West Meon and Old Winchester Hill

Straddling the Meon Valley, Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill are the last real climbs along the South Downs Way if you are walking from east to west, the final miles of the route traversing rolling downland. Combining both makes a fine day's walk. Despite its name, the former is situated quite a distance from Winchester itself, some 11 miles or so south-east of the city. The hill is crowned by an impressive Iron Age hillfort within which are a number of Bronze Age barrows. On a clear day the views - which stretch to the Isle of Wight are excellent. Starting from the car park at the former West Meon Station, the mid-point of the Meon valley Railway, which ran between Fareham and Alton from 1903-1955, the walk follows the disused railway (now the Meon Valley Trail) for its initial leg. Thereafter, stretches of both the Monarch's Way and South Downs Way are followed, with a good pub at Exton providing an ideal halfway refreshment stop.