Watercress Way

Hampshire

The Watercress Way is a 27 mile circular route through the beautiful Hampshire downlands and Itchen valley north-east of Winchester. At the boundary of the South Downs National Park, the route has a wealth of heritage and wildlife along the 'corridors ' of two abandoned railway lines and ancient livestock droves. The route starts at the Watercress Line steam railway in Alresford. There are many shorter options and links to several other trails: the Itchen Way, Wayfarers Walk, St Swithins Way and the Oxdrove.

Large sections are already open to cyclists and horse riders and the charity behind the Watercress Way aims to gradually open up more of the railway sections. There is a free pdf for existing walkable sections online and linkied below. There are several main 'gateways' to the walk with pubs, B&Bs or hotels at Alresford, Itchen Abbas, Kings Worthy ,Wonston and Sutton Scotney. The website below (www.thewatercressway.org.uk) has further details, including comprehensive route descriptions (clockwise and anticlockwise) and contact information.

The GPX files have been updated in August 2020 to reflect some extensions to the route.

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Waymark:	Green arrow with watercress symbol on white background
Attributes:	Average Gradients Railway
Start and Finish:	SU588325 - New Alresford, Hampshire
Open Date:	2017
Web Sites:	The Watercress Way Watercress Way [YouTube video]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

External download	Route Description (anti-clockwise)  (Watercress Way )
External download	Route Description (clockwise)  (Watercress Way )

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