The Weirs, Winchester – St Catherine's Hill loop from Chandler's Ford

Bike touring routes & trails

The Weirs, Winchester – St Catherine's Hill loop from Chandler's Ford

Moderate

4.0

(3)

riders

The Weirs, Winchester – St Catherine's Hill loop from Chandler's Ford

01:36

25.0km

270m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 27, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

South Downs National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

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8.78 km

View of the Hockley Viaduct

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Hockley Viaduct, near Winchester, Hampshire, is a historic railway structure built in the 1880s as part of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DNSR).

Spanning the River Itchen and its floodplain, the viaduct is about 1,250 feet (380 metres) long and consists of 33 arches, made mainly of brick with some concrete sections added during later repairs. It carried trains between Winchester and Southampton until the line closed to passengers in 1960 and to freight in 1966.

After falling into disrepair, it was restored in 2013 as part of the National Cycle Network (Route 23), linking Winchester with Southampton for cyclists and walkers.

Today, the Hockley Viaduct is valued both as a piece of Victorian engineering heritage and as a scenic pedestrian and cycling route, offering fine views across the Itchen Valley and the South Downs.

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11.4 km

Bike Path Along the Canal

Highlight • Trail

Watch out for dog walkers, most are great, some seem oblivious to their dogs safety.

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12.5 km

Statue of King Alfred the Great, Winchester

Highlight • Historical Site

Winchester’s statue of Alfred the Great is one of the city’s most iconic sights. He stands at the bottom of The Broadway next to the River Itchen and the Guildhall, keeping a watchful eye over his capital city. The statue was finished in 1901 and commissioned in 1899, a thousand years after Alfred's death.

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12.8 km

The Weirs, Winchester

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Weirs is a stunning walkway located at the bottom of the high street and behind Wolvesey Palace and the cathedral. Swans, ducks and moorhens are often seen paddling about and the stretch is amazingly serene, considering it's just a stone's throw from the main thoroughfare.

The Weirs is a good starting point for walks along the Itchen, an important chalk stream and abundant in fish and wildlife. The Itchen Way, a long-distance footpath, also runs along this lane.

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12.8 km

Itchen Navigation Canal Walkway

Highlight • River

This peaceful shared path along the historical Itchen Navigation Canal provides a perfect traffic-free escape route from Winchester city centre to the parks in the South-East.

Be cautious around pedestrians, take your time and enjoy the calming effects of flowing waters in the canal alongside the path.

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14.4 km

The Itchen Way

Highlight • River

A cycle route that runs alongside the River Itchen south of Winchester and forms part of the National Cycle Route 23, to Southampton.

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15.1 km

St Catherine's Hill

Highlight • Viewpoint

The pathway up is unclear from this point. Note however that there is an easy to follow route up with mostly steps on the south west side of the hill

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16.0 km

Hockley Viaduct

Highlight • Bridge

Walk or cycle along Winchester’s restored historic railway.
Opened in 1891, the Hockley Viaduct was part of the Didcot to Southampton railway. It closed to passengers in 1960, and to freight in 1966 as part of the national programme of closures proposed by Dr Richard Beeching.

The viaduct has now been repaired to begin a new life as part of the National Cycle Route Network Route 23, for walkers and cyclists to enjoy. Take the Viaduct Way and enjoy some scenic views from a lovingly restored landmark.

visitwinchester.co.uk/listing/viaduct-way-trail

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