Bentley station is adjacent to the extensive Alice Holt Forest which once supplied timber for navy ships. The Shipwrights Way long distance path starts at Bentley station and runs across the South Downs to Portsmouth.
The Reserve is a sheltered herb-rich meadow grazed by cattle to maintain an ideal habitat for butterflies.
Many woodland butterflies can be seen as the Reserve adjoins the Alice Holt Forest.
Open at all times but best visited May-Sep.
www.butterfly-conservation.org
Alice Holt Forest covers a very large area, all the way from Bentley station to the Visitor Centre and beyond.
An Arboretum with specimen conifers is ¼ mile from the station. The area around the Visitor Centre has many waymarked trails
for walking and cycling as well as play and activity areas - collect a map of this area from the Visitor Centre or download from the website.
Gruffalo sculptures and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure near the Visitor Centre. Café at Visitor Centre.
Open Visitor Centre Daily 0930-1700 (later in summer).
www.forestryengland.uk/alice-holt-forest |
www.goape.co.uk
Follow the Shipwrights Way 1¾ miles to the Visitor Centre, a pleasant woodland walk entirely through the Forest,
it is gently uphill at first and a surfaced path for most of the way. Take care crossing the busy fast road.
Cycling is permitted all the way along this path.
Buses operate from Farnham.
OS Explorer Maps for this area: Guildford & Farnham | Basingstoke