Winchester, St Catherine's Hill and The Itchen Navigation

On Winchester High Street, you passed the statue of King Alfred. This massive bronze figure stands on blocks of Cornish granite and is a fitting memorial to a Saxon King who not only defeated the Vikings, but also brought justice to the area and encouraged the city's scholarly tradition. His successors became the first kings of a United England.

Just beyond the statue is the old city bridge, built in 1813 on the site of an earlier structure. Nearby is the city mill, built in 1744, and now owned by the National Trust.

The route follows the line of the city wall along the banks of the River Itchen, where part of the 3rd century Roman wall still survives. Beyond the end of the wall are the ruins of Wolvesey Castle and Wolvesey Palace. The castle was built in the 1130's by Bishop Henry Du Blois, but was largely destroyed when Oliver Cromwell's troops captured Winchester in 1645. The Bishop's Palace next to the castle was built for Bishop Morley in 1684.

The walk continues along the valley of the River Itchen through delightful meadows that are ideal for picnics. At the end of the 12th century, money was raised by bishops to make the river navigable, and tolls were charged therefore to pay for its maintenance. The Itchen Navigation, now disused, enabled boats to sail north to Winchester from Twyford and Southampton. More than 10 miles of navigation still exists. And the paths alongside are very good for walking.

Further along, the route diverts from the valley to scale St Catherine's Hill. The land is owned by Winchester College, but is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Naturalists Trust as a nature reserve. Much of the chalk grassland and scrub are grazed by cattle during the winter, but a wealth of insects, butterflies, birds and flowers are to be found here too. The grassland flora includes kidney vetch, ox-eye daisy, ragwort, harebell, rock-rose, dogwood, wild clematis and several orchids.

There was once an Iron Age fort on the hilltop, though no remains of it are visible today. Major prehistoric routes passed nearby, including the Harrow Way, which ran from Marizion in Cornwall to Dover in Kent. Today, the hilltop is graced by a clump of beech trees, first planted in 1760, though today's trees date from 1897. Nearby is a small maze, possibly of prehistoric origin, but believed to have been cut in the early 18th century by a boy from the college. It was recut in 1832 by order of the warden of Winchester College.

Beyond St Catherine's Hill, you descend to the valley, cross the river, and walk back upstream to the old buildings of St Cross. This was once a village outside the city walls, and its fine late Norman cruciform church is comparable to a small cathedral. The Hospital of St Cross, from which the village took its name, was founded in 1133 by Bishop Du Blois. Never a monastic foundation, it escaped the attention of Henry VIII, and is the oldest charitable institution in Britain still doing its original work.

In addition to exploring the chapel, visitors can see the Brethren's Hall and kitchens and the Masters Garden. The ancient tradition of the Wayfarer's Dole is still observed, and anyone who calls at the Porters Lodge is entitled to some bread and a small glass of ale.

The walk continues along the river to Winchester College. The college was founded in 1382 by William of Wykeham, who was Bishop of Winchester from 1366 to 1404. Its original purpose was to train seventy scholars for the church. All boys of the college are still known as Wykehamists.

The playing fields look magnificent in the summer, and there are some very handsome buildings, several of which have medieval origins. Lessons are still taught in classrooms 600 years old. Guided tours of the school grounds are available during the summer vacations.