Avon Valley Path

{{Short description|Long-distance footpath in southern England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}

{{coord|51.067|-1.798|display=title}}

{{Infobox hiking trail

|name=Avon Valley Path

|photo=File:Burton, Avon Valley Path - geograph.org.uk - 1214261.jpg

|caption=Between Winkton and Burton in Dorset

|location=South west England

|designation=

|length_mi=34

|trailheads=Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire
Christchurch Priory, Dorset.

|use=Hiking

|elev_change=

|highest=

|lowest=

|difficulty=

|season=

|sights=

|hazards=

}}

File:Avon Valley Path Map.png

The Avon Valley Path is a long-distance path, opened in 1992, which runs for {{convert|34|mi|km|lk=on|abbr=off}} through the English counties of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.{{cite web | url = https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/avonvalley-salisbury| title = Salisbury to Downton | work=Avon Valley Path | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 30 January 2023}}

The path takes its name from the River Avon. From Salisbury it passes through the towns of Fordingbridge and Ringwood as well as the villages of Odstock, Nunton, Charlton-All-Saints, Downton, Hale, Woodgreen, Turmer, Ibsley, Kingston, Sopley and Burton. It ends near the coast at Christchurch Priory, Dorset.{{coord|50.7320|-1.7743|region:GB_scale:5000}}

The path is waymarked with green arrows featuring a bridge, and shown as a series of coloured diamonds on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 maps. It can be walked in either direction. The path crosses the Clarendon Way and Castleman Trailway, and passes through the western edge of the New Forest.

Parts of the route can become waterlogged, particularly from December to May.{{cite web | url = https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Roads-and-transport/Travel-and-transport/Walking/Documents/Avon-Valley-leaflet.pdf| title = Walking in Hampshire - Avon Valley Path | author=Hampshire Countryside Service | year=2006 |publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 31 January 2023}}