Winchester is an excellent centre for walking, famed as the start of the Pilgrim's Way, but now a stopping point on many long distance walks. A towpath leads out to St Catherine's Hill , close to Twyford Down and there is a walk through the water meadows beyond the ancient town walls and Winchester College to St Cross . Across the River Itchen a steep walk on St Giles' Hill leads up to a viewpoint across the city. The city also has a popular leisure centre. A park and ride service operates from the city's eastern approaches.
Help is available for disabled visitors through a 'Shopmobility' scheme.
Winchester has many attractions and places to visit not already described here. Approaches Some of Hampshire's best beaches are on Hayling Island , awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for their cleanliness and facilities. Hayling Island was the birthplace of windsurfing, and is still a leading centre for the sport. Stretches of coast on Hayling and between Portsmouth and Southampton, are backed by farmland, or nature reserves . Stokes Bay at Gosport also meets the exacting quality standards for sea-water cleanliness.