The Staunton Way is a 20.5 mile long-distance walking route passing through some of the most uninhabited places in Hampshire. It will take you from Queen Elizabeth Country Park, near Petersfield to Staunton Country Park on the fringes of Havant then looping back up to the start.  The walk was originally designed as a linear path linking the two parks, but has now been made into a circular route.

The Way is named after Sir George Staunton, an MP for Portsmouth in the early 19th century who created a country estate, which now forms the country park that bears his name.

Hampshire County Council have broken the walk down into 6 short walks and have produced excellant PDF information sheets for each leg:

• Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Finchdean walk
• Finchdean to Rowlands Castle walk
• Rowlands Castle to Staunton Country Park walk
• Staunton Country Park to Chalton walk
• Chalton to Ditcham Park walk
• Ditcham Park to Queen Elizabeth Country Park walk

My walk has been divided into two legs.  The first is a circular route from Queen Elizabeth Country Park and back via Chalton, Finchdean and Ditcham Park.  The second starts in Finchdean and returns via Rowlands Castle, Staunton Country Park and back through Rowlands Castle.

Stage 1 – Queen Elizabeth CP, Finchdean Circular

Start/Finish: SU 71922 18153
Distance: 13.72 miles
Ascent: 1435 feet
Duration: 4h 43m

Stage 2 – Finchdean, Staunton CP Circular

Start/Finish: SU 73752 12768
Distance: 9.09 miles
Ascent: 587 ft
Duration: 2h 51m

 

Caution

This route is poorly waymarked, so please make sure you have a map with you as there are some very confusing sections.

Ordnance Survey Maps Required

OL8 Chichester, South Harting and Selsey