Farnham & District Ramblers offers an all-year-round programme of walks in the beautiful Surrey Hills, North East Hampshire, and South Downs National Park.
Celia G & Clive P
Our walk will include many Winchester landmarks. We begin by climbing St Catherine's Hill, which will be a short but steep ascent (there is an option to avoid this ascent, although you would be missing some spectacular views). We then descend to join the Itchen Navigation path, to the base of the Hockley Viaduct which is an abandoned railway track with plenty of heritage, after which we proceed to walk up and over the viaduct, with a slight incline and some steps. After descending from the viaduct, we proceed to the city through the area of St Cross, then along the river and into the city via Winchester College and the Cathedral Close. After a walk through the city, past The Abbey Gardens and King Alfred's statue, we rejoin the river and walk via Wharf Hill back to the car park. There are no stiles on the walk. There may be muddy sections, if we have had recent wet weather.
It would be possible to leave the walk in the city, if you wished to stop for lunch, as the the walk back to the car park is easy or you can catch a bus! The Handlebar Cafe is available for refreshments near to the end of the walk and is very good/recommended. The walk is dog friendly, but they must be kept on leads as we will be walking through farmland and the city centre.
East Winchester Park and Ride (St Catherine's), Area 7 (preferred), Garnier Road. £ 3.50 to park all day (Ringo code 2547). OS grid ref: SU487282 Post Code: SO23 8RA
