Alice Holt Forest & Gruffalo Trail

Start: Bentley (Hampshire) Train Station, Station Road, Bentley, Hampshire, (GU10 5JZ). Grid Ref: SU 7915 4303

(S/E) We start our walk at Bentley (Hampshire) train station not be confused with Bentley in Yorkshire. When you come out of the station, take a right (East) and walk alongside the fence and you soon find the entrance on your right (South East) to a safe pedestrian passage over the rail tracks. Cross over the railway lines carefully and once on the other side take the footpath on your left (North-East).

(1) After 110 m you arrive at a junction. Continue straight (North-East). After a further 90 m, the path splits in 2. Take the footpath on your right (East). After a few meters, you arrive at another junction. Continue straight (South-East). Walk on this path called the Shipwrights Way, which is paved, for 860 m bearing South-East. Ignore all the footpaths on your right and left and continue on the paved path. On your way, you pass by the signpost of the Alice Holt Arboretum.

Optional: You can enter the arboretum for a little wander and then retrace your steps back to the paved trail.

(2) You then arrive at the buildings of the forest Research Centre. Don't take the paved road on your left called Park Close leading to the staff car park but continue straight (South-East) on the footpath in the forest. After 440 m, you arrive at a junction. Take the footpath on your left (East).

Cross over the A325 (Main Road) carefully using the designated pedestrian crossing. The footpath carryon on straight ahead of you when you cross. Continue on this trail for 210 m after crossing the A235.

(3) Walk for 210 m or so, take the footpath on your right (South). Walk down this path for 500 m and you arrive at a junction. Take the second path on your left (South-East). After 220 m the footpath ends and merges with a paved road. Ignore the first road on your left leading to the Alice Holt Car Park and take the road just after on your left (North-East) heading to the Visitor Center. You can find public toilets at the Visitor Centre.

(4) Walk through the Visitor Centre and on the other side of the building you arrive at the picnic tables. Walk past the tables and take right (West) onto a paved road. After a few meters, you find a footpath going on your left (South) going alongside a wooden fence. Take this footpath and walk down (South) for 150 m until you reach a car park. Once you arrive at the car park continue on the same path heading South. Take the second footpath on your left (South) heading into the forest and walk on this path for 250 m.

(5)You arrive at a junction. Take the footpath on your left (East) and then heading towards the North-East). After a short walk, you arrive at the Gruffalo sculpture. Take the first footpath on your right (South-East and then South-West)). Follow this path for 210 m. When the path ends, turn left (South-East). Follow this path for 420 m.

(6) You arrive at a crossroads. Take the path on your left (North) and follow this path for 840 m. Ignore the footpaths on your left and right and stick to the main path. After 840 m, the path splits into 2. Take the path on your left (West). A few meters after, the path splits in helf again. Stick to the left (South-West) and continue on this path for 330 m. You arrive at a crossroads just before the bike hire centre.

(7) If you want to see the sculpture of the Stick Man, take left (South) and walk a few meters. Then retrace your steps. If you want to see the sculpture of the Mouse, then turn right (North), walk a few meters and then turn around to get back to the junction.
Otherwise, continue straight (West). You walk past the bike hire centre and just past it, turn right (North) to get back to the Visitor Centre (waypoint (4)). From there you need to retrace your steps back to the station.

Walk back through the visitor centre again. Once on the other side, turn left (South-West) and then right (North). Follow this path through the forest for 220 m. At the crossroads, take the second path on your right (North). Walk up (North) on this path for 520 m.

(3). Then take the path on your left (South-West). Cross the A325. Once on the other side, continue for 290m. At the crossroads, take the footpath on your right (North-West). Continue on this path until you reach the Research Centre.

(2) Then take the left (North-West). Continue on this path for 900 m. When you arrive at the end, the path splits into 2.

(1) Take the path on your left (South West) then after 190 m you find the entrance to the pedestrian crossing over the rail tracks on your right (North West). Walk across the rail tracks. Once on the other side, take left onto the car park to get to the station's main entrance. Bentley (Hampshire) Train Station, Station Road, Bentley, Hampshire, (GU10 5JZ) Grid Ref: SU 7915 4303 (S/E)

Start: Bentley (Hampshire) Train Station, Station Road, Bentley, Hampshire, (GU10 5JZ). Grid Ref: SU 7915 4303

Local Transports

• South Western Railway Train from London Waterloo to Bentley (Hampshire). The journey takes 1 hour and 15 min
• The station has a car park if you prefer to drive
• Alternatively, there is a car park at Alice Holt Forest by the visitor centre. Car park fees can be found here.

Facilities

• Coffee shop
• Toilets and accessible toilets
• Baby changing facilities
• Picnic Area
• Playground
• Dog Wash
• Visitor Center

Find more details, pictures, and stories about this walk at The Flamingo Hiker here.

• Alice Holt Arboretum
• Alice Holt Forest
• Gruffalo Sculptures Trail
• Shipwrights Way Trail

Activities

• Bike Hire
• Horse Riding
• Nordic Walking
• Go Ape – booking is essential
• Gruffalo Sculpture Trail – Self-guided hunting trail for children
• Orienteering Trail (£2)
• Park Run Trails
• Fishing