12 members of the group gathered for a 2 mile walk from The Dolphin pub in Hursley,  bearing umbrellas against the intermittent ‘light’ showers.

Walking through the village towards the old forge building allowed a chance to appreciate the 16th century timber-framed houses which we normally whizz by on our way to Winchester. The Old Saddlery still has a hinged counter under the window.
Passing behind the forge, we turned right up Collins Lane, which we followed round to join Port Lane where an eagle-eyed walker spotted three deer in the middle of a field.  We strolled back down to the village, stopping to admire The Audit House behind the King’s Head, where Hursley Park tenants used to pay their rents in the grand corner room. We ended with a quick visit to the opposite church, improved by John Keble when he was the incumbent. It has an interesting set of corbels on the porches, one being a young Queen Victoria, probably not amused at the moss growing on her crown.

We dried off over a cheerful coffee in The Dolphin.