Sutton Scotney
Winchester
Children will enjoy a play area next to a beautiful paddling spot in the River Dever.
Children will love this paddling spot in the River Dever
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Terrain: Narrow and sometimes uneven riverside paths, one steady hill, sections on quiet country lanes with no pavements.
Pushchairs: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on the walk.
Refreshments: The Coach and Horses in Sutton Scotney.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: Stagecoach bus route 75 between Winchester and Andover stops at the fire station.
Parking: Free parking at The Gratton Recreation Ground, look for the entrance opposite the Texaco Garage, height barrier (Postcode: SO21 3JA - W3W: ///grapevine.traffic.bagpipes).
The Gratton also has a brilliant play area.
There are quite a few parks on our website, but this one is really special. It has ample parking, a brilliant play area, a little section of riverside boardwalk and best of all, a place where children can safely access the shallow water of the River Dever via steps and a small pontoon. Our walk starts and finishes here and also explores the countryside between Sutton Scotney and Wonston.
The Route
Leave the car park by returning to the road. Turn right and walk along the pavement with the road to your left. Look for the footpath just before Red Deer House. It will look like you are walking up someone’s drive, but the footpath begins to the left of their garage with the basketball hoop on. You will follow this path for around ten minutes. It can be a little overgrown in summer, so watch out for nettles. Around half way along, you will find another spot where you can paddle.
When you reach the road at Wonston, walk straight on along the quiet country lane. You will pass the tree lined entrance to Wonston Grange to your left and then a footpath to your left. Just after this, take a footpath on your right with a kissing gate. Proceed forward and cross the river over a footbridge. Cross the paddock (there can be cattle in here) towards the church. Enter the churchyard and pass the end of the church to your right, then turn right and walk towards the entrance to the church. Turn left and walk out of the church yard, bearing right to follow the little lane out to the road.
Turn left at the road and as the road bends to the left up the hill, cross over and take the footpath on your right. At a junction of paths, a narrow footpath heads straight forward. Ignore this and take the wider bridleway to your left. Follow it for around twenty minutes in an entirely straight line.
Just after a large tin barn, you will reach a tarmac lane. Turn right and walk until you reach Wonston Lane. Turn right and after a few metres, turn left on the footpath that enters a field. After the initial gap, walk with the central hedge to your left and the field to your right. About half way along, the path will switch and you will walk in the upper field with the central hedge to your right. When you can proceed forward no longer, branch right and follow the track to a gap in the hedge. Continue after the gap through the meadow following the worn path.
When you reach the road back at Sutton Scotney, cross over and take the little tarmac path opposite, passing the thatched Witts Cottage to your right. At the main village street, bear right and walk along the pavement, passing The Coach and Horses to your left. Just after Dever Stores, look for the footpath on your right that follows a little alleyway. This will lead you to the doctor’s surgery and beyond that, The Gratton Recreation Ground where you will find the play area and paddling spot as well as the car park where you left your car.
Gain access to the member's only area of our website where you will find the complete A-Z library of all our PDF files. This includes over 220 self-guided walks ready to print or download, as well as various children's activity sheets. You will also find a digital membership card, giving you access to our current discounts.
Did you know?
The Gratton is on land gifted to the community by Lord Rank of Sutton Scotney, who resided at the Sutton Manor Estate. He was a extremely successful film producer and films by his company, The Rank Organisation, can be recognised by the ‘gong man’ hitting his gong at the start.
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