Nearest train station: Shawford
Compton Lock is a deep pool situated on the River Itchen, just south of Winchester and outside the small settlement of Shawford near the village of Twyford.
The pool is easily accessible thanks to purpose-built wooden steps and is surrounded by beautiful fields and meadows with the option to swim upstream should conditions allow.
The spot can be accessed from if you’re coming either north from Twyford or north from Wincheser, either by a public footpath that hugs the banks of the River Itchen or by traversing fields and meadows nearby.
If you continue walking south you’ll reach longer stretches across the River Itchen, which is also swimmable if the water is high enough.
How to Get to Compton Lock
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this lovely spot on the River Itchen by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode SO21 2BN into your sat nav, which will take you to a car park by Shawford Train Station. Walk over the River Itchen on Shawford Road and then follow the footpath north; Compton Lock is 10 minute walk up the banks of the river.
The nearby village of Shawford is situated just off the M3 if you’re heading south from Winchester to Southampton.
By public transport
The nearest train station is Shawford, which is just a 10 minute walk away. The larger train hub of Winchester may be preferable if you’re coming from elsewhere. There are a number of buses, such as the Bluestar 1, E1 and the WPR which you can from Winchester Train Station to Shawford.
If you fancy a walk from Winchester, there’s a lovely trail from the station which takes you past the cathedral and past the Iron Age ruins of the St. Catherine’s Hill before heading south down the banks of the River Itchen. The walk takes just over an hour and the route can be found here.
By bike
Winchester and the surrounding area is set up well for cyclists, and there’s a route that goes directly from the southern end of the city through adjacent to both the River Itchen and lovely meadows that will lead you just past Compton Lock. Take a look at this cycling map of Winchester to get a better idea.
What else is nearby Compton Lock?
The area around Compton Lock is great for meadow walks in and around the nearby settlements of Shawford, and Twyford. We recommend following the River Itchen south of the lock for further wild swimming opportunities downstream.