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Avon Water Meadows – Standlynch Chapel loop from Downton

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Avon Water Meadows – Standlynch Chapel loop from Downton

Moderate

hikers

Avon Water Meadows – Standlynch Chapel loop from Downton

04:08

15.5km

180m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 29, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.20 km

Avon Water Meadows

Highlight • Natural

This four-mile stretch of the river Avon was altered in the late 1600s to create 250 acres of water meadows near to the village of Downton, south of Salisbury. These meadows remain an important flood defence today, while also providing essential habitat for water- and wetland-loving wildlife.

Tip by

3.09 km

Stile and Curved Wooden Post

Highlight • Trail

Someone took a great deal of care when making this stile and post. The post, in particularly, is great to grab a hold of as you climb over the stile!

Tip by

3.36 km

Footbridge and Weir on the River Avon

Highlight • River

Pedestrian bridge over the River Avon at a large weir. A great place for a picnic, or just to pause and marvel at a sublimely beautiful location off the beaten track!

Tip by

3.68 km

Standlynch Chapel

Highlight • Other

Former estate chapel for nearby Trafalgar Park Estate which was gifted by the nation to the successors of Admiral Lord Nelson. Building is now redundant and permanently locked but the churchyard can be accessed any time.

Tip by

4.11 km

Trafalgar Park Estate and River Avon View

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

This section of the path crosses Trafalgar Park’s vista of the River Avon and beyond it Charlton All Saints.

As you might imagine with a name like Trafalgar the estate has connections with Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Following Horatio’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 his brother Rev William Nelson was created 1st Earl Nelson and apparently lobbied Parliament for an estate in recognition of his brother’s service to the nation.

Standlynch Park was the location chosen by the Treasury and it was renamed Trafalger Park. Descendants of Horatio Nelson lived here until 1948 when it was sold by the 5th Earl Nelson.

Tip by

8.26 km

Cheyney's Wood

Forest

8.57 km

Yew Woodland Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

Very pretty single track through woods with an unusually high number of old yew trees. Easy underfoot but as the path meets the A36 near Pepperbox, it's quite steep and overgrown with a couple of fallen trees.

Tip by

10.0 km

Studlands Copse

Forest

13.9 km

The Moot and Moot House, Downton

Highlight • Historical Site

Hidden away in the tiny village of Downton, the Moot is the remains of an 11th century motte and bailey castle. Like much of this region, Downton is the home of numerous historic discoveries dating back to neolithic times and the Moot is actually next to the remains of a Roman Villa.

The earthworks that can be walked around today are from a Norman castle and form part of extensive landscaped gardens. Free to the public, this is a perfect spot for a mosey about and a cracking open of the thermos flask.

Moot House was built in the 1600s and landscaped the castle earthworks. They had an earthen amphitheatre built which saw many plays performed, particularly Shakespeare's.

Tip by

14.2 km

Downton Village

Highlight • Historical Site

Downton is a charming village situated along the River Avon. A Roman villa has been discovered here, and on high ground, the remains of an Iron Age hillfort are still visible today.

Downton hosts the annual Cuckoo Fair which offers visitors some 250+ craft stalls, live music, and entertainment.

With a brewery and plenty of facilities, Downton makes a great base to explore the River Avon and the New Forest from.

Tip by

15.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.93 km

3.74 km

2.37 km

2.21 km

1.14 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.23 km

3.69 km

2.09 km

2.01 km

1.95 km

455 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (150 m)

Lowest point (30 m)

Weather

Wednesday 8 July

33°C

16°C

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Avon Water Meadows – Standlynch Chapel loop from Downton

Avon Water Meadows

Stile and Curved Wooden Post

Footbridge and Weir on the River Avon

Standlynch Chapel

Trafalgar Park Estate and River Avon View

Yew Woodland Trail

The Moot and Moot House, Downton

Downton Village

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