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Selborne Common
HampshireDiscover the magnificent beech woods and flower-filled meadows that inspired Gilbert White
Selborne, Hampshire, GU34 3JR
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 3 October 2026
Asset Opening time Countryside Dawn - Dusk - Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed on short leads and should be kept under close control at all time. Dogs must be on leads between 1st March - 1st September to protect ground nesting birds. Cattle are often free grazing on the Common.
Public car park behind Selborne Arms in middle of High Street (not National Trust) and toilets including disabled (not National Trust).
- Steps/uneven terrain
Pathways are natural and therefore uneven in places. Pathways are often slippery due to weather conditions. Please wear suitable footwear.
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- By road
- Nearest major roads are A31/A3. Follow signs to Selborne on B3006.Parking: Park in free public car park behind Selborne Arms in middle of High Street.
- On foot
- Just off the Hangers Way.
- By train
- Alton 3 miles (4.8km); Liss 3.5 miles (5.6km); Petersfield 6 miles (9.6km)
- By bus
- Stagecoach 38, from Alton or Petersfield. Limited service daily, weekdays only.
- Cycling
- Just off the Hangers Way. Links between Selborne and Newton Valence are on a combinations of country roads and a statutory bridleway that runs along the edge of the Common close to Newton Valence.
Highlights
Common
Beech woods and flower-filled meadows that inspired the pioneering naturalist Gilbert White.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see and do at Selborne Common
This diverse and unspoilt corner of Hampshire offers plentiful opportunities to spot wildlife and find plants and flowers, as well as some impressive views.
Top trails
Trail
Selborne Common walk
Experience this nature trail at Selborne Common in Hampshire that is an absolute must for nature enthusiasts.
Upcoming events
Event
Selborne Local Committee Annual Lecture
Annual lecture - Past, present and future nature: nature in the face of changing land use and a changing climate. Talk presented by Jonathan Spencer MBE.
About Selborne Common
We look after 267 acres of countryside around Selborne. The largest area, Selborne Common, lies on the hill to the west of the village, while the valley meadows and woodlands of the Lythes lie beyond St Marys Church to the east.
Rev. Gilbert White (1720-1793), the pioneering naturalist, lived for most of his life in a house in Selborne called ‘The Wakes’. His book - ‘The Natural History of Selborne’ - published in 1789 and inspired by the landscape, provided an invaluable record of its wealth of wildlife, including descriptions of many now rare plants and animals.