The next AAC walk in the South that I could attend was close to Winchester and started at the Cheesefoot head car park, followed the South Downs way until it turned south then continued on towards Cheriton. At Hill houses the route turned north to Sevington farm then over the Itchen and a loop around to Tichborne. Lunch in the pub then a more direct route back to the car park.
We all met at the car park - now it is a known campervan stop and had 4 or 5 overnighters there - however there was enough spaces left for us all. Form there we followed the South Downs way as it skirted around the bowl where the Boomtown festival is held (and Eisenhower addressed the troops pre D-Day). Down to the track passing the tank driving experience and along it Eastward.
The track undulates and crossed Rodfield Lane and on to Gander down.
Leaving the SDW as it turned towards Holden farm we continued across the fields towards Hill Houses (near Cheriton). Initially through grass fields then on a chalk track.
At Hill houses we continued north over fields to Sevington farm where we crossed a back road and the river Itchen. the fields on this side were ploughed, but with a defined path across. A loop brought us back to the Itchen and a back road led to the village of Tichborne, and the pub.
Lunch stop at the pub - selective menu but good food and prompt service. After the usual hour and half we set off back. By now it was drizzling slightly. The path led around the church and back across fields - the first was ploughed but the others grass.
The path dropped onto a farm track that led to a further grass field, then a short climb to reach the SDW way about 1km from where we had left it.
Now back along the way we had set out this morning. The rain had stopped and we were granted a rainbow just to the north. All that remained was to walk past the tank driving and back up the track along the top of boomtown back to the car park.
