King Alfred's Way circuit Liss to South Downs Way

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Today I rode the next section of the KAW from Liss. Here's a map of my track. (Blue = outward via KAW, Red= return via NCN22/Shipwright's Way)

I parked where I left off the previous circuit at the entrance to the Longmoor Ranges. The KAW follows the path of the old Military Railway, which winds pleasantly through the riverside nature reserve, arriving in Liss. Then you pick up the Sussex Border Path through pleasant woods and commons, then quiet lanes before climbing a steep but mercifully short lane to join the South Downs Way above South Harting. From here I followed the SDW westwards, but rather than pressing on along the KAW into the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, I rapidly descended Kiln Lane to Buriton, and followed the NCN22 (which is here coincident with the Shipwright's Way) back to my start. Another enjoyable circuit, about 11 miles on the KAW, 9 miles on the return, 20 miles in all, around 4 hours. (For more on the Shipwrights Way see this blog and this.

Disused Military Railway path into Liss

The path is part of the Shipwrights Way, along which there are various sculptures, like this one commemorating the thousands of Canadian Troops who trained here in WW2.

KAW leaves Liss via the Woodlands Lane byway

The Sussex Border Path through the National Trust Durford Wood

Views of South Downs en route

Bluebells on the flanks of Torberry Hill

A lane climbs steeply to the SDW: it doesn't take long to walk

Join the SDW heading West

Typical SDW, chalky gravel

I joined NCN22 (aka Shipwrights Way) at Kiln Lane above Buriton

I followed Shipwrights Way through Petersfield (got lost in the town centre though: make sure you take 'The Spain')

The Harrow at Steep is a popular pub, especially now lockdown has eased

Another sculpture, this time the three books commemorate denizens of Steep: poet Edward Thomas (Adlestrop), who taught a Beadales school, author John Wyndham (Triffids), who was a pupil at the school and returned to live in the area, and actor Alec Guinness (may the Force be with you) whose house is nearby