Winchester Water Meadows
On this walk. children will enjoy taking the high road along the viaduct, exploring the ruins of Wolvesey Palace and the many opportunities to get close to the River Itchen.
The Basics
Time: 1hr 45mins
Distance: 5.8km
Terrain: Well surfaced, flat paths. Some pavements. Meadows if doing the full route.
Pushchairs: Yes, with a slight adaptation to the route
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: The Handlebar Café or many options in the city centre
Toilets: At the cafe
Parking: There is a small, free car park on Garnier Road, beside the bridge (Postcode: SO23 9NP - W3W: residual/lads/rinses). If this is full there are other options including the nearby park and ride or using a city centre car park and starting the loop at another point.
Leave plenty of time for this walk beside the River Itchen as there is a wealth of diversions on route including St Catherine’s Hill, Hockley Viaduct, Hospital of St. Cross, Wolvesey Palace and Winchester Cathedral.
The Route
Leave the car park with the river on your right and follow the wide path beside the Itchen Navigation. You will soon pass a gate on your left that give you the opportunity to climb St. Catherine’s hill as a diversion. We have covered this walk before in a separate post.
If you are not climbing the hill, continue along the riverside path until you go under a brick bridge. Just after the bridge, you will be presented with a choice of three paths. The right hand one will take you across to the other side of the water meadows and is suitable for pushchairs. The middle path will take you up onto Hockley Viaduct. Although you can get onto the viaduct with a pushchair, you will not be able to continue at the other side. The description will now follow the route over the viaduct and pushchairs can pick up the description again at point 4.
Cross the viaduct and go through a barrier on the other side to emerge at a busy road. Turn left and walk along the grass verge for a short distance before spying a narrow and well hidden footpath on your left that will be virtually behind you by the time you see it. Go down the path getting away from the road and the arches of the viaduct will come into view. Take the gate at the end of the path to go under the viaduct and come out in a cow meadow. Do not be afraid, the cows are behind an electric fence. Walk to the opposite side of the meadow to another gate and then enter another meadow. The path is less obvious in this one, but just stick in the same direction and head to the gate on the other side.
Here the route meets up again with those that chose the shorter/pushchair friendly route. Cross over the paved lane and go into the gate, entering the land of Hospital of St Cross. Stick to the same path the whole way as you pass the monastery on your left and glimpses of the river to your right. There is a tea room at the monastery, open to the public.
Continue along the path in the same direction. You will have some more glimpses of the river, including a shallow spot where dogs and children may like to paddle. Keep going past a church, meeting Garnier Road. If you want to cut the route short, a right turn here along the road will take you back to your car.
To see more of the sights on this walk, continue over the road and along the riverside path, soon passing Winchester College on your left. After the college, the river turns a sharp right and the path ends at a road called College Walk. Turn right here and walk along the street. Take the first left and along this street you will see signs for the entrance to Wolvesey Palace (English Heritage, free).
To head home, go right following the signs for The South Downs Way. Follow the curve to the left and take the first little bridge over the river beside an old mill (or keep going here for the city centre and cathedral). Turn right after the bridge along a residential street, Wharf Hill. Pass Wharf House on your left and spot the parking for the mews houses on your right. Just after this there is a little gate and a footpath on your right. Here you can chose two paths, either on the left or right bank of the Itchen Navigation. Either way, you should follow the straight course of the water back to Garnier Road and the car park.
We recommend that you view the interactive map below as a Trails Map:
Did you know?
Although the viaduct looks splendid in red brick, this is actually a façade. Underneath the brick cladding, the viaduct is almost completely made of concrete, making it one of the earliest concrete structures of its kind.
Hospital of St. Cross is not really a hospital, but a charitable foundation offering help to the poor since the 12th century.
Winchester College is considered the oldest school in England and one of the most prestigious.
Wolvesey Palace was the fine residence of the Bishops of Winchester, who were rich and powerful men.