Liphook – Liss, Rail to Ramble

Discover the heathland on Chapel Common and the tranquillity of Rake Hanger

This walk begins at Liphook Railway Station and follows roads, lanes, tracks and footpaths to finish in Liss Railway Station (can be combined with the Haslemere to Liphook Rail to Ramble to make a longer walk).
Some short steep climbs. Uneven, sometimes muddy, surfaces – take care crossing or walking along roads/lanes.

Getting here

By rail: South Western Railway service between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour. Visit nationalrail.co.uk for details.
By bus: Visit traveline.info for details of services.

The route incorporates long sections of the Serpent Trail, which ‘snakes’ its way 64 miles from Haslemere to Petersfield. Designed to showcase the heathland habitat and outstanding landscape of the greensand hills, their wildlife, history and conservation, it passes through the purple heather, green woods and golden valleys of Sussex. The Sussex Border Path, another long distance footpath featured here, takes 150 miles to circumnavigate the Sussex border using the most scenic and unspoilt pathways.

Discover Heathlands

The Heathlands Reunited project is a partnership of 11 organisations working from 2016-2021 to create bigger, better, joined up heathlands supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The project aim is to expand, create new and improve existing heathland to cover an area greater than 1,200 football pitches. The project is also working to re-engage and inspire communities to visit their local heathlands, learn more about them and work together to protect them for future generations to enjoy.

Heaths are home to amazing wildlife such as the Dartford warbler and the sand lizard that don’t live anywhere else. Increasingly, heathlands have been separated into ‘islands’ where plants and animals have become isolated and are vulnerable to extinction.

Directions

1. From Liphook Station forecourt go right under the footbridge and up the steps to the road. Turn left and follow Midhurst Road for approx. 1km/0.6miles.
2. Just after the pavement runs out turn right onto a wide track marked Serpent Trail.
3. After 2km/1.2miles beware of flying golf balls when crossing Liphook Golf Course. Continue along path to the main road.
4. [Carefully] Cross the road to the former Public House. At the end of the pub car park turn right onto a wide track marked Serpent Trail and Sussex Border Path which leads onto Chapel Common.
5. Pass through the gate with Liphook and Ripsley Cricket Pitch on the right. Cross the lane and go through gate.
6. Turn left at the footpath junction and left again immediately onto Serpent Trail (easy to miss). The trail climbs the hill continuing on the Serpent Trail, which snakes across 3 sides of Chapel Common for about 1.6km/1 mile. Enjoy the extensive views.
7. Just before the bridle gate turn left onto open common by the information board and continue on the footpath to the trees on the far side.
8. Turn right down slope, through the gate and then left on the Serpent Trail uphill to the main road.
9. [Carefully] Cross the main road and immediately turn right. Continue on the Serpent Trail along a grass verge into Rake.
10. Turn left at the Flying Bull Inn and head downhill towards Rogate. At the bottom of the hill turn right onto Serpent Trail and Sussex Border Path.
11. Continue past houses and through Rake Hanger. Note information boards. About 200m/220yds after 2nd information board, bear left at fingerpost on Sussex Border Path and Serpent Trail (easy to miss) on gently rising path to road.
12. [Carefully] Turn right on road and walk up hill. Ignore Serpent Trail on the left. Beware of oncoming traffic on bend near top of hill. Reach T junction at top of hill and turn right.
13. Pass the Jolly Drover and cross the main road onto Hill Brow Road. Carefully head downhill on the pavement. As the road bends left turn right into Woodlands Lane.
14. Turn left at the lane T junction and then left again when you reach the main Rake Road. Head into Liss and take Station Road. Liss Station will be on the right.