Trails beyond the city

Winchester's beautiful setting amidst rolling chalk downland means that you don't have to bring a car to enjoy the surrounding countryside of picturesque villages, clear streams and lush valleys.

Take a look below at some of the self guided walks around the district, alternatively, why not let one of our blue badge guides take you on a guided walk out into the district.

Meon Valley churches trail

This self-guided trail for walkers and cyclists focuses on the architectural and historical identities of the unusual, very varied styles of church which punctuate this pretty river valley.

Itchen Valley churches trail

A companion volume to Meon Valley Churches, this leaflet outlines a number of circular walks along or very near the River Itchen between Otterbourne and Bishops Sutton.

The Winchester watercress tour

Pick and choose your stops from this self-guided trail through the Itchen and Meon Valleys, the home of the watercress industry for many years.

The tour also incorporates the route of the old Meon Valley Railway which is perfect for leisure cycling and walking, bird and butterfly watching and plant spotting.

Pick up a copy of The Winchester Watercress Tour from the tourist information centre for £1 or download a copy (pdf 1.2 Mb)

Walking through the Iron Age

Choose from a series of four trails tracking Iron Age sites in the Winchester area. Teeming with archaeological evidence, discover local landmarks such as St Catherine's Hill, Old Winchester Hill, Micheldever Wood and Abbotstone Down. Routes ranges from 2km to 6km in length. Email Winchester Museums at museums@winchester.gov.uk for more details about the series.

Bishop's Waltham town trail

Set in beautiful countryside not far from Winchester, Bishop's Waltham is an attractive and historic town, dating from the Middle Ages. The town trail takes approximately one hour and will guide you through the significant historic sites and buildings. Pick up a free copy of the trail from various outlets in Bishop's Waltham.

You can also download the Exploring Bishop's Waltham leaflet which details three separate walks which will allow you to discover the town's nature reserves, heritage sites and undulating countryside.

The Cheriton battlefield walk

Cheriton, to the east of Winchester, was the site of a day-long battle during the Civil War in 1644. A new walking trail was established in 2005 to highlight the important strategic locations of the encounter. The Cheriton battlefield walk leaflet (pdf 229 kb), maps out the walking route, providing commentary on the trail and an insight into the events that may have taken places on the day of the battle.

Alresford millennium trail

Alresford is a Georgian market town situated seven miles outside of Winchester, the hub of the UK's watercress industry and home to the Watercress Line steam train. The mile-long trail links together footpaths around the town, with illustrated boards introducing the history of Alresford, its inhabitants, railway line, wildlife and rural surrounds. There are a number of charming tearooms and restaurants where you can stop for refreshments.

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