Old Winchester Hill

Walk Date - June 21st 2015
Walk Time - 2 hours 20 mins
Distance - 6.26 miles
Ascent - 549 feet




This was our first 'proper' walk back in June (21/6/2015), we started from a car park just off the A32 in West Meon, it's the old station car park for the now disused Meon Valley Railway line running from Alton to Gosport Meon Valley Railway - Wiki

We left the car park, back onto the road and turned right up the hill on Old Winchester Hill Lane, it was a steady climb for about 2 miles where we joined the South Downs Way onto the iron age hill fort of Old Winchester Hill Old Winchester Hill - Wiki This was the highest part of the walk.

Fantastic views across the south downs from the top of the hill and it was quite busy, we were lucky enough whilst on top of the hill to have the red arrows fly over on their way to an event in the Solent.

We stayed following the route of the South Downs Way, down a very steep chalk escarpment (see the altitude chart just after the 2.5 mile mark, and took this picture at the bottom

The path was good although a bit muddy in places, and followed a gradual downhill route round the edges of a couple of fields


Just after the 4 mile mark we left the South Downs Way and headed right and north onto the old Meon Valley Railway, this disused railway line has some of the most amazing bridges and this wasn't to be the last time we would include a section on a walk (it's nice and flat and a good solid path to finish off a walk) it was another two miles along the railway back to the car on a gentle incline









We didn't visit a local pub for a post walk drink and luncheon as we had a discount voucher for a local pub/restaurant so I took the liberty of 25% off my meal and went there.

For our first proper walk this really was a good start, it showed us what we could achieve in around 2 to 3 hours of walking (and not at any fast pace), it had a good climb although not massive (not much in Hampshire is that high)