Kilmeston Circular via Beacon Hill

Saturday 25th February 2012

OS Map Explorer 132 - Winchester, New Alresford & East Meon
Car Parking ref: SU589258
Distance: 7 miles approx.

(photographs to follow)

This is a walk from the Southampton Ramblers programme, led by Pete. There were 23 of us altogether, all counted out and all counted back.

I declare today officially the first day of Spring. The sun came out in glory with plenty of warmth in it already, although the air was chillier in the later stages of the walk.

The walk starts from the lovely village of Kilmeston, just south of Cheriton and Hinton Ampner. There is a parking area beside the road, or it is possible to park on the green beside the road coming up from Bishops Waltham.

The way we were led today included a little lane walking through the village, which I personally quite enjoy, turning on to track left  where the road bends round to the right at the bottom of the slope. The paths are all excellent, through woodland and across fields without cows - a major bonus from my point of view as regular readers know by now.

There's a DEFRA nature reserve just south of Kilmeston where the path across a field emerges on to a fenced grass track between green meadows. The path climbs to a copse of pine trees and turns left towards woodland where the waymarkers lead the walker around a back garden converted into a mini golf course that even has a bunker or two! The path emerges on to a drive which comes down to the road and the way continues across the road into a field where it dodges left beyond a hedge and across a large field uneven underfoot.

We had a short break in a copse of trees before descending towards Wheely Down Farm for the climb up the north face of Beacon Hill. On the way down we saw a hare racing up a neighbouring field.

There is a steeper way up Beacon Hill from the village of Exton to the south east, but this side is a pretty good work out for the legs. The climb accomplished, across meadows, past a field of Highland cattle with their hairy Thelwellian calves, and up through Beacon Hill Beeches, following the Monarch's Way, we took our rest at the car park. Photos were taken, and photos of the photographer, while we variously ate bananas, drank water and basked in the sunshine. Other walkers and cyclists passed to and fro, and a lady with three large young Airedales.

We were called to order and set off again, eastward along the South Downs Way towards Lomer Farm and the site of the mediaeval village of Lomer. The trees that line the track being denuded of leaves, the view south opens out across freshly ploughed fields of sun-gilt dark-brown and green meadows, all folding into each other.

Past Wind Farm paths diverge. The South Downs Way continues north-west towards Winchester. Monarch's Way runs south and The Wayfarer's Walk goes down to the north back towards Kilmeston.
(Note: two and sometimes three LDPs can run together for some way before going their separate ways.)

Before descending the Wayfarer's Walk, it is worthwhile to pause by the stile and take in the stunning, extensive views out to the north, east and west. It's a hard choice when you start walking again between watching your feet and watching the diminishing view as you descend.

The first field we came into was being freshly ploughed, by a tractor with its attendant flock of inevitable seagulls. Through a gap in a hedge the path continued firmer underfoot across another field and beyond this the path descends to a track alongside paddocks. Here, there is a programme of planting young hedgerow stock to encourage wildlife.

There are two or three stiles along here which are something of a challenge for those not blessed with supermodel leg length.

Across a final small paddock and over one last stile on to the road in Kilmeston where we parked.

We were blessed with the weather, and this is another walk I will definitely put this route on my list of walks to revisit solo.

East Meon to Butser Hill

29th June 2009

Maps used: OS Explorers 119 and 120 + photocopier and sellotape!

This was a lovely walk. 3 1/2 hours exhilarating walking in beautiful warm sunshine with extensive views of Hampshire. 3 birds of prey, swifts and rabbits seen. Accompanied all the way up by the song of skylarks. Exercise for the legs and always something to look at. A fabulous day altogether.

The walk starts from East Meon, a charming example of a typical Hampshire village.

For the car park, take the right hand turn in front of the church set against the slope of Park Hill above the road, and follow the road round to the right past Ye Olde George Inn, a 15th century coaching house, and follow the signs for the car park. This is spacious and free.

The walk starts from the car park, heading south along a footpath past the community centre and steps left on to a park in front of houses. Continue through a small housing estate to a country road and turn right. Follow this road round (there's no pavement but it's quiet) to a wide signposted concrete track which rises between crop fields and passes to the left of farm buildings. The path continues round and then down through more crops to a crossroads. To the right is a track called Halnaker Lane; ahead and to the left is the South Downs Way. The path ahead comes eventually to Old Winchester Hill. The path left is that required on this route. It is a restricted by-way and like many such tracks is somewhat enclosed by hedges and trees. Being on the South Downs routes the path climbs steeply in places. Not recommended in wet weather as the path is chalky and I found that insect repellent is a good idea, particularly in hot weather.

Towards the top of this part of the route, the views begin to open out. To the left are views over Small Down and Wether Down towards Butser Hill and glimpses of the valley in which Petersfield sits. The views to the right are somewhat more open looking towards Old Winchester Hill and the Meon Valley behind and the spread of west Hampshire further over.

I was passed by two cyclists hurtling back down the way I was going up. The path isn't smooth. It's fairly rutted with a lot of loose stones.

Past the pylons and Wetherdown Barn the path drops slightly down to Mercury Park. This is quite interesting. There is some science facility here which I found difficult to ascertain whether it's still in use or not. The wire fences are topped by great rolls of razor wire and there's a security entrance but there was no one about. Unless it's part of the Sustainability Centre on the other side of the road, which is also interesting as this is the site of the South Downs Natural Burial Site.

The excellent thing about walking through Mercury Park is that there is a good wide pavement part of which goes down through pleasant trees past some very nice houses. At the triangle junction, the pavement gives out but the road is fairly quiet and at the next junction, Hyden Cross, there is a small grass area with a bench opposite a white cottage, which looks out over the countryside. Lovely place to stop for a break.

After a quick bite and some water, I crossed the busier road to the continuation of the South Downs Way directly ahead. This is a pleasant broad path which climbs gently up through trees with views of the countryside to the left and Hyden Wood (private woodland, unfortunately) to the right - a dense woodland that doesn't let much sunlight through and has a red-brown look to it.

As the views close to the left and open out to the right where the woodland ends (I could just see the white of the Science Station on Portsdown Hill far away south) the path comes up to the road which rises to Butser Hill (Limekiln Lane). The tarmac road goes on up to the Car Park (a fee is charged here - £1 for the day). There are picnic tables up by the information hut, and there are toilets, but no refreshments. (There is an information centre and cafeteria a short walk down Butser Hill at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Car Parking at the country park is also £1 for the whole day)

Limekiln Lane continues as a restricted by-way just below the car park beyond a steel barrier with a "No Motor Vehicles" sign. The Lane is chalk and not recommended in wet weather. It is also rutted and fairly steep in places. There is a footpath along a bank above the main chalk path. After a while the way forks. The right fork descends precipitously down Rakes Bottom to the Nore. Left, Limekiln Lane continues, in the latter stages becoming earthy rather than chalk and later descends fairly steeply to Lethe House Farm where there is a sturdy gate between the path and the dog; a beautifully laid out dressage arena, and some rather fine horses. The gentleman who was watering the dressage arena was nice and called out "good afternoon".

The way now comes to a lane. My way turned left along to Cumber's Lane, which has a traffic regulation order and is blocked to traffic by a large concrete barrier. Walkers, riders and cyclists are still permitted but the path has been churned up by 4x4 vehicles and motorcycles which are no longer permitted to use the path, for obvious reasons. The path becomes a little more stable further on until a 5-way junction of TRO paths.

As I didn't know the area before I started, of course I couldn't know what kind of paths I might encounter. I chose to go immediately left past Greenway Copse. The path is firm but rather scraggy, the grass worn away and rather weedy. As the path passes the Copse there is an intriguing wrought-iron gate which seems to stand alone against the dense dark trees. The path eventually emerges on to a very narrow, very quiet lane between fields and outlying cottages of East Meon and overhung with trees.

Looking at my map, there was another route I might have taken from the 5-way junction to Frogmore, just outside East Meon. I might look at that another day.

It doesn't need to be all roadwork back to the car park. There is much to see that is pleasant and interesting in the village.

Coming along the road and over the river, there is a footbridge which goes back over the river to a footpath running in front of cottages and across a small green; past a tiny pasture with a couple of young, nervous bullocks in it and the back of the old Court House. There is a small gate at the top of the path, past tennis courts, and you emerge on to the main road from West Meon. Across the road is the beautiful All Saints Church with a wooden lychgate and a bus stop just beside that.

Back round past Ye Olde George Inn and to the car park once more.

Lord Swan and the Invasion of the Pretenders

22nd May 2009

The flotilla begin edging their way upriver from the sea.

Lord Swan holds position on the river with his wings raised in warning until it becomes obvious that the flotilla of young pretenders are not going to take the hint. Lord Swan decides that the time for direct action has come. Head lowered and wings lifting aggressively all the way, he sails majestically at near ramming speed at the flotilla.

Overawed by the courage and majesty of Lord Swan the Pretenders drift off seaward, pretending that nothing has happened, that they had no designs upon the upriver reaches, and begin to dabble for food.

Lord Swan cruises back upriver still in battle array and undeniable ruler of the Meon.

Wickham - Meon Valley Trail and West Walk

18 October 2008

Distance: 4 1/2 miles
Parking: Hampshire County Council Free Car Park
Map: Explorer 119 Meon Valley - Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham
Map ref for car park: SU575117

For route details click here

One of these days I will walk the 10 miles from Wickham to West Meon, and 10 miles back again, along the dismantled railway that now forms the Meon Valley Trail.

Although for some it might constitute a good day’s hike, it would be nice to take it over a couple of days to have time to sidetrack into the villages along the route: Soberton, Droxford, Meonstoke, Exton and Warnford, as well as Wickham and West Meon themselves.

As well as these pretty villages dotted along the meandering course of the River Meon, there are other places of interest to interest, including the ancient hill fort of Old Winchester Hill to the east of Meonstoke and Beacon Hill west of Exton and Warnford.

Beacon Hill and Old Winchester Hill both have nature reserves, and are intersected by the South Downs Way and Monarch’s Way. Other long distance paths also cross the course of the Meon Valley Trail, perfect for creating circular walks from village to viewpoint and back again.

My walk today took in about 1½ miles of the Meon Valley Trail from the free car park at Wickham to the point where the Pilgrims’ Trail crosses it and heads into West Walk, an area of woodland remains of the ancient Forest of Bere, now managed by the Forestry Commission and offering some excellent walking.

The sun showed through in fits and starts, and although autumnal the day was not unpleasantly cold. As I was walking during the latter part of the afternoon the light had that warm, soft luminescence that comes only in the autumn, giving a golden glow to even the darkest pine trees.
Not today, but previously, I have seen stoats playing on the bridge over the river at the trout fishery, where I was also passed by a deer. On that same day, a buzzard soared over my head as I walked among the trees at West Walk.

Old Winchester Hill and Garden Hill Lane

Jarrold's Pathfinder Guide No. 12 Hampshire and New Forest (Walk 25)

This walk begins and ends with Old Winchester Hill, an Iron Age Hillfort. It is one of many excellent viewpoints in Hampshire, with 360-degree panoramic views over the county out as far as the Isle of Wight. In the immediate foreground to the west rises Beacon Hill above Exton over which passes part of the 101 mile-long South Downs Way.

If you are lucky you may see some smaller birds of prey hovering over the hillside.

The walk passes down through a narrow tunnel of trees, around the edges of cropfields and along an ancient route called Garden Hill Lane. This is extremely narrow and runs beside a stream of the Meon River. It can be very muddy in places, and becomes quite overgrown in the latter stages before you reach the bridge.

The Meon River is shallow and clear at this point as you come to the village of Exton.

The walk takes in pretty churches and country lanes and passes a pub in Exton called the Shoe Inn.

The second half of the walk (assuming the half way point as the pub) has a lo - ot of stiles and all heading uphill. Some of the fields are quite steep so at least one walking pole may be adviseable if you're not as fit as you'd like to be. As the way now climbs consistently it's a good idea to take it steadily. Eventually you leave paddocks and stiles behind and follow New Road to the top of this bit. It bends forms a crossroads with Watton Lane and there are more lovely views to be had as you climb and at the top. The walk goes over another stile and follows the edge of a large wheatfield heading down. Here you can see 2km across the valley to the steep slope of Old Winchester Hill. Across Stocks Lane is a path that becomes a bridle way further up through a gate. On the day I walked this, the farmer had put up information about the crops grown and how bread flour wheat is different from cake flour wheat, which I thought a charming thing to do!

And the walk climbs out of the bridle path. As the guidebook has it, the path "claws its way up the chalk hillside". Walking poles are of benefit here!

Eventually it reaches sensible ground and you turn right back towards the car park. There are benches placed at strategic points for rest, water and enjoyment of the beautiful views.