A circular walk for the whole around Old Winchester Hill, near Petersfield

Children will enjoy spotting butterflies in summer and the woolly sheep grazing the hillside on this walk.

The Basics

Time: 1hr 20mins

Distance: 3.6 km

Terrain: Mostly flat but with some sections on the side of a steep hill, some muddy sections in winter. There is an all access path for part of the walk, but it is not circular.

Pushchair: The all access path is suitable for pushchairs but it does not take you all the way to the top of the hillfort. However, a decent pushchair should be able to navigate some of the hilltop paths in good weather. The parking and start for the all access path is a disabled bay, just off Hayden Lane. As you shouldn’t park here without a disabled badge, you could bring a pushchair along the bridle path that starts beside the entrance to the main car park (if you were ok with a muddy and bumpy ride) or you could walk along the lane.

Dogs: Under close control

Refreshments: There is usually a van selling hot drinks and snacks in the layby just along Hayden Lane

Toilets: None

Parking: Free car park (Postcode: GU32 1HN - W3W: proceeds/overused/spirit)

Overlooking the Meon Valley and not actually in Winchester, Old Winchester Hill is a National Nature Reserve with views across The South Downs as far as the Isle of Wight. The chalk grassland is covered in wild flowers and butterflies in summer and you stand a good chance of spotting birds of prey such as red kites.

The Route

Head through the gate from the car park and walk straight ahead, passing the gazebo with interpretation boards on your right. You will almost immediately come to a fence and a gate and here you have a choice. For a child friendly ‘flat’ route, don’t go through the gate, but turn left instead, with the views and fence to your right. For a longer route that includes a very steep hill, go through the gate and follow the grassy path down the hill.
The child friendly route continues until you hit a wider, stony track that is the all access trail. Turn right and follow this all the way to the hill fort.
The longer walk will take you down the hill with splendid views, passing an atmospherically lone and gnarly tree. When the path appears to end, look for the narrow path cut into the chalk heading away to your left. Follow this as it clings to the side of the hill and eventually goes through a gate into woodland. There has been a lot of tree felling here due to ash dieback. Follow the path through the woods and up the steps to another gate that takes you back onto the downland. Prepare yourself for a steep but short climb. When you reach the gate at the top of the hill, you can either go through it and join the all access trail mentioned in section 2 to reach the hillfort, or turn right and follow the chalky path along the side of the hill to the hill fort.
By now, whichever path you took, you will be at the gate that brings you to the hillfort. Adding a loop around this is highly recommended for the views as far as The Solent and The Isle of Wight on a clear day.
To return, you have two choices; walk along the all access path, or go down the steps and through the little gate and follow the chalky path clinging to the side of the hill (you can re-join the all access point from this path at the gate further along marked 'circular walk’).
As the all access path almost meets Hayden Lane, turn left and follow the bridle path as it travels parallel to the road all the way back to the car park.