East Meon

Sylvia Saunders

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A beautiful circular walk which starts from the pretty village of East Meon. I have revised the start point of this walk from Ye Olde George pub to the (recently discovered by me!) large public car park. This gives a much better start and finish to the walk through some of the quiet and pretty lanes in the village, as well as plenty of free parking for many cars. The route is varied and full of breathtaking Hampshire views. Starting off along field-paths to the hamlet of Drayton, you then enjoy a walk through Henwood, join the South Downs Way to Coombe Cross, then climb the wooded trackway to the top of Salt Hill. On a clear day you can see for miles all around from here! After walking along the crest of the open downland you descend and by way of field-paths, return to East Meon ready to do justice to the superb home cooking at Ye Olde George! Or maybe try the Izaac Walton which has now reopened and run by a delightfully friendly couple.

England - South England - Hampshire - South Downs

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

8/22/2018 - Sylvia Saunders

Thank you, James, for bringing this to my attention. I checked the walk out today and the ‘Bull in the field’ sign is still there. However I’m pleased to report that there wasn’t a bull! You could see that cattle had been there recently though. I’m not suggesting that you take any risks, but it is only a small stretch of field to cross between the kissing-gates and you can have a good look up the hill before running the gauntlet! I’ve reported signs like this to the footpath officers in the past but have never got anywhere. So sorry that your walk was spoilt.

7/16/2018 - James Brinkworth

Having done this walk many times in the past I was looking forward to a lovely stroll around the South Downs. However, just after the church graveyard after waypoint 5, I came across a sign on the gate into the field that read 'Warning Bull in field'! How disappointing.. Are farmers allowed to put bulls in a field that has a public right of way? We abandoned the walk and went to the pub to drown our sorrows! I have a photo of the gate and sign if anyone needs it?

2/25/2018 - Anne England

This is a lovely walk as it is. However, you can extend it to 9.3 miles in the following way: At Waypoint 10, continue straight on the South Downs Way. When you reach the road at the top, turn left, continuing to follow the SDW. After about half a mile, you pass a junction with a triangular grass patch with Hyden Farm Lane on your right. Continue along the SDW, to another road. Cross here, heading straight over to continue along the SDW. Continue for another half-mile or so until you reach a signpost pointing ahead and left. Turn left, leaving the SDW, and descend across a field and down a lovely sunken grassy track. Pass through a gate and across another field to reach a yard with farm buildings. Walk straight through, following a wide track. You'll pass a carved wooden owl on your right! Follow this track downhill. At the bottom it swings right and then left, passing a house on the left. The track then curves left over a bridge and a stream. Here is the source of the River Meon. Pass through a farmyard (you may see llamas in the field on the right). Just after the farmhouse, take the footpath on the right, through a small field to a stile at the field corner. Cross the stile, and then turn right, crossing the road. After a short distance, you'll see a footpath sign on the left. Turn left here. Follow the footpath along the field edge with the hedge on your right. At the corner, turn left, and shortly afterwards, turn right through a gap in the hedge. Head straight uphill, and turn right at the field corner. Pass through the gap and walk along the bottom of the next field to meet the gate at Waypoint 13, rejoining the main walk.

2/17/2013 - Anne England

Glorious sunny February day for this walk. Many of the stiles now replaced with new kissing-gates. Just watch out for the turn-off at way point 14; the notes tell you to take care to pick the right gate, and that the correct one is marked with a footpath sign. It's not marked now! After you turn sharp right at the field corner, you'll find it as the field goes into a little point. If you reach a gate into the copse marked 'no public right of way' you've gone too far.

3/6/2011 - Louisa Felice

Did this walk on a lovely cold crisp March day. Make sure that you wear sturdy boots as the going was muddy and slippery over quite a few of the sections. Beautiful scenery and very rewarding views from the top of Salt Hill. Keep an eye out for deer in the woods between point 8 and 9 - we saw 2! Also saw newborn lambs in the barns at Drayton Farm! Fab walk which we will be doing again!

11/1/2010 - Lyn Lovell

Great walk with amazing views. First part of walk has a few stiles that my dogs needed to be carried over. Well worth the effort

9/1/2010 - Kevin Hardy

Have just completed this walk with my 10 year old son and his friend. The weather was fantastic and we wre lucky enough to be able to watch people gliding off the top of Salt Hill, fantastic! Took full advantage of the hospitality of Ye Olde George, and beat the boys at Jenga. Highly recomended.

5/19/2010 - Sylvia Challis

This is a fantastic walk, and the directions were excellent, made all the better for me as my son has a chocolate labrador so we pretened he was on the walk with us and took our directions from "Sid". Thanks again

4/15/2010 - Ian Flower

We had not visited this area before so very many thanks for a superb introduction. Great views and Pub all made even better by Spring sunshine.

7/23/2009 - Walkingworld Administrator

This walk was updated July 2009.

11/1/2006 - Gill Perkins

Absolutely super! We had a great day - the pub at the beginning and end - ye old George was superb and made our dog very welcome.