Day 3: East Meon to Winchester

Day 3; another downland day (that's hills if you're not from these parts). We started the day with Mass in the tiny church of the Assumption in East Meon.

then spilled out into this pretty Hampshire village, where the stream runs alongside the road.

Our first challenge was to climb Old Winchester Hill, site of an ancient hill fort. yes, you're right, it's on the top!

Then it was down again into the Meon valley, where there was still some green around.

From the bridge and the A32 it was just a short walk to the church of Ss Peter and Paul, Exton for prayers

and then only a few hundred yards to the Shoe Inn. The pub garden is across the road, and (as you can see) has "riverside frontage". Cooling and delightful - but you'd have wet feet if you sat like that today!

The only way out of a valley is up, so we climbed on what is nowadays the South Downs Way to the top of Beacon Hill (another Beacon Hill!)

We then followed the downs (and the current-day SDW) to Winchester (Bill's picture of Snoopy on Gander Down was clearly taken during planning in the spring!)

A number of us, in defiance of current-day pilgrimage etiquette, took a set of route notes from Fr Bill and route marched much of this long afternoon. I am frequently reminded of this by Martin, who claims that he had to run most of the way! Our reward was a refreshing pint before meeting up with the others at the Cathedral for prayers before the short walk to St Peter's, our home for the next two nights.