On our way to the New Forest, we stopped off at Avington Park for a
short walk out of the OS guide for the area. Basically it walked down one side
of the Itchen around the other side and back again.
We parked in the car park for Avington country park.. just a rough lay-by
really. We got the van under the trees and then set off up the driveway. On our
way past the lake to our right
As we walked on the big house appeared above the lake. We stayed on the driveway
as it climbed into a wooded area.
The road passed out of the park beside the lodge, and Bertie found a way into
the chalk stream beside the road.
The driveway mutated into a back road beyond the park and we walked along into
the village of Easton. In the village just past the first few houses we dropped
down a driveway to find the path beyond.
The path turned back behind the houses for a while, before heading for the
Itchen, in the trees
Crossing the Itchen on a sturdy bridge.
Looking down into the clear water below.
Up the other side to Martyr Worthy and its old church with apse. At the church
we turned back along the northern side of the Itchen, initially through grass
fields.
Leaving the river slightly to climb up towards the village of Itchen Abbas.
Final path into the outskirts of the village.
Out of the village and back across the river, heading back towards Avington. The
path here was part of several routes, and they all vied for space on the path
markers.
Beyond the river we turned back towards the park, and luckily there was a path
parallel to the road.
The more Victorian church of Avington and a waymark for pilgrims way. Then through the village and finally down the park road. Back to the start point.
