Steep brings together several themes: named walking routes, its literary connection to Edward Thomas and historic buildings. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the routes by their respective connections to places and also considering the village’s architectural and literary history.
Walking and Getting There
The Hangers Way section from Hawkley to Steep passes through Lutcombe Bottom. Alternatively, the Edward Thomas Circular Walk starts at Steep Church. The two routes differ in this way: the first connects two named places along the way and passes through another, while the second has a clearly named starting point. So first consider whether you would like to include a route from Hawkley to Steep or a circular walk starting at the church in your plans.
From Petersfield Station, you can reach Steep Church on foot in about 30 minutes via Tilmore Road and the Hangers Way footpath. Route and public transport information may change; check the current route before setting out. Limited parking is available on Church Road for the Edward Thomas Circular Walk. This is an important planning consideration if you are travelling by car; confirm the current situation before your visit.
East Hampshire: Landscape on a Regional Scale
Steep lies on and among the wooded slopes known as the East Hampshire Hangers. They form part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). In the broader regional context, the Shipwrights Way connects the towns and villages of East Hampshire with the surrounding countryside. The route is 50 miles long and intended for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The difference in scale is useful: the Hangers Way section is specifically located via Hawkley, Steep and Lutcombe Bottom, while the Shipwrights Way provides a broader connection across East Hampshire.
Literature and Church Architecture
Edward Thomas eventually moved to the village of Steep in Hampshire, where he turned to writing poetry. The memorial stone to him was erected in 1937; at the same time, the slope was dedicated to his memory. The year refers to the erection of the stone, while the dedication applies to the slope.
All Saints Church is a parish church with parts dating from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, as well as from 1838 and 1875. Its architectural history therefore spans the Middle Ages through to the 19th century. The churchyard contains the graves of members of Jane Austen’s family.
The Harrow Inn and Its Architecture
The Harrow Inn in Steep is a roadside inn dating from around the 18th century and is listed as a Grade II building. Features that remain include a partially preserved timber frame, a smoke hood, an open hearth and ceiling beams with shaped, tapering ends. Its approximate age and listing place the building in its historical context; the surviving features describe specific details of its construction.
Discover more destinations: Hordle, Bordon, Liphook, New Milton, Oakley, Tadley, Hedge End, Exton
For the wider travel overview: Hampshire.
