There is a very pleasant 4km/2.5 miles there and back riverside walk from car park to The Handlebar Cafe at the foot of St Catherine’s Hill. Following pavements and compacted gravel paths, this route does not require an all terrain wheelchair .
From Durngate Car Park, turn left and cross Easton Lane behind The Willow Tree pub and walk down Durngate Terrace. Cross the River Itchen on either footbridge and follow Water Lane all the way to Bridge Street. Cross the road and take the footpath alongside the River Itchen to the left of The Bishop on The Bridge all the way to Wharf Mill. Follow Wharf Hill south to a road junction, then follow Domum Road south until it becomes a footpath to the left of Kingsgate Lawn Tennis Club. Follow this path to The Handlebar Café. Open OS Maps in new window.
In a small off-road wheelchair it is possible to walk back to Winchester along a grass path on the opposite side of the river to Wharf Hill. The second to last gate is a kissing gate. We managed to get my daughter’s wheelchair round this but would not get her off-road buggy round it (although the off-road buggy would make walking along the grassy footpath a breeze)
From The Handlebar Café you can continue another 2km along the paved Itchen Navigation to cross the disused Hockley Viaduct (see my post ‘Winchester, Itchen Navigation & Hockley Viaduct).
Parking - Durngate Car Park, 1 North Walls, Winchester SO23 8DW. Two blue badge bays were under construction at Garnier Road Car Park SO23 9PA when we visited in May 2023 should you want to walk the route in reverse.
Toilets - There are Changing Places toilets at The Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8SB.
Refreshments - Plentiful in Winchester, and the delightfully situated The Handlebar Cafe
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