A  circular walk from Winchester via Compton and Shawford: 10 miles

Winchester Walking Weekend 20-22 June 25

A lovely walk south of Winchester over the downs with fine views, returning along the Itchen.

The King's Royal Rifle Corps War Memorial

Join the walk at the Ramblers stand near the King's Royal Rifle Corps War Memorial, in front of the cathedral. From Winchester Cathedral we make our way through the picturesque water meadows to St Cross, then follow the Clarendon Way along Whiteshute Ridge. From there we head up to Yew Hill on Compton Down, where we will stop for a coffee/snack break and enjoy the view towards St Catherine’s Hill.We then continue via Silkstead to Shawford Down for a picnic lunch with more far reaching views before returning to Winchester along the Itchen Navigation, passing St Catherine’s Hill.The route uses tracks, footpaths, and a quiet road through housing. One stile.The track from Yew Hill to Silkstead is stony and the Itchen navigation path is muddy in places, so poles may be helpful if you use them. Care will be needed to cross 2 busy roads. There will be 749 feet of ascent. Please remember to bring a picnic lunch, drinks and snacks as required. Please note the following:<ul><li>The walk is free of charge, but you need to book through Eventbrite. Places are limited, so please ensure that you have a booking for each member of your party. (Please be patient, Eventbrite's "Reserve a spot" button sometimes takes a while to load.)</li><li>Any walkers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The minimum age to join this walk is 16.</li><li>Please wear appropriate footwear and clothes according to the weather and length of walk and don't forget sun and rain protection.</li><li>Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.</li><li>Transport: There is no parking on site and we recommend you use one of the Park and Rides. Winchester bus and rail stations are a short walk from the cathedral.</li><li>Unfortunately, none of the planned walks will be wheelchair-accessible.</li><li>Your walk will be led by an experienced Ramblers Walk Leader from the local area.</li><li>Your walk will finish at the cathedral.</li><li>This walk will have a snack stop. Please bring your own drinks and snacks, appropriate to the length of the walk. There are no planned stops at pubs, cafés or shops.</li><li>It's unlikely that the walk will pass any public conveniences, so it's a good idea to use toilets near the cathedral beforehand - at St Maurice's Covert/Market Lane and Abbey Gardens).</li></ul>