The history of Bishop's Waltham can be seen in two distinct buildings: Bishop's Waltham Palace and the Church of St Peter. There is also a museum with a regional collection, as well as trails and opportunities for nature watching. This gives you a choice when planning your trip: explore the buildings and local history, or focus on circular walks and nature.
Palace and church: two historic landmarks
Bishop's Waltham Palace was a magnate's residence built in the 12th century and remained in use until it fell into disrepair during the Civil War. A moat surrounds the inner courtyard, which is entered through a gatehouse. The moat, gatehouse and courtyard give the site its clearly defined layout.
The Church of St Peter stands on an older site. Its construction dates back to Henry de Blois in 1136; it is listed as a Grade II* building. Its construction history and listed status are two distinct historical reference points: one indicates when it was built, the other its protected designation.
Collection and local meeting place
Bishop's Waltham Museum displays objects from Bishop's Waltham and the surrounding region. Its time span extends from prehistory to modern times. The collection thus complements the history of the buildings with objects from a broad period, from the town and its surroundings.
Bishop's Waltham Country Market is held at Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1ED.
Trails with different points of interest
A 1 km stretch of the former railway line between Botley and Bishop's Waltham is now a public footpath open to permitted users. This exact stretch forms part of both the King's Way and the Pilgrims Trail. The Bishop's Waltham heritage walk also follows a section of the Pilgrims Trail, but has a different focus: it follows the history of Bishop's Waltham Palace.
An accessible circular route connects Priory Park with the Railway Footpath Local Nature Reserve. The Bishop's Waltham and South Downs route starts at St George's Square and uses a mix of roads and off-road paths. Different features may therefore help you choose between these routes: the accessible circular route between the park and the nature reserve, or the route that starts at the square and alternates between roads and paths.
Nature trails and wildlife watching
The Bishop's Waltham nature walk is a circular route that starts in the town and leads to the source of the River Hamble at the Sand Boils. It passes through local nature reserves and land managed by the Woodland Trust and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Bishop's Waltham The Moors is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is of national importance because of its unusual habitat.
The Mill Pond is a good place to spot kingfishers, little grebes and emperor dragonflies. Bishop's Waltham Railway Line provides a habitat for treecreepers, chiffchaffs, goldcrests and blackcaps. Nature lovers therefore have several options: a circular walk to the source of the River Hamble, or named species to look for at a pond or along the habitat of the Railway Line.
Getting here
Regular buses from Winchester, Southampton, Eastleigh, Botley and Fareham run through Bishop's Waltham. As routes and service levels may change, check connections before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Litchfield, Lyndhurst, Hordle, East Tisted, Hythe, Romsey, Burley, Sarisbury Green.
For the wider travel overview: Hampshire.
