Easton
Winchester
Children will enjoy the play area and paddling in the river on this walk.
Streams of the Itchen River are constant highlights of this walk
Ambling Path Members get 10% off food at The Cricketers
🍴
Scroll down to sign up
🍴
Ambling Path Members get 10% off food at The Cricketers 🍴 Scroll down to sign up 🍴
The Basics
Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Terrain: Some quiet village roads with no pavements, a couple of fields that may be muddy in winter, one or two narrow stretches that have nettles in summer, a few metres by a busy road, two stiles with spaces for dogs.
Pushchairs: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk, but should only enter the water at the two locations stated in the route description and should be on leads through farmland.
Refreshments: The route passes two pubs in Easton, The Cricketers and The Chestnut Horse. Ambling Path Members get 10% off food at The Cricketers, please see the member’s area for the discount code.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 67 between Winchester and Petersfield stops at the top of Mill Lane in Abbots Worthy from where you can join the walk at Abbots Worthy Mill in step 4 of this walk.
Parking: There is a limited amount of roadside parking in the village on Easton Lane opposite The Cricketers. If no spaces are available, try parking further north along Easton Lane at the point where the river crosses under the road (Postcode: SO21 1EJ - W3W: ///digit.croaking.earphones)
There are a couple of fords where children can paddle on this walk
As it approaches Winchester, the River Itchen splits into many streams, some of which are crossed on this walk. The focal point is the gorgeous village of Easton with its dreamy thatched cottages and two pubs.
The Route
We began the walk at The Cricketers pub, but if you cannot find parking on the road around the pub, we suggest using some of the spaces at the side of Easton Lane just north of the village where the road and footpath crosses the river before Newbridge Cottage. If you park here, you may prefer to start and finish at section 7 below.
1. From The Cricketers, walk up Church Lane. Just after the church and Old School House, take the path on your right into the recreation ground. Inside, there is a small play area and picnic benches. The walk continues in the bottom corner, just beyond the climbing frame.
2. Go through the kissing gate and follow the path across the field and under the power cables. At the other side, go over the stile and keep to the right as you cross the next field. Walk under the trees when you get to the other side. Fork right at the fence at the edge of the woods and follow the path as it bends right and takes you under the M3 via a subway. After the subway, the path bends its way through trees with the occasional glimpse of the river to your right.
3. When you come to a gravel parking area, turn right over a bridge with black metal railings and pass Fulling Mill before going over a second bridge just after the house. Continue parallel to the river, then bend right over another bridge. Cross over a stream and walk through the meadow on the other side. At a series of two bridges, you will find an old ford where children and dogs could have a paddle.
4. Pass by Abbots Worthy Mill on your right, then turn right through the rusted kissing gate. Fork left when the path splits, passing some old farm buildings before walking through a meadow and up towards a busy B road. Turn right and briefly walk along the side of the road.
5. Just after the second set of gates, re-join the footpath on your right and walk along the perimeter of the field. Go over the stile and then under the M3 again. Follow the path to a kissing gate and turn immediately right after it, following the fence line across the middle of two fields. At a telegraph pole, the path will take you through a gate to switch into the other field where there may be cattle. Continue to the lane.
6. Cross the lane and re-join the footpath opposite, to the right of Newbridge Cottage. Walk straight, then through another kissing gate. The path will bend its way between properties and then descend to the road.
7. Turn right and join the footpath at a bridge. Cross the main river and then a smaller stream, where dogs can enter the water. Cross the field (livestock may be grazing) and turn right when you get to the corner of the fence. Turn left before the entrance to another field and exit through the gate onto a gravel drive.
8. Turn right at the lane and then bend left. Immediately before The Chestnut Horse, take the narrow footpath down the side of the building. Walk along the grassy path to the road on the other side. Turn left for The Cricketers.
As a member, you gain instant access to our complete PDF library of over 200 walks. Members also benefit from special discounts we arrange at some of our favourite pit-stops.
Did you know?
Mill Lane in Abbots Worthy is part of an ancient route connecting Winchester to Basingstoke and leads down to a crossing point in the river that has been in use for over a thousand years.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one just up stream at Itchen Stoke
We are passionate about keeping The Ambling Path as a free resource available to everyone, forever. If you have enjoyed using our walking guides, then please consider leaving us a donation. This will help to cover our costs as well as rewarding the considerable time and effort needed to maintain the site. Thank you.
Follow us on social media to see our new walks and get regular updates on our old ones:
