Itchen Abbas Walk
This pretty little Hampshire based village is located in a lovely spot on the River Itchen near to Winchester. There's some pleasant riverside trails and the nearby Avington Park also provides excellent local walking opportunities. The village is also notable for providing the inspiration for the setting of Charles Kinglsey's novel The Water Babies. The author was a regular visitor to the area.
This circular walk from the village takes you along the river to the nearby village of Easton before heading through the countryside to visit the picturesque Avington Park.
The walk starts in the village centre where you can pick up the Itchen Way and follow it west to Chilland and Martyr Worthy. Here you cross the river and head south to visit the pretty village of Easton.
After exploring the village the route continues south along Chapel Lane before turning north east along a public footpath. This will take you up to Avington Park where there's some attractive woodland, a herd of Highland Cattle and a lovely lake.
After leaving Avington you head north to cross the river and return to Itchen Abbas.
Postcode
SO21 1BQ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsItchen Abbas Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Itchen Abbas Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Itchen Abbas OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Itchen Abbas Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Head to The Plough for some refreshments after your walk. It's a traditional country inn with a fine menu and a patio area for warmer days. You can find it at postcode SO21 1BQ for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The country and woodland trails make for a fine dog walk and the Plough mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To extend your walking in the area you could continue south west along the Itchen Way to visit Winchester where you could try the Winchester Circular Walk and the Winchester River Walk. Here you can visit the lovely riverside Winnal Moors Nature Reserve where there are excellent wildlife watching opportunities. You can also climb to St Catherine's Hill for some fine views over the surrounding area.
If you head east you can pick up the circular New Alresford Walk and explore the area around the town.
A few miles to the north you'll find some peaceful woodland trails in Micheldever Woods. The woods are particularly popular in the spring when there are carpets of bluebells to see.
The St Swithun's Way passes through the village. The pilgrimage walk runs from Winchester to Farnham, visiting many interesting historical sites on the way.
The Three Castles Path passes the village. This historically themed long distance trail will take you from Windsor Castle to Winchester Castle, visiting the ruined Odiham Castle on the way.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Hampshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Itchen Way, Itchen Abbas. The Itchen Way crossing a track running down to the river to the south of the village.
Telephone box, Itchen Abbas
River Itchen, near Easton. After flowing westwards, the river does a dog leg and here flows south, before turning sharply west again. The far right of the photo is out of the square.
River Itchen East of Chilland. The river from the itchen Way between Itchen Abbas and Chilland.
Footbridge south of Martyr Worthy. The footbridge across the main northern channel of the Itchen between Easton and Martyr Worthy. The Itchen Way crosses here - note yellow waymark on the bridge.
Ponds, Avington Park. The lush meadows of this part Itchen valley, praised by the often critical William Cobbett as 'one of the prettiest places in the country'. The house is now a conference and wedding venue.
Avington Lake
Highland cow, Avington Country Park. The highland breed of cattle has a long and distinguished ancestry, not only in its homeland of western Scotland, but also in many far-flung parts of the world. One of Britain's oldest, most distinctive, and best known breeds, that has a long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair and sweeping horns, the Highlander has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. There is a small herd of these cows roaming freely around the park.