All sections Next: Winchester>Old Sarum Previous: Liss>South Downs WayIf you're doing the KAW in the prescribed order as a clockwise circuit from Winchester, then this will be the final section (but I still have to do the Ridgeway and Thames Path to Reading).
On this rather grey late summer day, I took the train to Petersfield and climbed back to where I left off the KAW above Buriton. I then followed the KAW to Winchester, which mainly uses the South Downs Way. It was a 4 mile climb to the start from Petersfield Station, then some 30 miles to Winchester station, taking me some 7 hours in all. It is a rough ride, with a mixed bag of surfaces, and lots of climbs (=walks) and descents, rewarded by views across chalk downland, especially from highpoints like Butser Hill and Old Winchester Hill.
Here's a map.
Here's the story in photos.
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| On the train to Petersfield: bit of a tight squeeze |
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| Track ascending from Halls Hill entrance to QECP |
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| Track to right descends to..... |
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| ... QECP Visitor Centre cafe |
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| The monster climb up Butser (Buster?) Hill |
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| Looking back to the busy A3 |
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| Distant views were limited on this rather cloudy day |
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| Typical SDW pics |
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| The track descending from Wether Down is narrow and gets stoney: take care! |
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| Concrete track descending to Meon Springs |
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| Cafe at the Meon Springs fishery |
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| Tough ascent from Meon Springs |
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| Ramparts of Old Winchester Hill |
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| OWH is popular viewpoint (no cycling, push your bike) |
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| Tricky descent from OWH |
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| Great descent to Meon Valley |
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| Meon Valley railway trail |
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| Ploughing in 21st century England |
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| SDW north of the A272 crossing |
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| Cheesefoot Head |
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| Leave SDW and head on 'Pilgrims Trail' |
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| Bridleway heading into Winchester from the South (bit of a sting in the tail) |
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| Cross M3 on this bridge |
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| St Catherine's nature reserve |
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| Handlebar Cafe on the old railway route into Winchester |
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| Obligatory call on King Alfred |
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