A Circular Walk from East Meon

Having had plenty of dry cold weather, and in particular frosty conditions, we decided to have a walk 'off-road' and onto paths and bridleways. This walks starts in the quaint Hampshire village of East Meon. Parking is limited on the road, however there is a small car park which is signposted through the village centre.
The walk starts from the church. Enter the church grounds and join the path to the left side of the church. The path rises up a short hill but avoid the path right going up to Park Hill. (photos: Right, East Meon church. )
Continue straight over the stile and through a couple of fields which leads to Chalk Dell Cottages. The path actually pass down the gravel drive of the cottages and onto the country lane. Cross the lane and over the stile into the fields. (signposted) (photo: Frosty view of Park Hill)
The easy-to-follow path passes over a couple of stiles and straight through the fields to Drayton Farm. (photo: Hazy view to Drayton Cottages)
Join the main road at the farm, turn left and past Drayton Cottage ..... a very pleasant looking Bed and Breakfast. The River Meon meanders through the fields opposite the cottage. (photos: Left, . Nosey sheep!)
Just past Drayton Cottage a metalled track leads uphill, passing a couple of houses on the right. This track follows the edge of Hen Wood below Emmer's Down. (photo: Looking down on the River Meon.)
Once clear of the woods, the track joins the Southdowns Way below Henwood Down and continues on the Meon Valley Cycle Trail reaching a country lane at Combe Cross. (photos: Joining the Southdowns Way.)
Cross the lane and follow the track to the right of Combe House, climbing steadily uphill to the top of Salt Hill. This is at the 'dizzy' height of 747 feet above sea level. (photo: Cautionary warning to motorist at Combe Cross.)
The old Royal Navy Communications School, HMS Mercury, (now closed) is a couple of hundred yards further on. Cross the stile on the left at the top of Salt Hill. The path is not visible on the ground but looking east across the shallow valley can be seen the finger post for the path along Small Down. (photos: Looking back towards Combe Cross.)
Once on Small Down, pass through the gate at the finger post, through the next gate, then turn right and follow the fence down hill. Cross a stile and join the farm track at the bottom of the hill. (photo: Valley view over Combe.)
Follow the track left for a couple of hundred yards and bear right into the corner as the track moves left uphill. Pass through the farm gate, go to the bottom of the short drop, then left over the stile. The path follows the hedge on the right. (photos: An hazy distant East Meon.)
After a short walk, the track bears left to the disused building, but the footpath continues straight on over the ploughed field. Duncombe Farm can be seen to the left. (photo: Looking towards Duncombe Farm.)
The path continues through the fields, eventually meeting a stile. This leads into a parking area that joins the road near a school. Turn right, follow the road round the left bend, then right to join the main road through the village. A left turn takes you over the River Meon, past The George public house, and back to the church ..... the start of the walk. (photos: Left, Right, disused farm building.)