Discover Liphook

Liphook combines unusual railway experiences, engaging local history and a variety of trails. Anyone planning a trip with nature, culture and active days in mind will find different ways to get to know the town and its surroundings. When looking for holiday accommodation, you can therefore consider whether museums and technological history, walks or longer stretches of trail should be the focus of your trip.

Railways with special details

At Hollycombe Steam in the Country in Liphook, the Garden Railway forms a continuous loop of around one third of a mile. The tracks have a gauge of 7.25 inches. These specific technical features make the visit an engaging experience for anyone interested in railways and historic technology.

The Quarry Railway has a wheelchair compartment. The train attendant assists access via a ramp. If you are taking different needs into account when planning your day, this information is particularly important when choosing a suitable visit. You can plan the railway visit as a separate activity and combine it with further discoveries in Liphook.

Local history and monuments

The Liphook Heritage Centre presents more than 500 years of local history in its permanent exhibition. This makes it a good starting point for travellers who want to understand Liphook not only through its landscape but also through its development. Another historic landmark is the River Wey Aqueduct at Radford Bridge, which is protected as a Scheduled Monument in Liphook.

You can also encounter a historic waterworks in Radford Park. The aqueduct was part of an irrigation system built in the 15th century, which carried water across the River Wey to the water meadows. The two places show different sides of history: here, the local history of the Heritage Centre; there, an earlier system for conveying water through the landscape.

Trails for different day plans

The section of the Shipwrights Way from Liphook to Liss is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Anyone looking for a route with several possible means of travel can include this section in their trip planning. The Liphook–Liss Rail to Ramble walk starts at Liphook station and ends at Liss station. Along the way, it follows roads, small paths, tracks and footpaths.

Another route idea is Walk H from Liphook to Waggoners Wells. The route passes through Bramshott Chase across heathland and woodland and includes a few short steep climbs. This allows you to tailor your choice of day programme more closely to the desired terrain profile: one route connects two railway stations and different trail surfaces, while the other leads through heathland and woodland with short climbs.

Radford Park: Circular Walk, Stream and Pond

In Radford Park, a circular route follows clearly laid-out main paths. A stream winds through the park into a pond rich in wildlife. At the same time, you should take the condition of the paths into account: some sections are slightly uneven and can be muddy in places even in summer. Sturdy footwear suitable for the season is therefore part of thoughtful day planning, without the circular walk being limited to a particular type of visitor.

Radford Park therefore provides a contrast to the longer routes around Liphook. You can choose a walk with opportunities for nature observation or combine historic sites and trails into a varied stay. When choosing accommodation, it is worth using your preferred mix of short park walks, cultural attractions and longer stretches of trail as a guide.

Bramshott and sites of remembrance

Nearby is St Mary's Church in Bramshott, a Grade II* listed parish church with origins dating to around 1220. During the annual Canada Day service, it commemorates the 318 Canadian soldiers and two nurses who died in the First World War and are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in the churchyard. This site adds a distinctive perspective of remembrance to the nature and technology themes.

For more ideas of places to visit, you can also look at Exton, Steep, Monk Sherborne, Lower Froyle, Rotherwick, Emsworth, Cheriton and Rockbourne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hampshire.