Alton bed and breakfast in Hampshire, England

Environment

Hidden away between the cathedral cities of Winchester and Chichester, this is great walking, cycling and riding country. Invigorating long-distance trails and circular routes dip and rise through ancient woodlands, and out onto the tops of the Downs. We recommend the long distance walking paths which pass directly through Alton (The Hangers Way and St Swithun’s Way), as well as Route 23 on the national cycle network.

Contributing to our environment through our garden is really important to us. We have water-butts on all our down-pipes and we attract many species of birds with our bird-baths, pond and tit-boxes.

Community

I know where you can find all things local and promote our local community. I participate in organising at least 1 charity event per year. In 2011, it was a Charity Ball in support of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre in Alton.

My breakfasts are made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Alton is a regular venue for the Hampshire Farmer's Market and we buy from many of the stallholders, but particularly appreciate Brocks Butchers and the Chilli Jam company.

As a member of the Alton Chamber of Commerce, Business networking groups and the East Hants District Council Steering Group (for tourism), I meet and actively promote local organisations, when fulfilling my own requirements and in recommendation to others. My technology, marketing and business services are all located in our Alton town. I have been instrumental in the set-up and running of an accommodation co-operative where a core group of local bed and breakfast properties work together, operating a mobile phone hotline service and co-ordinating availability diaries every week in order to be able to distribute booking requests .

Landscape

I actively promote the South Down National Park, walking the long distance paths. Alton is on The Hangers Way, running south through Selborne and Petersfield to join the South Downs Way. Also our guests really enjoy St Swinthun's Way which passes through Alton from Farnham, along the chalk rivers and Watercress beds in Alresford and onto its destination at Winchester Cathedral. There are many other local walks which we recommend to guests.

Another environmental attraction is The Gilbert White House and Garden in Selborne which closeby. Gilbert White is one of our earliest naturalists. He lived and worked in Selborne, studying and cataloguing the environment, before publishing “The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne” in 1789. The manuscript is on display at the centre and was instructional in Charles Darwin’s later work on Evolution. White is often credited as “the first ecologist” pioneering the study of living birds and animals in their habitat.

Hampshire’s South Downs - around Chawton where Jane Austen lived – has quite a different feel from the rest of the new National Park. With its steep wooded hills and hidden valleys of watercress farms, lavender fields, vineyards, hop gardens and trout-filled streams … its picture-perfect villages and peaceful market towns …this is one of the loveliest parts of rural England.

There’s a rich cultural life here, with contemporary arts and crafts thriving in small studios and galleries, live performances at local theatres and venues, festivals and events in the market towns and villages. There are wonderful foodie pubs with open fires and restaurants, serving delicious food, beers and wine.

Please watch our “Visitor Information” video for more details.