Winnall Moors Nature Reserve

A wildlife haven at the heart of bustling Winchester

Location

Durngate Place

Winchester

Hampshire

SO23 8DX

OS Map Reference

SU 490 306

Know before you go

Size

64 hectares

Entry fee

Donations welcome

Parking information

The nearest car park is Durngate pay and display. It is cheaper to use the city’s park and ride service and walk the final 5 minutes from the Broadway to Durngate.

Bicycle parking

There are bicycle stands at the junction of Durngate Terrace, Union Street and Park Avenue.

Grazing animals

Our sites are grazed all year by livestock. Please follow the signage on site.

Walking trails

There is one surfaced path and boardwalk. For a longer walk (4.5 miles), overlooking the water meadows, you can follow the Itchen Way up the east of the valley, cross the river at Fulling Mill and return down the west side of the valley via St Swithun’s Way.

Flat all way around. At North Walls Recreation Ground entrance there is a footbridge. Ramp and picket gate from recreation ground onto footbridge, five steps down to reserve.

With the Adventure of Winnall Moors story trail, you can help the creatures of Winnall Moors rescue the Kingfisher from the evil clutches of the Toad Emperor and his army. Follow the sculptures and clues around the reserve to help you on your way to victory.

You can also follow the water vole trail, which takes you from Winchester city centre into the reserve. Look out for these charismatic little mammals, or listen out for the distinctive ‘plop’ of one dropping into the water as you follow the winding path along the River Itchen.

Access

The Durngate entrance is at Durngate Place, Winchester, SO23 8DX, opposite the Willow Tree pub.

Car: From M3 junction 9, take Easton Lane into Winchester. After 1 mile road forks right, immediately after on right is Durngate pay and display car park and reserve.

For sat nav users: SO23 8DX to Durngate pay and display car park.

Train: Winchester station is ¾ mile away. Leave from Station Hill exit, walk down hill onto City Road, becoming North Walls Road. Pass the police station on left and fork left towards Winnall via Durngate Place. Durngate entrance to Winnall Moors is on bridge over River Itchen.

Bus: Winchester bus station is ½ mile away. From the bus station Turn left onto Broadway, at roundabout turn left onto B3330 (Eastgate Street). Turn right down Durgate Terrace. The Durngate reserve entrance is opposite.

Dogs

Assistance dogs only

Guide dogs and Assistance dogs only

When to visit

Opening times

Usually open, but sometimes the reserve is closed for moving cattle or during flooding.

Best time to visit

Visit in summer to enjoy the lush oasis character of the nature reserve, a stone’s throw from the city. Wildflowers, close encounters with deer and a glimpse of kingfishers make for a magical visit.

About the reserve

Winnall Moors is a picturesque nature reserve in the centre of Winchester. The River Itchen flows through the length of the reserve providing water for wet grassland, reedbeds, wet woodland and streams. This wetland haven is a wonderful place to escape city life and with its many paths, boardwalks and bridges there’s no need to wear wellies.

Spanning 64 hectares of natural floodplain, Winnall Moors is a peaceful city centre oasis, with a diverse range of wildlife including kingfisher and roe deer. Winnall Moors is managed in partnership with Winchester City Council.

During the spring this nature reserve really comes to life – reed warblers, sedge warblers and chiffchaffs sing at full volume, and marsh marigolds, yellow flag irises and cuckoo flowers adorn the meadow like jewels in the crown of England’s ancient capital.

Winnall Moors has long, surfaced paths and boardwalks, making walking with a pushchair easy.

Download the trail guide

As Winnall Moors is such an important haven for wildlife we would like to remind visitors that swimming is not permitted to prevent disturbance to wildlife.