Tourist Attractions near Winchester Watercress Festival Alresford

St Catherine's Hill Twyford Down near Winchester

Just outside Winchester, to the southeast, is Twyford Down and St Catherine's Hill. This is typical Hampshire chalk grassland that is nationally important for its wildlife. The grassland is rich in a varied range of flowers that attract butterflies and insects including the marbled white and chalkhill blue butterflies. Flowers that can be seen here include thyme, common rock rose, salad burnet, horseshoe and kidney vetches, autumn ladies tresses and frog orchid.

At the summit of the hill is an Iron Age hillfort. It is believed to have first become a settlement 3,000 years ago - even before Winchester had become established. The fort was constructed in the third century BC and later a Norman chapel was constructed on the site in the twelfth century. Twyford Down is crossed by paths called Dongas that were formed over centuries of people walking their animals to market. On top of the hill is a Mizmaze, a turf cut maze, which is thought to have been first cut in the seventeenth century - some say as a punishment of a student from Winchester College.

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Winchester Watercress Tour

A good way to explore the towns and villages around Winchester is to follow the Watercress Tour. The trail leads you around the Itchen and Meon Valleys which are at the heart of traditional watercress industry in Hampshire.

The route stretches south and east of Winchester and is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It runs for forty miles in total and passes through many of Hampshire's historic country towns and villages. There are a multitude of footpaths crossing the Watercress Tour and you can pick up the longer distance walking routes The Pilgrim's Trail, The Wayfarer's Walk, The South Downs Way and St Swithun's Way. Click the links right for more information on these Hampshire walks.

You can pick up the Watercress Line - the Mid Hants Steam Railway - from Alresford which is on the tour. This takes you east to Alton and is a perfect way to see more the mid Hampshire countryside. The line of the former Meon Valley Railway is now a recreational route for walkers and cyclists between Wickham and West Meon. Called the Meon Valley Way you can pick up footpaths from it for a circular route or link up with the Wayfarer's Way and the Pilgrim's Trail to the south.

Click the Trails around Winchester link right for a downloadable leaflet of the Watercress Tour and other trails to explore towns, villages and countryside near Winchester.

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Watercress Festival Alresford Tourist Guide

Alresford is a traditional Hampshire village most visited for its well preserved historic Georgian fronted main street. There is a good choice of independent shops including antiques, galleries and tearooms in the village and it's a beautiful place to stroll around.

Alresford is also best known for the annual Watercress Festival. It takes place for a week in May and is a celebration of all things related to watercress that has been traditionally cultivated in this area for centuries.

The Watercress Festival includes cookery demonstrations, some by celebrity chefs, special watercress based menus in local pubs and eateries, market stalls full of local produce as well as street entertainment and children's activities. You can also arrange visits to local farms where watercress production is explained and you can buy the nutrient rich salad leaf direct.

Check the link right for up-to-date information on this year's Watercress Festival.

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The Watercress Line - Mid Hants Railway

Alresford is on the The Watercress Line - a restored steam railway that runs for ten miles between Alton and Alresford. Other stations are at Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks stations.

You'll find some of the stations on the line have been restored to their former nineteenth century glory. Guards and engine drivers don clothing evocative of that time too. There are several steam engines operating regular services between the stations all year round. The Watercress Line has featured in several television productions including Primeval and Midsomer Murders.

Special theme days include Santa Specials at Christmas and the popular Wizard Week around Halloween. For real ale fans what better way of seeing some of the Hampshire countryside than aboard a traditional steam train. The Real Ale Train "the RAT train" runs in the evenings and takes two round trips along the Watercress Line. Guest ales are usually from local Hampshire breweries. If you fancy something a bit more upmarket try the Luxury Dining Trains that run at weekends or for special occasions. For the kids there's a twice yearly Day Out with Thomas. Thomas the Tank Engine is available for brake van rides at Easter and August and there's a whole host of events for a whole day out all included in the one ticket price.

Check the links right for up-to-date information on services, timetables and special events. The Watercress Line, The Railway Station, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9JG. Tel: 01962 733810. Fax: 01962 735448. Email: information@watercressline.co.uk

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Marwell Zoo near Winchester

Marwell Zoological Park is run as a charity that aims to conserve wildlife both at a local and international level. Marwell Zoo covers 100 acres with themed enclosures for animals from all over the world.

Tropical World recreates a rainforest environment under glass where you can find brightly coloured tropical frogs, snakes as well as tarantulas, chameleons and piranha! The Heart of Africa area has large enclosures for a range of large mammals found in the African savannah such as giraffe, cheetah, bongo, buffalo, monkeys and warthogs. There is much more to see and you can find out more during the summer school holidays and bank holidays by meeting the keepers and asking them questions about the animals they look after. Check out the link right for more information.

The Zoo is open every day except Christmas Day from 10am. Marwell Zoological Park, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1JH.

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