Section 8 of 10, Heart of England Way
Broom to Meon Vale
9.6 miles (15.4 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: SP 089 534. Finish: SP 173 459. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Warning: Diversion in place. Part of this route is closed or diverted for now. Several temporary diversions: at Buck's Head Farm (an HS2 work site), between Halloughton and Shustoke, between Meriden and Balsall Common, and at Long Marston (an unsafe stile). Source: heartofenglandway.org.
Up and down
About 105 m of climbing and 63 m of descent; highest point 79 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Broom.
- Bus stops
- Post Office, 100 m from the start. Directions SP 089 533Albion Terrace, 350 m from the start. Directions SP 091 531Turn, 560 m from the start. Directions SP 095 535
- Car parks
- Car park, 180 m from the start. Directions SP 090 532Car park (free), 870 m from the start. Directions SP 084 541Car park (free), 900 m from the start. Directions SP 081 529
Getting back
The section finishes at Meon Vale. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stop
- Medical Centre, 970 m from the finish. Directions SP 177 468
Planning the Heart of England Way
- Planning the whole trail: heartofenglandway.org.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: The Heart of England Way (Sigma Press).
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 27%, gravel and tracks 19%, earth, rock and mud 14%; the rest (37%) isn't recorded.
About 25% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 8 stiles, 12 kissing gates, 18 gates, 2 flights of steps.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 24 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
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Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.