pub walks of The South Downs
The best part about a British country side walk is the pub waiting for you at the end! A nice cold pint and hearty burger and chips makes it all worth it. On the doorstep of Winchester is the huge national park, The South Downs, with uncountable walks, strolls and hikes throughout for all different levels of fitness. Here we have started with the pubs first then the beautiful walks that make the pub worth it!
Distance from Winchester: 20 minute drive
Length of walk: 4.5 miles
The Pub: The Bakers Arms, Droxford. Voted winner of the Best Roast category at the Hampshire Life Food & Drink Awards 2012
This Meon Valley walk passes 3 pubs so plenty of refreshments on this 2.5 hour circular walk. The Bakers Arms will be warmly welcoming you near the end of your walk with a cold pint. This cosy traditional pub is renovated to a modern standard keeping the classic dark mahogany, wooden beams and log fire that gives a pub the classic British feel. They often put on new specials and regularly have exciting events to keep you coming back!
Distance from Winchester: 11 minutes
Length of Walk: 2.5 miles
The Pub: The Plough Inn, for anyone with a sweet tooth.
This shorter walk towards the river Itchen Abbas passes the Avington Park House, a large stately home where the river supplies water to their pond. On route you will pass old mills and water falls so bring your camera. The Plough Inn in the village of Itchen Abbas has mouth-drooling desserts from homemade baileys and chocolate cookie cheesecake served with homemade chocolate truffles to almond and thyme frangipane served with homemade stem ginger ice cream.
Click here for the full circular instructions from Thomas Shallett.
Distance from Winchester: 13 minutes
Length of walk: 4 miles
The Pub: The Hinton Arms, top quality food delivered with top quality service. Locally sourced produce and home grown vegetables.
This walk starts just 10 minutes from the Hinton Arms at the Hinton Ampner stately home. This 4 mile Dutton Estate walk is through charismatic woodland preserved by the National Trust. There is an abundance of wildlife including Roe Deer that you may be lucky enough to see on the walk. Finish your walk by heading to The Hinton Arms for a hot chocolate!
There is also a longer walk starting and finishing at The Hinton Arms Pub walking you through the old battle fields of the civil war battle of Cheriton. See this walk here.
Distance from Winchester: 12 minute drive
Length of Walk: 6 miles
The Pub: The Bugle Inn, in the heart of the quaint Twyford Village
The Kingfisher walking trail takes you across the rolling hills of the South Downs and along the stunning Itchen river valley. This walk is bustling with wildlife with support and funding from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wild Life Trust. It is important to keep this area clean to help the conservation of the area. After a long 3 hour walk you will deserve a drink and fill up the empty stomachs with a cambert tapas sharing board.