The Wessex Conference Centre
Amenities and Leisure facilities
Get Out!
During your stay we invite you to take advantage of our best leisure facility – the
Great Outdoors!
The Wessex Conference Centre is fortunate to be set in 450 acres of sublime countryside – try one of our farm walks (see below) or if you prefer, stroll around our well-kept grounds, where you may see our resident herd of deer, nibbling the grass.
Walking
and cycling really do provide endless opportunities for exploring what
we think is one of England’s most beautiful counties. The Wessex
Conference Centre is the ideal starting off point for rambling and cycling,
placed as it is within easy reach of Hampshire’s many walking and
cycling routes. Take time to discover scenic paths such as The Itchen Way,
The Test Way, St Swithun’s Way, Wayfarer’s Walk, or The Hampshire
Millennium Pilgrims’ Trail either on foot or by bike – or for
the more adventurous, by horse.
The recommended regional maps for the Winchester area are Ordnance Survey Explorer Sheet 132 (1:25000) or Landranger Sheet 185 (1:50000).
There are also plenty of off-road cycling tracks for the more adventurous among you. Click on www.hants.gov.uk/cycling to get hold of two off-road cycling packs. Each pack has 12 routes, for distances between 2 ½ - 26 miles.
For horse riding, contact www.bhs.org.uk
Fit for Life . . .
If you prefer to stay on-site, there are tennis and squash courts and well-maintained
sports pitches for outdoor games such as football, rounders, hockey or
softball. There’s also an
indoor hall for when the weather is inclement, that’s suitable
for sports such as yoga, pilates, volleyball or badminton. Just ask to
book before use.
There is a fully-equipped gym where for Health & Safety reasons, we are obliged to ask all guests to book an induction with one of our members of staff.
During term time, you can visit “Fit Jym’s”, known as Café Revive during the day, for great coffee, cappuccino and snacks. There is also a small shop selling newspapers, drinks and snacks.
Gardens galore . . .
We would encourage all gardening enthusiasts to amble up to our Horticultural
Department and walk around the gardens, which include the famous Radio
4 Gardeners’ Question Time garden and the “Potting Shed” (yes,
it really does exist). Pop in to the exotic tropical house, home to two
monkeys and some Amazonian Tree Frogs. Again, just book with us before
you go.
Exotics and more . . .
If you wish, guided walks can be pre-booked for either our farm or our
Animal Management Department, where you can see exotic animals, birds
and snakes, llamas, alpacas, sheep and goats, as well as well-known household
pets such as cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. There’s also a huge
and well-stocked aquatic department, where you can pre-book tours to
see the fabulous tropical and farmed fish.
