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Post date: 11-Jun-2019
This 4 mile walk starts at the Rufus Stone car park (grid ref SU 270 125) signposted from the A31. An alternative start and finish would be the Sir Walter Tyrrell Pub which welcomes dogs and serves good food. Parts of this walk can be a little muddy in wet weather.
- Cross the road from the car park and read the inscription on the Rufus Stone. Here, it is said, King William II was killed by a stray arrow in a hunting "accident".Continue past the stone south west, slightly up hill until you reach the cycle track.
- Turn right and continue until the road.
- Cross the road and follow the path as it curves to the right, towards the Ocknell Campsite.
- Skirt to the right of the campsite NW, following the direction of the road on your right. This was the Stoney Cross Airfield during World War 2. The line of the runways can still be seen in satellite pictures.
- As you walk, you may be able to detect a change in vegetation (short grass between the bushes) marking a runway. Concrete blocks either side are remains of the runway lights.
- There is an information board in the next car park that you pass.Just after the concrete car park with the information board (on your right), cross the road and take the patched concrete/tarmac track at right angles to the road. In summer this has a Long Beach Campsite sign. This is all part of the old wartime airfield. The now demolished buildings here were used after the war to house people from Southampton whose houses had been destroyed by the bombing.
- You can deviate here, continuing up the road to the next car park where there is often an ice cream van. After refreshment, return to the track into Long Beach Campsite.
- Follow the cycle track through the campsite and out of the other side. Where the cycle route turns sharp left, continue straight on until the concrete road ends and keep going.
- Follow the path, through the little ford, up the hill, over the open grass to the Sir Walter Tyrrell Pub.
- Turn right at the pub and follow the path back to the Rufus Stone car park.
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