Winchester – England's ancient capital

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Our view

"Winchester's historic streets, Cathedral Close and the beautiful Itchen Valley."

Walk directions

From King Alfred’s statue on the Broadway, walk towards the city centre, passing the Guildhall (a tourist information centre) on your left. Join the High Street then, after 100yds (91m), turn left along Market Street. Continue ahead on to Cathedral Green to pass the cathedral’s main door.

Turn left down a cloister (signed to Wolvesey Castle), then diagonally right through The Close to Cheyney Court and exit via Prior’s Gate in the right-hand corner. Turn left though Kingsgate, with the tiny Church of St Swithun upon Kingsgate above, then turn left down College Street and soon after pass the entrance to Winchester College. Beyond the road barrier, turn right along College Walk, then turn right at the end of the wall, to walk along a college access road.

Go left by a gated entrance to the college. Follow the path beside the River Itchen for 0.5 miles (800m) to a road. Turn right over the road bridge and follow the riverside gravel path, signed the Clarendon Way, to a kissing gate. Cross a footbridge and head towards the Hospital of St Cross.

Keep left alongside the wall, go through a second kissing gate and walk ahead through an avenue of trees to a third kissing gate. Keep ahead on the path to two further kissing gates and join a farm track leading ahead to a traffic‑free lane. Turn left and pass beside a barrier onto another traffic-free section and continue across the River Itchen and through a gate to reach a junction of metalled paths by the M3.

Turn left along a path, signed ‘Itchen Navigation’. Go under an old railway bridge and pass through woodland. Go through a gate on your right and up the steps to the top of St Catherine’s Hill, and walk around the top to see the maze and enjoy the fine views. Return to the bottom, turn right and almost immediately left to drop down to follow a narrow path by the Itchen Navigation. Go past the car park to the road.

Turn left across the bridge and take the footpath immediately right down through a kissing gate. Pass a memorial to the last river barge of 1869. Keep to the path beside the water, disregarding the path left (College nature reserve). Go through four kissing gates. Soon after, cross the brick Wharf Bridge by a boat house to reach a metalled track.

Turn left, then left again at the road. Follow it along College Walk and turn right at the end onto a metalled path, alongside a high stone wall. Pass the Old Bishop’s Palace (Wolvesey Castle) and follow the path beside the Itchen to Bridge Street, opposite the National Trust’s City Mill. Finally, turn left to return to King Alfred’s statue.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Established riverside paths through water meadows

Landscape - City streets, riverside, water meadow and downland

Dog friendliness - Keep under strict control

Parking - Pay-and-display car parks in city centre

Toilets en route - The Broadway; in cathedral visitor centre

Walks in Hampshire Dog-friendly walks in Hampshire

About the walk

Historic Winchester, ancient capital of Wessex and England, was first settled in the Iron Age. Influenced by royalty since the 7th century, the city boasts some remarkable architectural treasures. Beginning from the imposing bronze statue of King Alfred the Great, who made the city his capital,...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.