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travel

Walks on the bus

If you want to try some different local walks and explore the countryside , the bus could be the answer

The bus is a great way to get to a new spot for walking . It avoids the hassle of trying to find somewhere to park and means you ’ re not limited to a circular route . The countryside around Winchester is criss-crossed with footpaths and established routes such as the South Downs Way and the Monarch ’ s Way – so grab a map and start exploring .

Town and country

Stockbridge is always good to wander around . Its pretty High Street is full of great places to eat , independent shops and galleries . The 16 bus runs from Winchester to Houghton , stopping off at Stockbridge . There is a limited weekday service but on Saturday the timetable allows you to jump off at the High Street , walk around Stockbridge Common and still have time for a bite to eat or some window shopping before catching the last bus back to Winchester .

Stockbridge Common Marsh Wildlife Walk is a circular trail of about two miles that can be accessed via a footpath from the High Street . Running beside the River Test – one of the finest chalk streams in the country – you can spot trout , grayling and the occasional salmon . Cattle and horses graze on the common , making it a rich habitat for birds , butterflies and dragonflies . It ’ s maintained by the National Trust and you can find more details and a print-friendly map on the Trust ' s website .

www . nationaltrust . org . uk / visit / hampshire / stockbridge-marsh / stockbridgecommon-marsh-wildlife-walk

Map it out ...

OS Explorer maps are the best way to plan your walks . They show public rights of way and permissive footpaths as well as areas of interest on your route . OL32 is the map for Winchester , New Alresford and East Meon – Winchester is pretty central on this map sheet so it covers all the main routes around the city . Available online or at Waterstones , each map has a download so you can also use it on your mobile .

www . shop . ordnancesurvey . co . uk

Riverside rambles

This 7.5 mile riverside walk starts from the Bishopstoke Road Hub car park , a short walk from Eastleigh railway station ( get there on the 61 bus ). From here you can follow the Itchen Navigation via Shawford and St Catherine ' s Hill all the way back to Winchester .

www . countryfile . com / go-outdoors / walks / eastleigh-winchester-hampshire

Plan your own pub walk

With a map and a bus timetable you can plot a walk that takes you out into the countryside and rewards you with a pub at the end . For instance , you can catch the 66 bus to Hursley and walk back to Winchester in around 4 hours . From Hursley you follow the Monarch ’ s Way to Silkstead and then up to the Butterfly Reserve at Oliver ’ s Battery . A path from here crosses the A3090 by footbridge to Whiteshute Ridge and joins the Clarendon Way to St Cross . Follow the riverside footpath towards Winchester College and onto College Street . From there you can choose between the Wykeham Arms or the Black Boy to finish off your walk ( always check opening times before you set off to avoid disappointment !).

Bus checker

Plan your bus travel and check on your service at www . stagecoachbus . com or download the Stagecoach app .

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