This week, in an attempt to start shifting a growing lockdown paunch, I went on a lovely, but slightly breathless at times, 7½-mile circular walk starting at East Meon Church.

The outing was also a chance for me to connect the dots, having walked parts of the route on different days before.

There is parking in Workhouse Lane; go past All Saints Church to the edge of the village about 100 yards further on and turn left into the car park -- if that’s full or closed, follow the lane to the village hall, park and you can join the walk there.

Once back at the church, why not step inside and admire the historic Norman building now churches are open after lockdown.

It perches on a slight rise overlooking the village and is believed to have replaced a much older Saxon church; its magnificent spire was added in 1230.

Leaving the church, head south down Church Street with its simple but beautiful flint almshouses on the right – when did we lose the ability to build such homes, bearing in mind these were the Victorian equivalent of council houses? – and turn right into the High Street.

East Meon is a lovely village, and was once a working village – it’s now got its share of second homes and relocated London folk and its farming way of life has been very nearly obscured by too many coats of Farrow and Ball paint.

Continue along Chapel Street past the school, and at a corner take a signposted footpath on your left heading south to Lower Farm, owned by the Atkinson family.

Cross over the road here and follow the footpath past farm buildings until you come to a gate opening on to a track and a steep but short climb up to the South Downs Way.

The ascent provides some lovely views back across the village – always a good reason to stop; well, for me every break is a chance regain my equilibrium!

At the top turn right on to South Downs Way and follow it with its outstanding views on your right, and mysterious Germanic-looking woodland on the left.

After about a mile it crosses the Clanfield to East Meon road; the temptation here is to drop down into the Meon and have a pint in the village, but if you press on the beer will taste far better. Cross over the road, and head along the road to West Meon past Hyden Cross and on to the Sustainability Centre.

The centre is all that is left of HMS Mercury, formerly a signals training school for the Royal Navy.

Some of the navy land was sold off to developers and some multi-million pound homes built there. On a still day you can hear dulcet London tones.

Past the centre’s entrance the road bears sharp left, and on your right is the footpath north over Wether Down and its two towering communication masts, paragliders and spectacular views – it’s one of my favourite hills.

Drop down to Coombe Cross, and join the byway known as Halnaker Lane and out on to the road past Drayton Cottages.

Carefully cross the road and follow it over the River Meon, then take the footpath to the right by the hedge, just before Drayton Farm.

The river, known as the ‘Swift one’, is typical of a chalk stream where the water has been filtered through the chalk for thousands of years.

This lovely river has seen the successful reintroduction of water voles, led by South Downs National Park rangers.

Follow the path to Chalk Dell Cottages – again there are spectacular views – and you walk through breathtaking countryside that has been farmed and conserved for hundreds of years, then take the footpath opposite the cottages on the other side of the lane.

Keep right until you walk down next to the church.

And now is the ideal time to try a pint in the Izaak Walton pub, named after the avid 17th-century angler and author who died in Winchester on December 15, 1683.