To combine a walk with a visit to Beaulieu International Motor Museum, Damian and I are walking backwards – or rather eastwards today.

Arriving late in the darkness of the Hampshire countryside I stumble around in the front garden of my B&B, trying to find the main entrance.

Sadly there are no cruise ships in Southampton harbour this time, but it’s business as usual for the clunky Hythe Ferry and rattly pier train taking me to a bus that will drop me a mile and a half away from Lepe Country Park: the summer beach bus to Lepe stopped running last month.

Today my partner Damian is joining me for a walk and as usual when I walk with other people I don’t take many notes so this will be a short post.

I have planned a short walk today in order to be back to meet Damian this afternoon. He is coming to see the cruise liners and join me for a walk tomorrow – I’m told the best place to see the ships is Hythe Marina.

It’s going to be another hot day and for the umpteenth time I scold myself for not rising above my aversion to shopping, to go and buy some lighter walking boots…….next week maybe. Following directions I head for the small bright pink building on the shoreline which is the shelter for the Hamble ferry.

Clarence Pier funfair is resting this morning and the air is clear and still. I am one of very few people out walking along the promenade in the early morning sun.

After a little searching I find my way down to the Promenade, a wide path circling a pond. Known as Fisherman’s Walk, the information sign tells me that it was originally built to enable fishermen to gain access to the oyster beds off Haying Island.