Bishop’s Waltham is a vibrant and historic market town set in the glorious Hampshire countryside. With a foot in the South Downs National Park and located at the mid point of a long-established route between Winchester and Portsmouth, the town has long been appreciated as a place to stop and relax.
The earliest record of a settlement within the Bishop’s Waltham area was of a church built in around 640 AD.
The name of the town is also Saxon, being derived from two words – ‘wald’ (forest) and ‘ham’ (settlement). It earned the name ‘Bishop’s Waltham’ when, in 904 AD, King Alfred’s son, King Edward the Elder, granted the land to Denewulf, Bishop of Winchester, in exchange for land in Portchester.
Despite being destroyed by the Danes in 1001 AD, the settlement grew steadily to become one of Hampshire’s largest villages.
Due to the town’s close proximity to the port of Portsmouth, Bishop’s Waltham has fascinating connections with naval characters including Admiral Edward Vernon ‘Old Grog’, Admiral Villeneuve – one of the best known captured sailors during the Napoleonic Wars when Bishop’s Waltham served as a ‘parol town’ and Admiral Lord Andrew Cunningham.
With a foot in the South Downs National Park and located at the mid point of a long-established route between Winchester and Portsmouth, Bishop’s Waltham has long been appreciated as a place to stop and relax. Bishop’s Waltham boasts a particularly beautiful rural setting with nearby countryside that is very accessible to visitors.
Rolling countryside trails, heritage trails and nature walks allow you to explore Bishop’s Waltham’s undulating landscapes, local nature reserves, meadows and woodlands. Why not start exploring with one of the following:
Bishop’s Waltham heritage walk – A four mile walk taking in the history of Bishop’s Waltham Palace and following part of the Pilgrim’s Trail.
Bishop’s Waltham country walk – A five mile walk encompassing the spectacular countryside that surrounds Bishop’s Waltham.
Bishop’s Waltham nature walk – A three mile walk starting in Bishop’s Waltham centre and explores a local nature reserve.
If you fancy a slightly longer journey why not discover the Pilgrim’s Trail, a 155 mile trail medieval route from the shrine of St Swithun at Winchester Cathedral to St Michael in Normandy. Weave across the landscape through Bishop’s Waltham and Southwick to Portsmouth. Following in the footsteps of the Miquelots, pilgrims who made the long journey to worship in Normandy.
How to get to Bishop's Waltham
Bishop’s Waltham is only a 20 minute drive from Winchester.
By car: leave Winchester down Southgate Street and at Bushfield roundabout follow the signs for Bishop’s Walton on the B3335. After Twyford keep left on the B3354 until Fisher’s Pond. At the Fisher’s Pond traffic lights turn left onto the B2177 to Bishop’s Waltham.
By bus: on Stagecoach bus route 69.