Going for a walk
  • Going for a Walk
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Wayfarer's Walk

Picture
View across Meon Valley
Picture
Shaded path on way to Hambledon

(Swanmore) Soberton to Widley (Cosham)

Saturday 25 August 2018
PictureAlpaca Surprise
                  A beautiful day was promised so I returned to the Wayfarer’s Walk – last visited in Spring. The bus from Winchester to Swanmore was very slow (took more than an hour) so I was really happy to at last get walking. I followed the King’s Way for the couple of miles to the trail to find that the fruit trees in the orchards, which were covered in spring blossom and kept my spirits high on the approach to Swanmore in Spring, were now loaded with apples and pears. All that was left of the magnificent yellow rapeseed field was a bit of stubble. However, the views across the Meon Valley were magnificent, just possibly surpassed by the beautiful sky. After crossing the A32 and then the River Meon, there was one short uphill stretch to go before the King’s Way meets the Wayfarer’s Walk.
          Now, at last, I was back on the trail and, after walking steadily but gently uphill for a while, I was rewarded with stunning views. I felt on top of the world as I strode along the grassy path. The blue sky and the green grass created wonderful scenery. After crossing several fields, the path entered woodland near a farm and as I was getting rather peckish and found a nice place for my picnic lunch. I sat down on a log and started eating, only to see an alpaca walking towards me. I was in no mood to share my sandwich and packed up to continue the walk. The path now led downhill through lovely woodland towards the village of Hambledon. As I arrived in the village I heard lively music and was attracted enough to leave the trail and head down the high street to find out what’s happening. I was lucky to find the village fair in full swing and the glass of Pimms I enjoyed while listening to the folk music was well worth the small entrance fee.

PictureFootbridge near Sheepwash Farm
        Leaving Hambledon, the trail went steeply uphill and I stopped briefly at the top to catch my breath and admire the view of the village and the downs beyond. Aware that the afternoon has advanced considerably and I still had a long way to go I quickened my pace and crossed field after field just stopping every now and again to reassure myself that I was on the right track. The map was essential here as signposts were few and far between.  Eventually I reached Denmead. A glass or cup of something refreshing would have been nice, but I chose instead to ‘eat up’ the miles. After Denmead I had to follow a road for a short while and then cross a golf course. I was a bit weary of flying golf balls but emerged unscathed and continued walking to Closewood Farm Piggery. I’ve never seen so many pigs and certainly have never seen pigs run so fast. I tried to get a closeup photo but couldn’t get near enough. They were terrified of me! The walk now continued pleasantly, first along and across a little stream and then through woodland coppices and meadows, eventually reaching Purbrook Heath Road. After following this road for a while, I was pleased when the trail continued southwards along a pleasant track, first passing playing fields and then along a tree-lined ditch, before skirting along two sides of a maize field. I had now reached Widley. A hedged path at the back of the houses provided the final stretch of today’s Wayfarer’s Walk to reach the B2177 road. Here the Wayfarer’s turns east towards Emsworth, but that’s for another day.
          As the sun was going down I enjoyed some fantastic views of Portsmouth harbour, the unmistakeable Spinnaker Tower, and ships and ferries sailing in the distance. I was not really looking forward to the walk into Cosham, but because of the views and pleasant parkland it was surprisingly pleasant. Unfortunately, I’d just missed a train and had a lengthy wait. I walked back along the High Street to buy some food from Tesco’s and munched this as I waited for the train. Just as well, as the journey home was anything but straightforward. I arrived in Winchester, expecting there to be a fast train to Reading but no train was leaving anytime soon towards Basingstoke and beyond (trespasser at Southampton station). Eventually the rail company organised taxis to take us to Basingstoke. I then had another wait of nearly an hour for a very slow replacement bus to Reading. It’s been a long day!

My highlights
  • Extensive views on the Somerton Downs
  • Hambledon Village
  • First glimpse of the sea
Wildlife:
  • Sheep, cows, pigs and horses
  • Bees, bumblebees and a few butterflies
  • Birds (songbirds, magpies, crows, pheasants)
 Useful information
Transport: 
  • Train Reading to Winchester; bus Stagecoach No 69 (Winchester-Fareham) to Swanmore
  • Return:  Train Cosham to Reading via Winchester. Should have been straightforward but a trespasser and engineering works combined to make it a three hours plus marathon.
Refreshments:
  • Winchester
  • Swanmore
  • Hambledon
  • Denmead
Public Conveniences:
  • Winchester
Picture
On the way to Denmead
Picture
First glimpse of the sea!
Click here for more photos from this walk
Continue to Section 8 (Cosham to Emsworth)
  • Going for a Walk
  • National Trails
    • The Thames Path
    • North Downs Way
  • Long Distance Paths
    • The Capital Ring
    • Wayfarers Walk
    • The London Loop
    • The Three Castles Path
    • The Great Stones Way
    • The Vanguard Way
  • Canal Walks
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk >
      • Reading to Calcot
      • Calcot to Woolhampton
      • Woolhampton to Hungerford
      • Hungerford to Great Bedwyn
      • Great Bedwyn to Pewsey Wharf
      • Pewsey to Devizes
      • Devizes to Bradford-on-Avon
      • Bradford-on-Avon to Bath
    • Grand Union Canal Walk >
      • Brentford to West Drayton
      • West Drayton to Croxley Green
      • Croxley Green to Berkhamsted
      • Berkhamsted to Leighton Buzzard
  • Rambles
    • Lockdown Walks
  • Further Afield
    • Switzerland
    • France >
      • Avignon
    • Gran Canaria
    • La Palma
    • Turkey >
      • Lycian Way
  • Photo Gallery
    • Thames Path Photos 1
    • Thames Path Photos 2
    • Thames Path Photos 3
    • Thames Path Photos 4
    • Thames Path Photos 5
    • North Downs Way Photos 1
    • North Downs Way Photos 2
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Photos 2
    • Three Castles Path Photos
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 1
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 2
    • Grand Union Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Vanguard Way Photos
    • Gran Canaria Photos
    • Avignon Photos
    • Lycian Way Photos