Fortunately, storm Floris had passed the previous day (though we in the south got away pretty lightly) so we were rewarded with a pleasantly warm and largely sunny day for our level walk round the Avon Valley area. There are several Avon rivers in Britain (Avon simply means river and is of Celtic origin) and this one flows through parts of Hampshire and Dorset to reach the coast at Christchurh.

Anyway, 7 of us, together with 2 lively labradors, set off from the Woolpack in timely fashion for our 4 1/2-mile relaxed stroll.  We followed a small stream for some distance then had a stretch of gravel farm track before picking up the Avon Valley Path back to Sopley. Here, most of us adjourned to the garden of the Woolpack for refreshments before making our ways home.