Hamble Ramble

2nd October 2009

This is a walk from AA's 100 More Weekend Walks and the only one of two to have any substantial mileage to it. However, the copy I have is 12 years old and some things have changed slightly. I would recommend using Explorer Map 22 which shows the route of the walk on the East Sheet in the top right hand corner.

In the book, parking is advised in Hamble itself. I chose to park at the car park on the southernmost tip of Hamble Common and walk back through the Common to the village. For those, like me, who are nervous of cows, they are grazed here between May and October. There were a couple just inside the gate today but I went through anyway while they rather mournfully watched me pass.

The Common adds an extra mile to the walk through pretty woodland and alongside the Hamble River, and the car park is free. There is also a bus service no. 16 which runs frequently to Hamble Village from Southampton.

A ferry ride is the first event of the walk across from Hamble to Warsash. The ferry is pink, as is the ferry shelter on the Warsash shore, and the journey takes about 5 minutes through the host of yachts in the marina. On this trip, the ferry cut right across in front of some vast corporate vessel powering its way down the River to the Solent.

The ferry ride is also a part of the Solent Way long distance path which runs from Milton on Sea to Emsworth.

From the Warsash jetty the Solent Way heads south, and the route of today's walk heads north along an excellent gravel foot- and cycle-path through the Bunny Meadows. This is not quite as cute as it sounds. The path runs along the top of a purpose-built embankment and the "bunnies" are the pipes used to channel the water flow between the river and the salt water marshes that form the meadows. At extreme high tides even this raised path can become flooded.

On one side flows the River Hamble and the yachts, houseboats and houses of the village opposite offer an ever-changing view. On the right, as you walk up towards the boatyards, are the woodlands of HollyHill. There are several entrances this along the Bunny footpath; one goes across the marsh and up between mansion-like houses, however, the marsh crossing does flood at high tide. As long as you have sturdy waterproof footwear, this shouldn't present much of a problem. Or there is a dry access path further along straight into the woodland of the Wendleholme Nature Reserve where the path descends to a gate into HollyHill.

The walk along the embankment is exposed and it can be windy along the river, so it's a good idea to pack a cardigan except on the warmest and stillest of days. In open, sunny weather this is a beautiful place to walk and there's always something happening on the water.

The path goes over a curved bridge and later in front of riverside houses with their own boat docks, like water-driveways, then on through Hamble Point Marina. The path is signposted through here, past stacks of motorboats. There is a small restaurant but the toilets are marked as for berth holders only. How strict this is, I didn't find out.

Past the boatyard, the way continues up past another car park (also free) and emerges on to pavement beside the A27. The route goes left over the bridge past the entrance to Swanwick Marina and under the railway bridge round into Church Lane.

I think having done this walk I would be inclined to follow the route in reverse next time and save the Bunny Meadow stretch and ferry ride until last. The latter part of the route as I walked it today does have a few short sharp inclines, up and down. It goes through Bursledon village which is beautiful, but some of the footpaths are of the squeeze-type, fitted begrudgingly between hedges and garden fences with little or no view to look at.

However, things improve when Mallard Moor is reached. Up through the woodland, ignore the metal gate at the top of a short bank and continue through the woodland to a concrete road. The path goes right then left passing between high wire fences past a disused tip which is now used to graze ponies and later on over the railway to emerge into a small car park and out on to Satchell Lane.

The route now goes along the road. There is a narrow verge but occasionally you have to walk on the road and this is the way down to Hamble Common, which is quite popular. Across the road, however, is an expanse of open land which is a disused airfield and at various points entrances have been made so it is possible to get away from the road and continue along the edge of the airfield instead. Later on there is a marked footpath but everyone seems to use the old airfield instead, and there are several entry points between the airfield and the footpath.

The way continues down to a housing estate. I kept straight ahead until I came to a main road opposite the church. Turning left here I came back into Hamble Village and headed down to the waterfront where the ferry leaves from and where there are public toilets and a hut which sells both hot and cold snacks and drinks. From here, I retraced my path back up a narrow hill and into Hamble Common, following an alternative route back to the shore and the car park.

Acres Down

22nd June 2009

I'd decided I was going for a walk and chose Acres Down. I got up in good time and then whiffled around for ages doing other things, so I wasn't ready to go until about 1.45pm. Then I forgot my boots (how?), after which the road to the motorway from home was "Police-Closed" (I never did find out why). I turned back, found another way around and still managed to hit my revised target time to reach my destination as the M27 was clear.

Driving through Minstead was fun. Cows everywhere. On the verges, on the road. They were very purposeful wherever they were heading at 2.20 in the afternoon. It was very amusing, driving at cow walking-pace. I even got overtaken by one! There were cars going my way, cars coming the other way, and at one point a man in a van had time to stop and ask me for directions to a Farm. And cows everywhere. At the fork, all the cows decided to go left. All the traffic (about 3 cars) went right!

Having reached my objective, I put on my boots and set off, deciding to go around the lower path that runs along the side of Acres Down and into Highland Inclosure, rather than going over the Down. I'm pretty sure the lower path is not marked on the map - all paths seem to go over according to that.

It was interesting to watch the behaviour of a group of ponies in this shallow valley. There was an obvious leader, a grey mare. She led them right across the path in front of me (as they do) then she trotted on ahead while the first little band of the group sort of ambled along behind until she stopped in a grove of trees. The first band caught up with her, then the next lot followed down. The one in the lead of this group was black with a Black Beauty star and two or three others behind and they all trotted down to the grove of trees. It was interesting to watch the way they trotted, they moved so easily and naturally with a gait to make a dressage rider weep for joy. You try getting that smooth, natural pace on demand! The ponies went off into the thicker woodland beyond and I walked on.

I went past a tree full of chaffinches! and down into woodland through a gate where I stopped for a moment just to enjoy the surroundings and the quiet.

So on, and following much the same route I've trodden before, over a bridge, left at a T-junction and over the ford at Highland Water. As I walked along the path something moved in front of me. I thought it was an old leaf but it was moving strangely and when I looked closer it was a little rust-coloured toad.

A little further along, I came across a woman sitting on an old fallen tree reading a book with a little terrier snuffling around on a long lead. "Typical!" I thought, wryly, "you think you've found a bit of peace to read your book and someone comes along. " We exchanged "good afternoon" and I walked on.

I went straight up to a gate out of the Inclosure to a road and was trying to find a path that, according to the map, should go over two footbridges through Mark Ash Wood but the only footbridge I found was in the wrong direction and everything else was overgrown with bracken. So I returned to the road and found another gate back into Highland Water Inclosure. It was time to be heading back.

I came down through trees to a cycle track and decided to follow this back to the car park. The sun came out but not for long as the clouds regrouped. It was becoming hot and rather hunid.

The walk was lovely and the whole day was full of interesting stuff, what with the cows, the ponies, chaffinches and the toad. I had a very relaxed and content afternoon.

And when I got home, I discovered I'd driven all the way back in my boots!

Short walk around Upham

13th June 2009

A very quick 3 miler around this pretty little village.

While walking through the cropfield up towards Street End I realised that in the distance I could clearly see The Rosebowl Cricket Ground with Telegraph Wood rising behind.

When I reach the road past the farmhouse, where I had continued along to Stephen's Castle Down previously, I turned off instead along the footpath/cycle trail that runs down to Bigpath Farm, across the road that runs past there into Upham and along up the continuation of the same old path.

And instead of continuing to the end of the path down to the road opposite another farm, I turned up along the footpath at the top of the hill which is fenced all the way alongside cow pasture. The youngsters I'd seen here the time before were all gone and the field being rested.

There were cows further along.









The views from this path along the little downs at this point are very picturesque and it is a very pleasant walk for an hour or so, and not far from home.

I met a chatty soul with a small black spaniel (which sat down for a fuss and then got bored and trotted off) along the path. I said goodbye to the cows and continued on to the end of the path and back into the village.

Turning left to return to the duck pond there is a pub The Brushmakers Arms on the right hand side, which adheres to the country opening times (11pm - 3pm and 6pm - 11pm). They also serve food.

Upham to Owslebury - nearly

30th May 2009

I had this walk all planned and then had to alter and cutail it due to cows and lost or stolen trail.

Park beside the duck pond and from there walk back past the church and turn right up the hill until you see a footpath sign and a stile over a fence into a paddock.

This is part of the Monarch's Way, going over another stile into a wheatfield. Follow the edge of the wheatfield and the Way is later met by Widler's Lane. The Way passes straight down through a woodland called The Rookery and then proceeds through a gate across a field to a gate at the top. Today there were young Highland Cattle in the field ...

In the The Rookery there is a footpath that goes off to the right from the Monarch's Path and eventually comes out at a cropfield. Turn left and follow the field edge round until another footpath sign pointing up through another cropfield. This passes some kind of small racetrack or horse exercise area and comes to a T-junction with Rowhay Lane, which forms part of the King's Way coming down from the north-east to join the Monarch's Way heading south east. Turn left along Rowhay Lane and where the Monarch's Way crosses at the gate to the field where the cattle were, turn right up through cropfields. The views open out at the path climbs, eventually reaching another T-junction through a large gap in high hedges beyond which Red Lane runs roughly north to south. Turn right along Red Lane until a four-way junction. Here, cross the junction to a gate through some rough woodland. This is now the Pilgrim's Trail. The woodland is mostly beech and becomes more pleasant further round, with dense woodland on the right of the path and views out over fields to the left. Eventually come down to a gate and out into a paddock with the path clearly marked through the grass up to another gate on to a drive. Turn down the drive to emerge on Lower Baybridge Lane.

From here, the Pilgrim's Trail on the map continues ahead easily through fields to Owslebury. On the ground, the Trail goes up a concrete track between pasture and is then lost. There is a gate into one of the fields - however, this field is horrendously muddy in wet weather and when dried out, is overgrown with rough stuff under which the ground is heavily pocked by cows and unpleasant to walk on. Further up the concrete path is where it seems the Trail is supposed to continue, and Owslebury Church rises tantalisingly close at the top of the hill beyond the fields. However, on the day I tried this route, the Trail was "blocked" off by orange tape right across where the path should be.

Not sure what to do, as there were no signs and I didn't know what was going on, I consulted my map and found an alternative footpath up through a field further along Lower Baybridge Lane.

I turned around, turned right along the Lane and found the footpath over an overgrown stile by a broken footpath sign (does someone want to put walkers off?). This field was no more pleasant to walk upon than the previous one, and - well, those who have been following my progress will know that I don't do cows. They are the devil's herd! And there were some large specimens quietly lolling about right where I wanted to go.

So, what to do? Consult the map.

I decided to curtail the walk as I was getting fed up with all the messing about. I went back down to Lower Baybridge Lane and turning right, continued towards Marwell House. The Lane emerges on to Thompsons Lane. Here I turned left and soon came to Marwell House where a footpath passes between the House and a cottage or farm.

I soon became glad that I'd chosen this alternative, as the footpath continues between fencing on a good path and passes between fields and over a couple of stiles into a cropfield, past a hedge (don't get tempted along the field edge inside the hedge, go past the hedge, the path continues behind it) and through pleasant woodland past more fields, coming eventually to the tarmac part of Red Lane. Left the Lane continues as a restricted byway; to the right you can walk along the Lane or follow a footpath along the field edge parallel to the road. The footpath is OK for a while but becomes overgrown in the latter stages. I found the road the easier alternative, as it is more a driveway to the Farm than an actual thoroughfare.

At its southern end, Red Lane bends round sharply to the right but there is another restricted byway off to the left which passes the end of Rowhay Lane and continues along Popes Road emerging at the main road into Upham. At this junction turn left and walk through this lovely village back past the church to the duck pond.

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 ...

The Cows of Itchen Valley Country Park

11 October 2008

Map: Explorer OL22 New Forest
Map ref for car park: SU462161 (parking charges apply - from 50p for 1 hour)

I'd decided that I should conquer my cowphobia and the best place to do this would be in the environs of the local country park where I know my escape routes!

The Country Park is situated off Allington Lane, West End, Southampton. It covers 440 acres and includes water meadows, ancient woodland, meadows and grazing pasture, and has many waymarked trails which can be walked separately or made into one or several integrated walks. There is a Paw Trail for dogs and separate cycle and bridle paths, although the bridlepath requires a licence to be paid by users. It is also not for use by walkers or cyclists, presumably for safety reasons.

My excursion took me first into the grazing pasture. At first, I thought I was going to be out of luck. Then through a kissing gate I found cows. They were peacefully grazing. I walked along following the path towards another gate, right beside which was a cow. I would have to pass this one to get to the gate.

Safely negotiated. The cow looked at me rather curiously but simply stood there.

I was ready to approach the water meadows.

Through the trees I could see the cows making their way feedward from the outlying meadows. A large herd of beefstock (a rather sad thought!) all about 2 years old, all de-horned bulls.

There was a family with a small child who went through the kissing gate to watch the cows coming in, and I followed in behind them, content just to watch and see how the animals behaved. This was made more interesting by one of the Country Park rangers who strode down into the meadow and headed straight for the herd. He was intent on something else and went about his business as if the cows were not there. The cows stopped as he approached and stood around watching him. Occasionally a cow would moo at him but they didn't approach him; they just stood there.

I then got talking to a lady with two small dogs, one of which was used to being around cows and took no notice even when a large black muzzle was in its face. This lady used to work with calves and so I asked her about bovine behaviour.

Cows will move away from you if you are walking towards them. If you are bothered by a cow, say something like "boo!" to it in a loud voice. Calves are turned out into fields when they are 5 months old and are still hay-fed for a while until they get the idea that green means food, so if you walking through a field of youngsters they will equate human with hay and may approach and follow you. In my experience, their approach is at a run which can be quite scary, but they will stop and stand looking at you. As you walk on, they will continue to follow until you leave their field. They look so disappointed!

Altogether, it was a most interesting and informative time.