- Date: 16 April 2025
- Walk Leader: Sandy Arpino
- Distance: 13.9 miles
Petersfield Ramblers enjoy a delightful first day of walking on Mary’s Crescent
For their Spring 2025 adventure, Petersfield Ramblers decided to walk Mary’s Crescent – a 48 mile arc-shaped route from Portchester to Chichester, linking a number of Medieval churches dedicated to St Mary. The journey – devised by Dr Tim Goulder and described in his excellent book – conveniently segments the route into four day-long walks, each starting and ending at a St Mary’s church. We elected to start in the west at Portchester Castle, completing one segment per week, and so finishing after 4 weeks at Chichester Cathedral.
So, on a Wednesday in mid-April – with a promising weather forecast – 15 participants began the adventure. We gathered in Droxford – the end point of the day’s walking – spread across two car parking areas owing to the limited parking in the village. After managing the complexities of what to take and what to leave behind, four drivers with all the walkers set off for Portchester Castle – leaving behind four cars needed at the end. By 09:15, ahead of schedule, everyone was gathered in the castle car park, eager to be off.
A short, brisk march took us inside the Roman castle walls – reinforced by Henry I – and across the grassy sanctum to our first St Mary’s: Portchester’s priory church. Dedicated around 1150, the church is a shadow of its former self, much having been demolished since its days as a key component of an Augustinian priory.
We loved the community feel of the church with its extensive, volunteer-run tearoom and invitation to four-legged visitors.
It was then time to get some serious walking under our belts. Leaving the castle and its church, we headed west along the windy coast for a mile and a half before turning north through housing. An underpass took us safely ‘across’ a main road and the gentle ascent of Portsdown Hill began. After passing Portchester Crematorium, a rough wooded track guided us to a footbridge over the M27 and onwards, emerging in front of Fort Nelson.
Skirting the fort perimeter, we paused at Nelson’s Column (not the one in London!) for water and mini chocolate eggs. The wind buffeted us again as we hiked across an exposed, newly-planted field, before reaching the shelter of a little lane running due north to Boarhunt church. Being dedicated to St Nicholas, this simple Anglo-Saxon church was not on our official visiting list – but we peeped inside anyway as it looked so delightful! A coffee break in the churchyard – awash with bright celandines – was very welcome.
Refreshed, we briefly joined the Allan King Way along the edge of fields to a complex stile which everyone managed without injury. The next mile took us across another field, over footbridges and between horse paddocks to up-market Bere Farm. Then an incredibly straight north-westerly path led us to the busy A32 on the outskirts of Wickham village. Here we ascended the incline onto the Meon Valley Trail which we followed north for 4 miles – a gentle, level walk. The Meon Valley Trail links West Meon with Wickham along a disused railway track, following part of the Meon Valley. The railway line ran from Fareham to Alton transporting local livestock and agricultural produce – and passengers for a while – from 1903 to 1968.
Shortly after joining the trail we paused for lunch, overlooking impressive Wickham Church, which sits on a large sacred mound and dates back to 1120. Curiously this church is also dedicated to St Nicholas – so not on our agenda!
The walk along the sheltered trail was an absolute delight with spring flowers lining the banks and fresh lime-green leaves emerging on the over-hanging trees. Wild garlic was in flower; white anemones spread across woodland floors, alongside early bluebells; the yellows of swathes of celandines and clumps of dandelions jumped out of the shade; a few dainty violets and soft primroses remained, now past their prime; even the less common native euphorbia stole a prominent spot.
Passing under six bridges, we finally reached the point for leaving the Meon Valley Trail to head along the Wayfarers’ Walk – across meadows – to Droxford.
But before attaining our destination, the River Meon revealed some charms. A pleasant view west from the trail to fields newly carpeted with yellow rapeseed flowers, showed cows taking a paddle in the clear Meon waters. A couple of clumps of golden marsh marigolds drew our attention, whilst at a final footbridge a family with rolled up trousers and nets where fishing in the river, successfully holding a trio of little minnows in a very neon-pink bucket!
In good time – after 13.9 miles – we arrived at Droxford church: hooray, St Mary’s! Finding an unlocked door proved problematic but undaunted we entered via a side entrance to find some beautifully colourful, modern leaded-light windows. Their meaning eluded us; we were too tired.
So it was time to take a short stroll to the Bakers Arms where coffees, teas, beers, brownies and cheescakes were kindly made available. Refreshed, we headed back to our cars via Portchester – and so to home – eager for next week’s adventure.
Author: Sandy Arpino
Photography: Sandy Arpino