Noar Hill Nature Reserve

The perfect location for a picturesque summer walk

Location

Selborne

Alton

Hampshire

GU34 3LW

OS Map Reference

SU 742 319

Know before you go

Size

20 hectares

Entry fee

Donations welcome

Parking information

Parking available Selborne Village, 1 mile to the northwest of the nature reserve

Grazing animals

Our sites are grazed all year by livestock. Please follow the signage on site.

Walking trails

Paths are unsurfaced and there is some bare chalk that is slippery when wet. Very steep slopes amongst the pits. There are bridle gates and kissing gates at the entrances to the central pits. Please keep to the paths to avoid trampling the plants.

Access

GU34 3JR takes you to the Selborne Arms, Selborne.

From Selborne Arms in the village, take the lane Selborne Commons. As lane bends right, take the footpath to footpath junction. Turn left, then take the lane opposite and turn left into the bridleway.

Bus stop: Selborne Arms, Selborne (1 1/2 miles). Alton to Petersfield route (Stagecoach) every 2 hours.

Contact the Trust for disabled access information

Dogs

Dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Visit in summer to see a variety of orchids and butterflies

About the reserve

Once the site of medieval chalk workings, this 20 hectare nature reserve is now carpeted with an array of beautiful chalk downland flowers every spring and summer, including juniper and pyramidal orchid. The vibrant flowers and the butterflies that feed on them create an oasis of colour among the surrounding fields of crops. A walk through this unusual and historic landscape is always a fascinating experience with its ridges, banks and hollows that create little niches for all kinds of plants and animals.

Special Features:

After rainfall in spring and summer, you may be able to investigate the temporary puddles for the rare fairy shrimp, a beautiful translucent crustacean that can survive as an egg when the water dries out.
Visit after dark in midsummer and you may see a sprinkling of lights from glowworm, a magical wildlife experience.
Now ideal basking sites for butterflies, the pits are the remains of medieval chalk quarries. Laden carts would be pushed along the drove tracks that can still be seen here.