Start – Droxford, End – Denmead, Distance – 5.5 miles, Difficulty – easy

This was the shortest leg of the walk and was really more of a late afternoon stroll on an early June weekend under perfect clear blue skies. From Droxford we passed through the churchyard, crossed the River Meon – another crystal clear chalk stream – and continued heading south towards Soberton. Apparently this was part of a smuggling route in the 18th Century; hard to imagine today. As it was such a beautiful, warm day, Droxford was busy with far more people walking than we’ve seen on the rest of the Wayfarers Walk although soon enough it was just us on most of the tracks.

The path briefly took us through woodland before a short uphill path rewarded us with more spectacular scenery. Crossing another open field with grazing sheep, there was the most astonishing screeching of swifts – there must have been two dozen of them, scythe shaped, silhouetted black, soaring against the azure sky at a phenomenally fast pace. These incredible birds have arrived for the summer from Africa and are one of my favourite birds, so I proceed to share the little knowledge that I have with the Tribe, who are kind enough to listen. They become more interested when I tell them that swifts spend almost their entire lives on the wing including sleeping, eating and mating, only landing to nest. They pair for life returning to the same nesting site each year. Watching their curved shapes whirling above the field was an absolute privilege and definitely the highlight of this leg!

Passing through the wooded Litheys Hanger we walked towards Hambledon’s Saxon village Church of St Peter and Paul. Hambledon is best known as the cradle of cricket as it is home to the historic cricket ground of Broadhalfpenny Down where the first First Class cricket match between Hampshire and an All England XI was played in June 1772. Hampshire won. It’s another pretty Hampshire village.

We walked up Speltham Hill before crossing the organic and carbon neutral farmland of Rushmore Farm where the land turned from chalk to clay. And then we’re walking down a path bordered by a manicured high hedge that took us to Denmead and our car. End of the short leg.