Things to do
There’s plenty for families to enjoy at Itchen Valley Country Park
Woodland Café
Our Woodland Café is housed in a beautiful barn, along with the Holt, our indoor play area for children aged six and under (see below).
The barn was built in the style of a 17th Century Hampshire Aisle Barn and constructed using the traditional methods of that period, from timber brought down on the Beaulieu estate during the 1987 storms.
The Woodland Café provides fresh, easy - on -the - go good quality food. We cater for vegetarians and vegans, as well as those with food allergies and intolerances.
We sell a range of dog treats in the café.
Art exhibitions
The Woodland Café regularly exhibits the work of local artists, with the opportunity to purchase originals, prints and gifts. Works are displayed across the café's interior, so have a browse and admire their talents during your visit.
Local artists who are interested in displaying their work are invited to email ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk
Play areas
Outdoor
Children can enjoy 5 free outdoors play areas here at Itchen Valley Country Park.
Find The Den closest to the Woodland Café with toddler swings, a climbing turret, tunnels and more.
Follow the Forest Trail to Woodlarks, hand built by our rangers children can enjoy a mud kitchen, ‘shop’ and other games to encourage imaginative play.
Explore further to find The Drey, also built by our rangers. Created to test children’s limits and adventurous sides!
Older children can enjoy The Warren with a large slide, zip wire, swings and climbing apparatus.
End your adventure with play equipment along the Play Trail made by local sculptor Andy Frost.
All our trails are pushchair-friendly.
Indoor
The Holt is our indoor woodland play area for children aged six and under. In the Holt, children will find many of the animals who make Itchen Valley Country Park their home!
Toilets
Due to current building works our toilets nearest the Woodland Café are closed and you can find temporary porta-loos in place.
Toilets are open at the top of the park closest to The Warren
Go Ape!
We are home to the adrenaline fuelled, award-winning tree top adventure Go Ape!
Tucked away in our beautiful woodland with the River Itchen running through its heart, is Itchen Valley Go Ape! It boasts some of the highest platforms and quickest zip wires in the south. Take to the trees, speed down zip slides, tackle rope bridges, Tarzan swings and crossings; all set high above the forest floor.
Trails and self-led activities
We set themed family trails with prizes throughout the year or you can use our trail guide to find your own adventure by exploring the waymarked routes.
Our Felix Fox trail is available all-year-round:
Fitness with Felix trail
Be guided by Felix the Fox signs as you take part in fun physical activity challenges around the forest trail at the Country Park.
Free activity sheets
Entertain your little ones and promote outdoor discovery!
We have a number of free seasonal activity sheets you can download to your phone or print off at home before coming to the park including nature hunts, quizzes, and activities linked to the national curriculum for learning in the outdoors.
Cycling
Cyclists are welcome to bring their bikes and use our off-road cycle route which is approximately 1.5 miles long and runs through both woodland and open fields.
Horse riding on our multi-use trail
Horse riders may purchase a licence to use our 1.35km multi-use trail. The trail is shared with walkers but there is a short canter strip just for horses. A licence for 2024 is £60. Please email for an application form.
parkrun
A free weekly 5km timed run, held on Saturdays at 9am by volunteers. Visit the parkrun website for details.
Get two hours parking for the price of one - by placing your one hour parking ticket and parkrun barcode on the dashboard. If you plan to run this event on a regular basis then an annual permit maybe worth your while. This can be purchased for a discounted rate and enables you to park on Saturday mornings up until midday. Please email us ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk for more information or to request a permit.
Orienteering
Visitors who enjoy a more active way of exploring the park may like to have a go at orienteering. It involves map reading to locate control points throughout the park. There are three courses ranging from 2km to 4km to suit different levels of ability.
It can be used as a group activity with a timed course to bring the element of competition! Maps can be purchased from the Woodland Cafe for £1.50
There is also a course at our sister park, Lakeside Country Park.
For further information about permanent courses and local events see the Southampton Orienteering Club website.
Digital orienteering
There is a handy digital alternative and you just need a smartphone or tablet. Simply download the free MapRun app and complete a course at your leisure. Not all courses at the country park will have physical checkpoints - the app will send you a notification when you are in the correct location.
Volunteering
We have a great volunteering community that do a great job of maintaining the Country Parks for visitors and wildlife alike as well as giving events a touch of magic. Take a look at the latest opportunities.