East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

was designated in 1962. The designation was revoked in March 2010, together with the neighbouring Sussex Downs AONB, upon the establishment of the South Downs National Park. The southern part of the area is mainly rolling chalk downland used for farming that is a westward extension of the Sussex Downs. The north and east includes steep wooded hills and heathland. Features include: Petersfield, the

Rother Rother may refer to: General *Rother (surname) (also sometimes spelled Röther) *Rother District, a local government district in East Sussex, England *Rother FM, an independent local radio station for Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England *Rother Kup ...

valley, Warnford and West Meon. Four National Nature Reserves and many several Sites of Special Scientific Interest fall within the AONB. The

Hanger's Way Hangers Way is a footpath through Hampshire, England from Alton railway station to Queen Elizabeth Country Park where it meets the South Downs Way National Trail. The name Hanger comes from the Old English word ''hangra'', meaning a steeply ...

, South Downs Way,

Staunton Way The Staunton Way is a 20.5 mile recreational circular walk in Hampshire, southern England, that connects Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Staunton Country Park. The route passes through the villages of Chalton, Finchdean and Rowlands Castle. ...

and

Wayfarer's Walk The Wayfarer's Walk is a 71 mile long distance footpath in England from Walbury Hill, Berkshire to Emsworth, Hampshire. The north-west end is at the car park on top of Walbury Hill, near to the landmark Combe Gibbet, and the south-east end is ...

long-distance paths pass through it. Notable hills include

Butser Hill Butser Hill is a hill and nature reserve in Hampshire, England. South-west of Petersfield, it is a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a national nature reserve and a Special Area of Conservation. Part of it i ...

near Petersfield, Beacon Hill and Old Winchester Hill near Corhampton and St Catherine's Hill and Cheesefoot Head near

Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...

. There was controversy in 1994 when a new stretch of the M3 motorway was cut through Twyford Down, separating St Catherine's Hill from the main AONB.

External links

East Hampshire AONBSussex Downs Joint Committee (East Hampshire and Sussex Downs AONBs) - Pamphlet including map on P2 (PDF)
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England Protected areas of Hampshire {{Hampshire-geo-stub