St Catherine’s Hill
Children will enjoy the mizmaze at the top of the hill on this walk.
Our children love counting the steps up the hill
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 1.8 km
Terrain: Surfaced riverside path initially, then steps with steep ascent and a sometimes slippery descent over unsurfaced paths
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Under close control
Refreshments: Cadence Clubhouse is a café perched on the top of a viaduct at the start or finish of this walk
Toilets: Beside the café
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 or there are sometimes spaces at the side of Garnier Road.
There are beautiful views from the top of the hill
Easily accessible from the centre of Winchester and beside the River Itchen, 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. There is a café at the bottom, but 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. When the steep bank to your left gives way to open ground, look out for the gate on the left 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. When the chalky path appears to head into denser scrub, leave it to your left along a grassy path that heads towards the circle of trees at the very tip of the hill.
Enter the circular grove of trees and cross straight through to the other side. Once out in the open again, if you turn right you will find the mysterious mizmaze, which makes a good place to stop for a play.
After enjoying the maze, head down the hill with the maze behind you, towards the views of Winchester and on the opposite side to which you climbed up. Take care down the hillside and aim to pick your way down the hill towards the car park below. As of our most recent visit in September 2024, there is a path diversion in place about half way down. You will need to follow the signs and head right around the side of the hill until you come to a hedge and some steps going downwards to your left. They will lead you back to the viaduct.
Head under the viaduct, where there is Cadence 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.
