jspen - I am not actually posh enough to live in Winchester, so I live in the local slum known as Eastleigh.

I am often found walking on the very paths that PalenQ mentions - You can walk all the way down to Southampton id you have the time or energy, and it is a lovely path. I tend to walk from Eastleigh, along the river/canal to Winchester, and catch a train back. A shorter version is going to Shawford (about an hour at reasonable walking pace) - there you can visit the church that was attended by Jane Austin (pauses here for a CW groan).

Let me know closer to your trip, and I will send you a Google map of the pathways.

As to your london question, there is information on tickets here:
http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/underground.htm

The footpath that Pal's on about is almost certainly the Watermeadows. These are the inspiration for Keats "seasons of mists and fruitfullness".

Here's a route through, as followed by Keats:

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/sit...k-introduction


It's the route from the Cathedral past the College out to St Cross where you can get the Traveller's Dole:

http://www.cityofwinchester.co.uk/hi.../st_cross.html

It's about a mile and a half from the centre of Town all through lovely landscapes.

ps "Eton Feeders?" Eton was founded with 100 boys from Winchester. It's a johnny-come-lately.

How far out is the nearest pub on that walk - seems i came to one about two miles out?

Richmond is in zone 4. A one-day, peak (anytime), zone 1-4 travelcard costs £10. A one-day, off-peak (after 09:30 on weekdays and anytime on weekends and holidays), zone 1-4 travelcard costs £6.30. The travelcard will get you from Richmond to London, cover all your rides in London, and get you back to Richmond.

Your daughter can travel free anytime on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and bus. Your son can travel free on the bus and at a child rate on the Tube, DLR, and London Overground. He will need an Oyster photocard which you can order online. (Because of the processing time, it won't work for you to wait until you get to London to get his photocard.) For a full explanation, go here: http://tinyurl.com/c35ern.

How far out is the nearest pub on that walk - seems i came to one about two miles out?>>>

There's one - The Bell - actually at St Cross, but there are a few on the way, but you have to go onto the road.

The Wykeham is probably the best known (and if you go there you will be next door to the first house I ever bought).

Thank you, TimS, for the train info--that's very helpful. It sounds like driving in to Richmond may be the way to go.

And thanks to all for the walking path insights--sounds lovely! We can't wait to go...

And you may want to take you kids to the local youth hostel - not to stay but just to peek inside this ancient edifice inside which there is a working all mill and a stream runs right thru it.

I stayed there in 1969 and assume it is still a hostel - if not it may be a museum.

There is certainly a working watermill which is open to the public. It is on the main road, down past the Statue of Afred the Great.

And it is indeed a youth hostel. For yoofs.

I found some pictures of the walk from Eastleigh to Winchester. I started at Estleigh and walked North, but you would get the idea.

If you click on the first image, you can then press the slideshow button on the top line.

http://microbes.110mb.com/riverwalk/

pictures bring back fond memories of a great day in Winchester

and that damn youth hostile - as it was back then - we had to do mandatory chores and i ended up sweeping mounds of medieval dust into the dust bin as my 'chore'.

Thanks for the photos, willit--the walk looks wonderful! (I particularly like the "private fishing" sign...) What time of year were these taken? Is there an issue with bugs (mosquitoes, midges, what have you) in late June/early July?

PalenQ, thanks also for the tip about the mill/hostel. Sounds like it's worth a visit...

I have walked on these type footpaths for decades at all times of year and rarely encounter any flying vermin - but others more in the know about this exact area can say better.

Though i suppose around the house that CW once owned you could find many a bug and assorted vermin.

I don't have the original images with me (they are at work), but I am fairly certain it was early to mid June of last year, and no, bugs were not a problem, although there is an overall rare species of electric blue dragonfly that is quite common along the riverside.

willit - it was quite a while ago i did that walk - am i right in thinking that i remember some Watercress growing in the stream? Maybe a visual from some other walk? Anyway i found that unusual, for me at least.

thanks

Winchester is famous for it's watercress.

I can't be doing with the stuff. Bendicks chocolate however...

The photographs were taken on the afternoon of the 26th June 2008 - just supplying information for completeness sake.

That's a funny coincidence... Not only is that my birthday, but we'll be leaving Boston on June 26, 2009, arriving in the UK on the 27th and in Winchester on the 28th! So that gives me a great sense of what everything should look like when we're there. Thanks so much,
Jamie

Hi,

As someone who lives in Eastleigh, I am not sure why you would drive to Richmond to catch a train into London - as you are stayong in Winchester - catch it from there - fast service into London Waterloo - about 1 hour.

By the time you arrive Eastleigh will have a new ten-pin bowling alley & a new 9 screen cinema - which might be worth investigating for the children ... 400 yards from the railway station.

Southampton also has numerous cinemas, bowling alleys, quasar, resturants to visit ... but to be honest I prefer the resturants in Winchester to Southampron ... you can also catch a train to Salisbury ... I think you would have to change at Eastleigh or maybe go upto Basingstoke.

There is lots of walks you can do around Winchester - also the beach at Bournemouth is quite nice - but be aware it gets VERY busy in summer - especially if hot - so maybe try Boscombe, which is further along.

I note that you were debating whether to rent a car from the airport ... you could get car pick up service .... there are numerous recommendations on this forum for that.

Mark

isplumm1 - I advised driving purely on a basis of cost. It is far cheaper for my wife and I to drive to Richmond and buy a travelcard each than to buy two return rail tickets.

If you can get a special deal on the train, then it probably is better to do it that way.