SU4827 : Tree felling on St. Catherine's Hill
Short hill walk; steep steps and uneven paths

St Catherine's Hill

97m Elevation
20m Prominence
England Country
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SU4827 : Tree felling on St. Catherine's Hill

Peter Facey Photo source

Overview

St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester

St Catherine’s Hill rises above the Itchen valley on Winchester’s southern edge. DoBIH records 97 m and a 20 m drop, with the exact high point on ground near a tree stump at SU 48428 27669. It is unclassified and was removed from the Tumps in December 2014. This is the Hampshire hill, not the 239 m Isle of Wight namesake.

A complete circular walk

Ordnance Survey describes a 3.6 km circuit from and back to Garnier Road car park, SU483280, allowing 1 hour 30 minutes. It follows the riverside approach, climbs the steps and circles the hilltop before a steep descent towards the Pilgrim’s Trail. The return uses the woodland track, a crossing into St Catherine’s Park and Ride and the cycle path back. Do not walk along narrow Bull Drove. Total ascent is not published.

The route visits the hilltop, with an optional detour into the chapel copse. It does not certify the exact stump-side summit point; an extra summit diversion changes its totals. The steep, muddy descent means the walk needs more care than its short distance suggests.

Landscape and history

BGS identifies Lewes Nodular Chalk at the summit and New Pit Chalk on surrounding slopes, within the Winchester anticline. The hilltop preserves Iron Age earthworks, the medieval chapel site and a nearby turf maze. Views overlook Winchester and the Itchen valley. Cheesefoot Head is a separate hill farther east, not part of this short circuit.

Access and facilities

Garnier Road parking is limited. St Catherine’s Park and Ride offers an alternative, toilets and a foot/cycle connection. Its bus serves Winchester station; the council says it does not operate on Sundays or bank holidays. Check timetables and parking notices. Handlebar Cafe on Garnier Road has refreshments and an accessible toilet during opening hours. Its loose-stoned, step-free approach is distinct from the steep hill walk.

Conditions and care

Keep dogs on leads around the grazing animals, watch for rabbit holes and take care on wet steps and chalk. At the 18 October 2026 check, the Wildlife Trust’s page displayed an ash-tree-work notice for the week commencing 19 October and temporary working-hours closures of some permissive paths. The notice does not give a year: check with the Trust before travelling and obey barriers rather than assuming this circuit remains available. Any diversion requires fresh route planning.

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Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

St Catherine’s Hill circuit from Garnier Road

Start and finish at the Garnier Road car park, SU483280. Follow the riverside approach, climb the steps, circuit the hilltop and descend the steep path towards the Pilgrim’s Trail. Continue by the motorway fence and woodland track; cross Bull Drove into the Park and Ride and use the cycle path back to the starting car park. Do not walk along the narrow, pavement-free Bull Drove. OS publishes 3.6 km and 1 hour 30 minutes for this whole circuit; total ascent is not given. The optional copse visit reaches the chapel area, but neither it nor the perimeter path certifies contact with the exact DoBIH ground near the stump at SU4842827669; any additional summit diversion changes the totals. Follow current reserve closures. https://osmaps.com/discover/adventures/st-catherines-hill-winchester/

3.6 km ~1.5 hours Short but steep; steps and muddy descent
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Unclassified

Elevation

97m

318 ft

Prominence

20m

Coordinates

51.0463, -1.3106

SU484276

OS Map

185

Explorer: OL32 132

At the Summit

DoBIH identifies the 97 m summit as ground near a tree stump at SU 48428 27669. The chapel site, beech copse, turf maze and hillfort ramparts are landmarks, not substitutes for this exact point.

Terrain & Geology

Surfaced riverside and cycle paths lead to steep steps and unsurfaced grass paths on the hill. The OS circular return has a steep potentially muddy descent and a road crossing.

The hill is Upper Cretaceous chalk. BGS’s Winchester district description places Lewes Nodular Chalk at the summit, with New Pit Chalk around the slopes. The chalk succession is folded by the Winchester anticline.

Views & Scenery

Views take in Winchester, its cathedral and the Itchen valley, with surrounding downland. Visibility varies with weather and vegetation.

History & Heritage

Name Origin

The hill takes its name from the medieval chapel dedicated to St Catherine that stood on its summit.

Historical Significance

Iron Age hillfort earthworks enclose the hilltop. The summit also contains buried remains of the medieval chapel, while a turf maze survives nearby. These features form part of a protected archaeological landscape.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Use the Garnier Road car park beside the Itchen at SU483280 for the described OS circuit. Spaces are limited. East Winchester St Catherine’s Park and Ride, SO23 9NP, is an alternative with a foot/cycle connection; starting there changes the circuit’s start and distance. Check current restrictions and charges.

Public Transport

Winchester railway station connects with the Park and Ride bus serving St Catherine’s. Winchester City Council states there is no Park and Ride bus service on Sundays or bank holidays. Check the current timetable and allow for the walk from the car park to the reserve.

Nearby Facilities

Handlebar Cafe on Garnier Road has refreshments and an accessible toilet, subject to opening hours. St Catherine’s Park and Ride has toilets. The cafe’s step-free approach is loose-stoned; this does not make the steep hilltop route accessible.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Steep steps, wet chalk, muddy slopes and uneven ground need care; rabbit holes occur off the paths.
  • Livestock graze the reserve. Keep dogs on a lead and follow signs.
  • The OS circuit crosses Bull Drove; use the Park and Ride cycle-path connection rather than walking along its narrow carriageway.
  • As checked on 18 October 2026, the Wildlife Trust page carries an ash-tree-work notice for the week commencing 19 October, with temporary working-hours closures on some permissive paths. The notice does not state a year. Check with the Trust and obey barriers; the circuit may need postponing or altering.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up St Catherine's Hill?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around St Catherine's Hill through the maps

Are there other walkers around St Catherine's Hill?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for St Catherine's Hill search or of course create your own walk for St Catherine's Hill

Can I organise a walk to St Catherine's Hill?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

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How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up St Catherine's Hill?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

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The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

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Location

St Catherine's Hill location map

Grid reference: SU484276

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Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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