East Hampshire

East Hampshire district occupies the eastern part of Hampshire and includes a substantial area of the South Downs National Park. Chalk ridges and river valleys define much of the landscape; Butser Hill, near Petersfield, is a notable summit on the Downs and hosts Butser Ancient Farm, an open-air experimental archaeology site reconstructing past farming techniques. There are extensive commons and woodlands and a network of footpaths and bridleways used year-round for walking and riding.

Settlements range from market towns to small villages. Petersfield is the administrative centre and holds a regular market; Alton lies to the north and the village of Chawton contains Jane Austen’s House Museum. Liphook, Liss and Petersfield have stations on the Portsmouth Direct Line, while Alton is the terminus of the Alton branch from Woking. Bordon’s former garrison has been redeveloped for housing and business space. The local economy blends agriculture, light industry and service sectors, and planning must balance development needs with protections inside the national park.