Turn left out of the station approach to the mini-roundabout by the Whistle Stop pub, and turn right. After about 200 yards turn right into Andlers Ash Road, and follow it as it bends to the right by the level crossing. At the end of the road turn left, cross the A3 bypass (1 mile) and turn left again, following the signs for Flexcombe. Immediately before the entrance to Woolshers Cottages turn right onto a rough byway.
At the end of the byway (2 miles) turn left onto the road. Pass Wheatham Farm then turn left at the following T-junction, the soon afterwards, turn left into the entrance to Ashford Hanger (see photo). Inside the gate, keep to the main track which climbs the steep hillside. Keep straight on until you see a track on the right signed Old Litten Lane; turn into it. After a while it becomes a tarred lane; at the following junction bear left (4 miles). When you come to the main road cross over onto the bridleway opposite.
The bridleway passes through a gate and then veers right across a paddock, before leaving through another gate. Turn left along the tarred farm driveway and when it comes to the road, turn right to High Cross.
Keep straight on over a small crossroads. About half a mile beyond Bydean Farm (6 miles) turn right into an unsigned lane by a tall pylon. At the far end, turn right again, passing Bower Farm. Keep straight on until the road forks, then take the left branch. Keep going across a crossroads (8 miles) and then climb up to another crossroads, this time with the old Petersfield to Winchester turnpike. Go straight across, passing the entrance to the 'Pub with No Name'. Take the next turning on the right, then follow the signs to Priors Dean.
Continue straight along the road from Priors Dean. When you get to the sign announcing the steep hill ahead, veer off to the left onto a bridleway into the wooded, and often slippery, depths of Hawkley Hanger (see photo). Follow the bridleway, which after a while goes into a field and out again (follow the Hampshire Cycleway signs). A short distance beyond the field section an indistinct path heads off to the left. You can leave your bike and explore it on foot; this is the way that William Cobbett seems to have gone when he came this way. (See the full route instructions.) Otherwise continue to a junction of tracks; keep straight ahead but almost immediately turn right along the side of a field towards Hawkley village. Go past some houses to the road, then turn left into the centre of the village.
At the village green take the left fork and continue along the lane to a T-junction, then turn left. Follow the lane past Lower Green, with its small pond (12 miles), then keep straight on following the signs for Newton Valence. The lane runs downhill than up again, passing through tiny Vann. When the lane merges from the woods it passes the magnificent Goleigh Manor, dating from the 15th century.
Continue straight on at the next junction then at the staggered crossroads turn right then left, following the signs for Newton Valence. After a long climb you'll come to the village. Continue for another 400 yards, then take the turning on the right for Selborne. The road passes the large, modern Newton Valence Farm, then runs downhill skirting Selborne Hill. At the T-junction with the B3006 turn right into the centre of Selborne.
Pass Gilbert White's House on the right, then turn left into Hucker's Lane immediately after the Queen's Hotel. Follow the lane down the hill until it comes to an end at an idyllically-situated cottage (17 miles). Continue past the cottage and onto the unsurfaced track (a byway) beyond, which takes you into the beautiful valley of the Long Lythe. Take care, because the track can be very muddy and there can often be fallen trees.
When you come to the end of the woods the track continues along the side of a field until it comes to the road near Priory Farm. Turn right here and climb the hill past Rhode Farm (18 miles). At the top turn left into Honey Lane, signposted Oakhanger. Follow the lane downhill and past the brickworks. Pass Albury dairy, then keep straight on for Blackmoor at the junction beyond (19 miles). At the junction just after the church at Blackmoor turn right, then keep straight on into Sotherington Lane (20 miles). After about half a mile turn left, following the sign for Bradshott and continue for a mile and a half to the B3006. Turn left, then right, for Empshott.
Continue straight ahead through the village, down the steep hill, and back up out of the dip. Another downhill stretch follows to a bridge over the River Rother by an old mill cottage (23 miles). There's a steep climb back up after the bridge. When you finally reach the top, turn left into a no-through-road signed Hawkley Hurst & Mabbotts.
Take care not to miss the next turn: from the junction the road rises to a crest - about 50 yards after this, as the lane begins to bend left, look for a steep, worn path up the bank on the right. Go up it, carrying your bike if necessary; when you get to the top you'll see a bridleway sign indicating the way along the side of the field. Follow it towards the large house on the horizon. When you get there leave the field through the gate and turn left onto the road. The road soon descends a 1 in 6 hill. Look to the left and you'll see the site of the 1774 landslip
At the bottom of the hill, just before the bend, turn right onto a narrow track. At the far end, turn left, then continue over the A3 flyover to the junction with the B3006. Turn right and return to Liss Station.
