Queen Elizabeth Country Park Opens

1976

Queen Elizabeth Country Park opened in 1976 on the chalk downlands to the north of Waterlooville, straddling the A3 between Horndean and Petersfield. The park covers over 1,400 acres of chalk downland, woodland and open grassland, including Butser Hill, the highest point on the South Downs in Hampshire at 270 metres. The park was created by Hampshire County Council and provides walking, cycling, horse riding, orienteering and nature watching in a spectacular downland landscape. For Waterlooville residents, the country park is their nearest major outdoor recreation area, accessible by car in around fifteen minutes. The visitor centre, cafe and car parks provide a starting point for walks across the downs.