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You are here > Home > Things to Do > Itchen Valley Country Park
About
Itchen Valley's 440 acres of beautiful water meadows, woodland and meadows been recognised by the award of a Green Flag for the past four years.
There is a visitor centre with nature-based displays, a shop and toilets. There is also a Cafe for you to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake after following one of our many way-marked trails around the Park.
Picnics are encouraged and there are many tables throughout the Park. There are two large permanent barbecue sites are available for hire for parties.
There is a charge for parking, although annual and seasonal (four month) permits are available to purchase from the Visitor Centre.
Play Areas
For children we have a play area suitable for under nines which is situated directly behind the visitor centre and a larger, adventure style play area for fourteen years and under which can be found on High Hill Field.
Connecting the two is the Play Trail (suitable for pushchairs), which is made up of a series of animal sculptures (designed by local sculptor, Andy Frost) for children to play on.
Events
There are regular activities provided for children so keep on Itchen Valley Country Park's websiye
Trails
If you want the freedom of moving at your own pace but having a focus there are a variety of self-led trails including the Ollie Owl Trail, brass-rubbing trail, orienteering course, Nature Detectives trail and our two mile Totem Trail. For more details talk to our Information Assistant. You can buy a Trail Guide from the visitor centre for 60p, or download a copy yourself.
Orienteering
We have two permanent orienteering courses for the more adventurous to try. The short course is 1.3km in length and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, whilst the long course is 3.5km in length and takes approximately one hour 20 minutes to complete. Each course is designed so that you don't need a compass, although if you have one, you are more than welcome to use it! Orienteering packs (including full instructions) are available from the Visitor Centre at £1.
Go Ape!
The UK’s No.1 Tree Top Adventure is at Itchen Valley Country Park. Take to the trees and speed down zip slides. They’re part of an exciting course of rope bridges, Tarzan swings and crossings; all set high above the forest floor.
Go Ape offers two to three hours of tree top fun. It’s a great way to get outdoors and have some fun. We take one lush, green forest and a healthy dollop of breathtaking scenery; blend with a smattering of tree-top high wires, tricky crossings (using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire) and wind-in-your-face zip wires; and finish off with a liberal dose of people in search of their inner Tarzan.
Treetop Junior
The Treetop Junior course was launched in 2016 and has so far proven very popular with all ages. The course is aimed at the 6 - 12 age bracket, but anyone over 1m (3ft 3") in height can take part.
Dogs are welcome at Itchen Valley Country Park and may be let off the lead on all parts of High Hill Field (the large recreation field at the top of the main driveway).
Opening Times
| Spring/Summer/Autumn (1 Apr 2019 - 30 Sept 2019) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Sunday | 08:30 | - 21:30* |
| Winter (1 Oct 2019 - 31 Mar 2020) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Sunday | 08:30 | - 19:00* |
