Itchen Way

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Itchen Way
The Itchen Way follows the River Itchen; this is near Avington
Length	31.80 miles
Location	Hampshire, England
Trailheads	Hinton Ampner Gardens Woolston
Use	Hiking
Season	All year

The footpath in relation to nearby major roads

The Itchen Way is a 31.80 mile long-distance footpath in Hampshire, England. The path follows the River Itchen to Winchester then the Itchen Navigation to Southampton and passes through the towns of Winchester and Eastleigh as well as the villages New Cheriton, Itchen Stoke, Itchen Abbas, Martyr Worthy, Abbots Worthy, Compton and Shawford and Bishopstoke. A short diversion beyond Bishopstoke gives access to Itchen Valley Country Park.

The footpath is waymarked by metal disks found attached to wooden posts and these show a yellow arrow on a dark green background and the words The Itchen Way in the yellow arrow. Between these waymarks there are intermediate standard footpath waymarks bearing the Hampshire County Council logo. There is only limited waymarking in the urban area of Winchester and none at all in Southampton which is is the subject of ongoing correspondence between the Eastleigh Ramblers and the Southampton City Council.

The footpath may be walked in either direction but the route is best done from Sholing in Southampton to the source.

Near the southern end of the footpath you can join the Solent Way next to the Itchen Toll Bridge.

The starting point is Sholing Station on the railway line from Southampton to Fareham. The finishing point is near Hinton Ampner House at its junction with the Wayfarers Walk. From the nearby A272 it is possible to return to Winchester or go to Petersfield using the No 67 Stagecoach bus both of which have mainline stations.

A 2008 Guide Book is available from Richard Kenchington, who is Footpath Secretary of the Eastleigh Group of the Ramblers Association who promoted the route - see the link below.