Two Dells Trail

A circular walk of 2 km on the northern slopes of Portsdown Hill that offers  views of the South Downs, and interesting wildlife and history.

The Trail...

Start from the car park by the Churchillian pub.  Head down the hill, keep to the right hand side of the field. You might see stonechats on the fence behind the children's wood, or hear their stony rattling song.  The children's wood was planted by children from local schools and is rapidly becoming a decent copse. The large green pipes‚ at the bottom of the slope are emergency vents from the gas main that serves Portsmouth.

Cross the road (Widley Walk) notice the stone marked 'W.D ƒ'.  It is a War Department boundary marker; a relic of the Hill's military past. (At this point you are close to the site of a demolished church, St. Mary Magdalene, which is in front of Mill Farm.  To see it  depart from the trail and walk 400 metres down the road. The outline of the church is marked on the ground in flint)

Back on the trail, if you left it, walk through Widley Dell and along the meadow to Ashley Dell. These dells were originally small chalk pits dug for the production of  lime. They are now a haven for wildlife; walk quietly and you may see Roe Deer either on the trail or, more likely, in the fields to the north.  You should also see signs of the presence of badgers in the vicinity.

Walk uphill beside the hedge that borders Mill Lane; notice the variety of hedgerow plants and, in the summer the flowers among the grass.  Centaury (left - click on the picture to see it full size) does well here from about mid-June onwards.  Vigorous hedges like this provide excellent shelter and abundant food for wildlife.

Continue along the trail  around Fort Widley and look out for the many species of chalk grassland flowers, which includes orchids ( bee, common spotted and pyramidal) in the early summer, and insects. From here look into the moat and see the fort's defensive walls, (don't climb or cross the fences).

Cross Widley Walk and re-enter the Children's Wood Field, you will now be able to see the starting point.   The trail is easy to follow in the opposite direction. 

Click on this map to se it full size.

Getting there...

By bus - the nearest bus route is the service from Portsmouth to Clanfield/Waterlooville which stops by the George pub.

By train - the nearest station is in Cosham 1.5 km 

By road - Trail is to the north of Cosham off the B2177, the Portsdown Hill road.  Park in the car-parks off the lane beside The Churchillian.

 COUNTRYSIDE CODE

Enjoy the Countryside and respect its life

  The Two dells trail is a circular walk that introduces you to the delightful countryside found on the north of Portsdown Hill.  As you walk the trail you will be looking over the Forest of Bere  -   formerly one of the royal hunting forests which stretched from Southampton to the  South Downs.  Today, most of what you see is farmland and woods, but hidden in the landscape are Roman  roads and deserted mediaeval villages.  Features such as these reveal the areas long and interesting history.  There are good footpaths for you to enjoy and walks on this will be added to this web later. 

For more information please contact:

The  Portsdown Hill Countryside Management Project
Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth, PO6 3LS
Tel: 023 9238 9623