On the freshly charged scooter to Winchester, the train to Southampton, a free bus to the Town Quay for the start of the walk, (supposedly to Hamble although I didn’t make it that far.)
I started with a look around the Quay, with car docks, ferries and restaurants. Strange shiny dome over the water:
Across the river was like the other side of the tracks. The old Vosper yard being demolished and grim old shops, sewerage smell.
A sad old bench along the entire wall of a works building. The security guard asked what I was doing when I took this: ‘Just having a look’:
Glad to reach the shoreline, I continued along the Solent Way to Weston, with its 60s blocks and 30s shelters:
Past the blocks and West Wood is another type of dwelling altogether, Netley Castle, and behind it the ruins of Netley Abbey.
Then through the village with bright terraces and cottages to the water again at Netley Hard, and into the Royal Victoria Country Park. The sea wall has crumbled here, material sucking into the sea at high tide, so the Way goes through the park, which was once the site of a huge hospital used from the 1860s until after WWII. Half a mile long! The chapel remains, along with some of the outbuildings, now used for Police Training, including what was the asylum. The chapel is a visitor centre.
This is where I cut the walk short, wandering around the park, watching a bit of a dog show, or agility contest, and then through the marshes back to the village.
Finishing up at the station to catch the train back to Southampton Central. A walk of great variety, seeing so much in a short afternoon’s walking.
The Hamble adventure must wait till next time, probably starting at Netley, walking the remainder of the coast to Hamble, across the ferry to Warsash and up to Bursledon…
Chithurst Walk
We started at Iping Church in West Sussex, heading east towards Chithurst. In the first field behind the church, with horse trial paraphernalia in the middle and close cut grass, a dog joined us, running around and barking excitedly. He came with us as far as the stream whereby he stood in the water waiting for us to do something that usually happens when he stands in the stream.
By now the sun was out. The next field, just before Chithurst was horsey too, with new creosote fences enclosing thoroughbreds, one with a very young pony.
We passed through Chithust just south of the Monastery, heading northe through an orchard of a variety of tall narrow trees, maybe being grown for towns and cities, then into a lovely meadow with views of the South Downs. The soil around here was very sandy, the paths being like those to a beach.
Then it was into the woods, Wick Wood then Hammer Wood. There was a garden open for charity so we had a look but it was more of a garden party, with creepy jazz music and men in cream suits cooking meat. We about turned, haunted by the music through the dark woods, floowing the steep bank. Very old trees. The last of the wood was managed by the monastery, where monks and nuns sit in solitude in huts among the trees. We left the woods where the nuns have their accommodation. Tibetan prayer flags in an English wood.
Then it was up the dark sunken lane and back into the sun, to follow the Lane back to Iping, home of the Invisible Man by H G Wells.
Cheesefoot Head Walk
Not a ‘Head Walk’, whatever that is, but Cheesefoot Head is a viewpoint at the western end of the South Downs, close to Winchester.
I parked the scooter in the small carpark, after a very windy ride. The gales were strong up on the downs but that was the point, to feel the wind high up, warm on a sunny July morning.
I headed south through field of wheat, swaying and flowing in the wind, switching directions, oceanic. At least, I think it was wheat.
It was an open walk, with great views
Sometimes poppies among the grain
Then crossed the A272, heading north along Rodfield Lane, before picking up the South Downs Way, feeling like I was in the grain belt of America
The tone changed as I came upon a field being converted into some kind of tank playground, exposing the chalk beneath. Then it was into the trees to return through Temple Valley to Cheesfoot, with views over Chilcomb down.
Sunday Walk – Salt Hill
A bright sunny Sunday, a scooter ride over Old Winchester Hill and beyond into new territory to me.
After passing the mysterious, deserted, HMS Mercury, barbed wire and cold war, I parked the Vespa at Hyden cross and set off east along the South Downs Way. A shaded path along the edge of Hyden Wood before turning north, downhill towards East Meon. True Faith by New Order in my head: I feel so extraordinary, something’s got a hold on me, I get this feeling I’m in motion, a sudden sense of liberty.
The path leads down through sheep pastures to the source of the River Meon, springs forming shaded ponds. Just before that, a little dog ran out of its garden all self-important and barky, giving me a nip on the ankle, then ran off. “Little bastard!” I shouted loud in anger.
Then across the lane and up Small Down, learning a lesson from a few years back to take the easy way up – it rises 100m in about that – Small, yes, but steep. Beautiful views to East Meon.
Up on Salt Hill, paragliders floating in the blue, model gliders, hangliders lined up on the ground.
Then back past the gloom of Mercury, no doubt waiting to be redeveloped, to the Sustainability Centre, holding The Hampshire Green Fair. Traditional crafts, games for kids, woodworkers, yurts and tepees, a band playing in a hot tent. I bought a wooden heart for Caroline and some Romany clothes pegs. Later I learnt that the nearby Leydene Park is the last stately home built in England, in the 1920s.
Falling Awake 