The road from Winchester to Abbots Worthy
When visitors come to Winchester they invariably take a walk through the landfills and across to St Johns Hospital and St Catherine’s Hill. However, for the more adventurous there are many other walks that will delight you. The Walk from Winchester to Abbots Worthy is particularly enjoyable and rewarding.
The walk is circular and part of the King Alfred statue in the center of Winchester. Continue past City Mill and north out of Winchester. In no time at all you will find yourself in open country with fishing lakes, swamps and water meadows. An attractive riverside path passes under the A33/A34 road and continues north-east to the exquisite Fulling Mill house. After crossing a series of water channels, you will find a well-defined path that crosses a picturesque and rustic bridge over the Itchen River to the town of Abbots Worthy.
The return route is along the other bank of the Itchen via the village of Kings Worthy and St Mary’s Church, as well as Abbots Barton and the North Walls recreation ground.
Right next to the recreation grounds is the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve. This is a bit of a departure from the main promenade, but definitely worth exploring. The nature reserve has much to offer the bird watcher and the calm and patient observer.
A place of interest in the village of Abbots Worthy is St. Mary’s Church. The church has been a place of worship since ancient times. The present church is mainly from rebuilding periods in 1849, 1864 and 1884, but closer inspection will reveal that the tower, including the entrance and the base of the font, are late Norman. The church has registered rectors since at least 1290. Its stone facade seems to fit admirably in this Hampshire village. There is usually a guide available inside the Kings Worthy Local History Group.
On a historical note: the walk takes you around the south side of the grounds of Abbots Worthy House, which Lord Eversley came to in 1896 and stayed until his death in 1928 at the age of 97. He and his wife are buried on the church grounds. . He was Postmaster General in Gladstone’s government and introduced sixpence telegrams; however, his main concern was access to the common spaces and parks of London. In 1866 he chaired the first meeting of the Commons Preservation Society. He was also the author of a book titled Commons, Forests and Footpaths published in 1894. On his death, he left £1,000 in his will to the Commons and Footpath Preservation Society. To be free to wander the lanes of Britain owes many thanks to this man.
There are a number of pubs along the way where the hiker can seek shelter and refreshments. The Cart and Horses pub is in Abbots Worthy and has a good pub menu. In Winchester, one can visit the King Alfred pub on Saxon Road, which is right next to the playing fields, set in an estate of Victorian houses. The pub specializes in pub lunches and has a nice big beer garden.
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