Five members and one guest met at the Avon Causeway Hotel near Christchurch for a morning walk. We got off to what might be euphemistically described as a roundabout kind of start, after which we began ascending gradually across the heathland before a moderately steep climb up St Catherine's Hill.

Were it not for Martin, who walks here quite a lot, a vague ridge would have been passed pretty much unobserved. It is apparently the remains of ancient fortifications. We later came to two 20th century concrete reservoirs, which have been decorated with spray-graffiti, some of it very artistically done.

We continued for a while along the escarpment to reach a trig point and orientation table, where we were rewarded with fine views over the Avon valley, the Isle of Wight and Christchurch Priory. We returned down to the heath via a different route and made our way back along the route of the old Christchurch to Ringwood railway, which paralleled part of our outward journey.

Most of us took some refreshment back at the hotel. A BBC forecaster siad Tuesday woud probably be the best day of the week, which, in the light of what preceded and has followed, was hardly a glowing endorsement. Still we got round dry!