Itchen Valley Country Park again

21 February 2009

As I didn't have a lot of time I elected to test a circular walk that would take in the Water Meadows of the Itchen Valley Country Park and the Itchen Way which runs along what used to be the tow path of the old Itchen Navigation Canal.

Gorgeous weather. All sunny and early spring warm with still that deep late afternoon golden glow just before the the sun goes down. The meadows are lovely - without the the cows - and will be more so when the green comes to tree and field. The cows will be back by then ...

My route took me from my front door to the Country Park (about 1 mile) where I went into the Visitor Centre to buy some honey (as I'd run out) and out the back door to walk down the slope to the bridge over the River. Rather unfortunately, the pathways alongside the River are "Private" and would make wonderful waterside walking. Oh well, there is another water course that runs through the meadows with footpaths over them. The ground is flat and the paths are well-marked out. Do be aware that beef stock are turned out into the meadows over the summer until October, and as well as being curious beasties they can churn up the ground. Wear good waterproof boots and gaiters, or wellingtons.

On this day, the ground had been rested and the going was very good. When I got to the far side of the Meadows from the entrance I had the choice of continuing around the perimeter of the Meadows or climbing the stile and walking along the Itchen Way. I chose the Itchen Way as that was my intention, and I was glad I did. Looking down into the Meadows from the Way, the signs didn't lie about the mud and standing water along the path.

This part of the Itchen Way runs past the airport, although you can't actually see into it. There are some little areas where the watercourse is level with, or even slightly above the lie of the path which can make the way a bit muddy. As long as you have good footwear, this is barely a mild inconvenience.

I am planning to walk the Itchen Way from Riverside Park all the way to Winchester one day in the summer. It's signposted as being 12 miles. The Way does extend a little further at either end, having its beginning in Cheriton, which is the source of the River Itchen, and ending in Woolston in Southampton.

There is a single irritation about the Itchen Way at this point where it runs alongside and under the M27. However, it is soon over and the motorway can be left behind by climbing over a stile into the water meadows on the other side and following the path through, and over the bridge pictured above. The White Swan pub is visible across the expanse. At the further end is another stile back out on to the path. By following the path round, over another bridge and through a smaller field, under Mansbridge Road and over the old stone bridge, you turn back on yourself this time on the other side of the river and the path will take you straight to the White Swan. They also have an excellent carvery.

After calling at the White Swan, the walk continues back under Mansbridge Road, past the old bridge and into Riverside Park. Home for me from here is about 1/4 mile.

The walk was very pleasant, if a bit gloopy here and there and will work as an excellent longer local walk - if I can brave the cows ...

Pipers Wait to Telegraph Hill

20 February 2009

I have obtained a fab little book full of great little walks that can be combined and turned into great big walks. I have listed it in the sidebar, but for present reference it is called "A Walk Around the New Forest" by Norman Henderson. It is a "Walk Around", too, around the perimeter of the National Park, a perambulation if you will, made up of 35 circular walks. The walks are not always within the boundaries of the National Park, as it now is. Some walks take in outlying footpaths, bridleways and by-ways within Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Where I have used this book for my walks, I will not include directions except as they pertain to my personal experiences recorded here, as the directions contained in the book are concise and I could be guilty of plagierism - no thanks. The walks in the book also detail the map references for car parks where applicable.

The view above is from Black Bush Plain overlooking the hangars of Bramshaw Wood near Pipers Wait Car Park, looking over Plaitford Common towards Romsey. As far as I can tell.

The car park at Pipers Wait is fairly small and the space was further hindered by a great pile of old lorry tyres which had been dumped there, whether by design or fly-tippers I don't know. I do know I had to move one to be able to turn my car around.

The walk is approximately 5 1/4 miles circular. As well as Pipers Wait and Bramshaw Telegraph it also takes in Eyeworth Pond and the plains of Longcross and Black Bush.

It was a beautiful sunny day at first, possibly the first day of Spring, and walking in the sunlight it was tempting to remove my fleece to just leave my T-shirt. I was glad I didn't as I came up through Claypits Bottom as the clouds came over the sun and it became a little chilly.

I did see a deer, which shot across my path near the stream in Crow's Nest Bottom. At the top of Pipers Wait there is a strange-looking hill covered in gorse and trees that doesn't look quite right. In fact, it's a rather cleverly disguised reservoir. Rabbits seem to like grazing the lawn around the base of the hill.

The walk across the open plains was lovely, as the sun deigned to show herself again for a while and the views across them to the further surrounding countryside of Wiltshire and Hampshire were always changing as now sunlight, now shadow passed over, mottling the landscape. In the picture above, the blue cast to the further view is due to its lying in the shadow of clouds at that moment.

Back at the car park I was accosted by a hopeful yearling. Disappointed, it mooched despondently away to munch sadly at some holly leaves after which it wandered away down the path into the woods. I was left to hot tea and Jaffa cakes.

Not a walking entry - an apology for absence

7th February 2009

My last walk was the day before yesterday, cold and grey and a blessing after the last fortnight. I followed a local route which I extended for a little way along the Itchen Way up towards the airport. Owing to the late afternoon and the light starting to dusk I turned back and found a delightful path across the water meadows which are part of the Itchen Valley Country Park. It made me feel very much that I live right on the edge of the countryside. Why would anyone choose the rat canyons of the city centre to living in the suburbs? I really feel my good fortune!

Now, you may be asking: where are my snow pictures? The recordings of the snowy walks I should have taken?

Well, thanks to the deterioration of the main cable carrying my telephone line I have been unable to access the internet. A nice man from the telephone company came and moved my line to the newer cable and now I'm back on track.

As for the snow pictures, I missed the opportunity for walking and photography due to frozen roads, accidents, sliding to a halt and then the "fun" (not!) of playing bumper cars with the traffic at 7 in the morning. The road became blocked (by the way, this is about 400 yards from my front door) by skewed cars and a stranded bus, with the emergency services having the same difficulties and only attending accidents where people were injured. What was quite interesting was my being the liaison between the police and the public, as I had called 999 and was in contact with a very pleasant woman who relayed information to me as she got it. In the end, those of us able to leave our cars at the side of the road were advised to do so and head on to wherever we were going.

The next day and driving through a blizzard coming home after work again at 7 in the morning, I ended up at my parents' house because they don't live on an "up and down" road that turns into a ski run at the slightest hint of snow.

So, why did I not get out to walk in it anyway, even around the local area with its parks and woodlands? I'm a night owl so my sleeping is during the daylight hours, and when not sleeping I was waiting for telephone calls and engineers.

Thank you for listening to my tale of woe. I am now on holiday and looking forward to getting out there again.