Meon Valley Circuit, South Downs

There was a small section of the South Downs Way that I had missed in the process of slicing it into day walks, and I contrived to add this with another small section of the Monarch's way and a couple of ideas from the OS walks book. Parking in East Meon in the rec ground car park then going south up Salt Hill to meet the SDW. This dropped down to Halnaker Lane, then West to Whitewool pond and up the slope to teh car park for Old Winchester Hill. Around the valley to the top of the iron age fort, then dropping down the opposite side. Leaving the SDW where it forked and follow the Monarch's way north to Hayden lane. Follow the lane to Warnford, cross the river and climb the opposite side to West Meon. Around the village and pick up the back road to East Meon until we could pick up the path into Westbury Park. Drop down to Drayton and finally across the hillside to return to East Meon.

Parking in the car park, then across the rec. ground beside the village hall and into the housing estate opposite. winding through the lanes and out the south side of the village.

Still heading south climbing up the slope beyond and over the top of the hill

Looking over to Small Down, where our path would take us. Through the woods and along the side of the field.

Then straight up the hill to the top of the field - a delightful stone bench

The view back to the valley from the bench.

On the top of the down the slope eased as we walked towards the aerials on the top of Salt hill. Cutting across the top of the trees to the SDW, turning back on ourselves.

Loosing almost all the height we had gained down a sunken rocky track crossing a back road at Combe Cross

The track merged into Halnaker lane with occasional views across to the path cutting over the fields.

Looking across to the slopes leading up to Old Winchester Hill. The SDW zigzagged through Whitewool Farm.

There was a car park, fishing lake and the first of many coffee vans for the day at Whitewool farm, before passing through to climb the other side.

The track angled across the slope with views up the Meon valley to the north.

The SDW rises to a back road (and the second coffee van) then followed the road for a short while to the car park. From the car park we could take the path parallel to the road to get tot eh head of the valley.

Parting ways with the back road we could look across to the iron age fort, following the access track.

Through the entracns gate to the top of the fort, and crossing the bumps on the top.

Looking south then north from the top of the fort.

Dropping down the other side of the fort, through the gate into the yew and ash woods, with views across towards Winchester.

At the junction of paths we left the SDW and picked up the Monarch's way. this led down the side of grass fields.

The track merged into a farm drive leading to Peake Farm, with a little bypass track around the buildings.

Then onto the farm drive going the other way - on the way we could look back up to the fort we had just descended from.

The driveway came out onto Hayden lane, and we followed this down hill into Warnford village, coming out opposite the George and Falcon pub. Here we missed the turning and headed off in the wrong direction for a while before realising and retreating.

Bertie was very happy to be able to jump into the Meon stream - this was the last we saw of it as it dried up shortly after this, even the watercress beds were overgrown. Just after Beaconsfield farm we picked up a path traversing the slope above the valley.

The path crossed the fields, until we could see the village of West Meon below. We were heading for the church.

Into the churchyard then turning down through a twitten to the A32 road.

Across the A32 and up the back road that led up to the Winchester hill car park. At a bend we cut off and picked up the Meon valley trail track - this had dropped off the dismantled railway as the bridge was missing at the road ahead.

Down the road towards Drayton - another dull section - until we could turn down the driveway to Westbury House (past a number of private road signs)

After passing the houses the drive mutated into a path heading into the woods - climbing up on a closed in path. At the top we got a brief glimpse over the rounded summit.

Then around Horsedown farm, and down through the overgrown fields beyond back into the woods.

The forest trail we were following bent sharply and we had to search to find our way which dropped out of the trees into a field, with views down to Drayton and the track back to East Meon.

Dropping down the track to Halnaker Lane and then on to the back road to Drayton. Through the village and picking up the footpath beside Drayton farm.