St Catherine’s Hill
Children will enjoy the mizmaze at the top of the hill on this walk.
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 1.8 km
Terrain: Riverside path, steps, steep ascent and descent
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Under close control
Refreshments: The Handlebar Café
Toilets: Beside the cafe
Parking: Small, free car park off Garnier Road beside the café (Postcode: SO23 9PA - W3W: enclosing/shot/unstable) If this is full, you could try the park and ride just up the road.
Easily accessible from the centre of Winchester, St Catherine’s Hill not only has great views but it also is home to an intriguing mizmaze; a turf labyrinth that children will love to solve. The walk begins alongside The Itchen and there is a café at the bottom or a picnic at the top is equally recommended.
The Route
Leave the car park from the far end and join the Itchen Way with the river to your right. Continue until you see the spot where the river powers through the location of a former mill, and opposite will be the gate into St Catherine’s Hill.
Go through the gate and head up the steps to climb the hill.
At the top, go right and follow the chalk path along the hill’s perimeter. Leave the chalky path to head towards the circle of trees away to your left at the very top of the hill. On the other side of the trees, you will find the mysterious mizmaze, which makes a good place to stop for a play and a picnic.
After enjoying the maze, head down the hill with the maze behind you, on the opposite side to which you climbed up. This side is steep and has no steps, but you should aim to pick your way down the hill towards the car park below.
Head under the old railway underpass, where there is now a café and toilets, to reach the car park
Did you know?
A mizmaze is a labyrinth of paths cut into the turf. Its origins are uncertain, however, St. Catherine’s Chapel once stood beside the clump of trees and it may have connections to that. Popular legend though tells a more interesting story of a pupil from Winchester College who was sent up the hill as punishment for disobedience. In his boredom, he carved out the maze but in doing so he muddled his mind so much that he threw himself from the hill to his death in The River Itchen below.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one around Winchester Water Meadows, which can be added on to St. Catherine’s Hill.
