Winchester Circular

15 June. Ten of us set out from Winchester station to be greeted by a full downpour of rain. The walk through the city was as beautiful as ever, though the river Itchen was really full and fast moving.

The sun shone us as we climbed St Catherine’s hill and there were good views of our afternoon destination of the Hospital of St Cross (‘the alms house of noble poverty’) and the hills beyond from the hill brow.

We navigated rabbit holes as we crossed the infamous Twyford Down- the site of the  protest and contested building of the M3 motorway in 1991/2.  We discovered  a commemorative ‘anti- monument’ inscribed with the names of the politicians and builders who were responsible for driving the plans through despite such strong activist opposition.

We then strode across a wheat field ( barley?) to ominous clouds above, crossing the golf course to meet an extremely long and overgrown hedged path. Sue’s secateurs were needed at many stages, but eventually we re-joined the river meadows in time for the heavens opening again. Picnicking being out of the question we splashed our way to the Bridge pub at Shawford to recompose and dry out. One of us had the foresight to get the train back to Winchester whereas the rest of us got soaked all over again.

The short cut to the St Cross – meeting hall for the distressed gentlefolk who live there- was not so short so it was a doubly bedraggled group of walkers that invaded the calm of the tea room. The cakes and tea lived up to our expectations and happily fuelled walkers finished the day, across the Itchen meadows in bright sunshine.

Thanks to those who sent pictures especially Mary Jane and Christine M. It was a day more suited to the swans on the river than to intrepid ramblers and thanks to all who completed the challenging day in true MR good humour.

Sue C.