Play the Trails of Itchen Valley Country Park, Southampton
Itchen Valley Country Park bursts with places to play and trails to try, including an adventure play trail through the woods, two play areas, and a brass rubbing nature trail.
This is one of our favourite places to play and is a great choice for those days when your children need to burn off some energy.
Itchen Valley CP Play Trail
This adventure play trail has wooden equipment scattered along a woodland walk.
The play equipment includes:
- a musical tiger
- animals to climb on
- a snail slide
- a tractor and
- wooden climbing frames with bridges, ropes and climbing walls.
High Wood Barn Play Area
Next to the cafe is a play area for children up to 8 years.
It has equipment that includes:
- a wide slide on a hill
- a tunnel
- a wooden climbing frame
- a wooden pirate ship
- a log balance course
- a jeep springer
- animal springers
- an obstacle course
- puzzle boards
- seats to sit on.
Little Monkeys Play Area
About a five minute walk from the cafe is a second play area for children to the age of 14 years.
The equipment includes:
- a slide on a hill with tunnels
- a climbing frame of suspended baskets
- swings
- toddler swings
- a wooden climbing frame
- climbing rocks
- a seesaw
- an obstacle course with wobbly logs, bridges, and rope swings (this is hidden in the woods next to the play area!)
- a spinning hoop
- a basket swing
- a rope climbing frame
- a zip wire
- seats to sit on.
Other Activities
As well as playing, there are other things to try, including:
- the Nature Detectives walk, which is a nature trail with information boards and brass rubbing spots.
- a cafe that sells food and drinks and has an indoor play area with educational activities.
- orienteering courses. Maps can be picked up from the Woodland Cafe or from the British Orienteering website.
- lots of trails. Have a look at the Itchen Valley Country Park Trail Guide for further details.
River Itchen
The strange thing about River Itchen Country Park is that you can’t actually get down to the river. You can stand on a bridge over the river though. To find it, leave the Woodlands Cafe with the play area on your left and follow the path.
Itchen Valley Nature Reserve
If you cross this bridge you can walk through water meadows during the summer and early autumn (it is flooded at other times). There are water voles, otters and lots of insects living here.
Visit the Itchen Valley Country Park website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Eastleigh, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO30 3HQ
Opens: Daily
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe, hire a barbecue or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe offering snacks and ice cream, shop, toilets and accessible toilets, picnic areas.
How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy-friendly.
Parking: There are several different car parks to choose from.
Cost of Parking: From £1.50 per hour.
Wildlife You Might See: Insects, butterflies, ducks, geese, kingfishers, other birds and deer.
Information Written: July 2020
Ratings
Our visit to Itchen Valley Country Park and the Itchen Valley Country Park Adventure Play Area in Eastleigh, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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Before taking part in any activities or visiting any places listed, you should make appropriate checks to ensure high quality provision, a safe environment is provided and to check all these details are up to date before you visit and/or take part. We accept no liability (to the fullest extent permitted by law) for the quality of the activities provided or places listed or for the accuracy of any information given.
