs, and hermit crabs.

 

 

 

 

Billy’s on the Beach

We always round our trips off with a visit to Billy’s on the Beach, a relaxed, child-friendly beach restaurant and cafe.

 

 

 

 

Watch the Sunset

Billy’s has recently been named as one of the top 25 places in the world to watch the sunset – listed with places like Florida, Bora Bora, and Mexico!

 

 

 

 

Access to the Beach

The car park is next to the beach so access is generally easy but it can be difficult with a buggy because you have to climb down a steep, stoney slope. 

 

 

 

Access is easier from the slipway next to Billy’s.

 

 

 

 

The Tides

Be sure to check the tide times before you visit.

The beach is a sandy expanse (with shingle) when the tide is out but the sand disappears quickly as the tide comes in. 

 

Nearest Town: Bracklesham Bay, Near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8JH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at Billy’s on the Beach. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a pay and display car park. It can be very busy on warm days.
Cost of Parking: Various

Wildlife You Might See: Sea creatures and seabirds.

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: February 2023