The best cycling routes around South Wonston

Historic waterbeds for growing watercress, on a very quiet road. There's a ford just along with a perfect cycle crossing

St Catherine's Hill is a prominent chalk downland hill on the outskirts of Winchester, notable for its layered historical and ecological importance. Now a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) managed as a nature reserve, its summit is ringed by the impressive earthworks of a univallate Iron Age hillfort dating back over 2,000 years. The top is marked by a distinctive copse of beech trees, known as 'The Clump', which contains the scant ruins of the 12th-century St Catherine's Chapel, while the hillside features a turf-cut labyrinth known as the Miz-Maze; the entire site provides spectacular views over the city, the Itchen Valley, and supports a rich variety of wildflowers and butterflies, including the protected Chalkhill Blue.

The remains of the Roman city walls in Winchester, anciently known as Venta Belgarum, are primarily buried, as the medieval city was built directly upon and adapted the original defensive circuit; however, the single most visible fragment of the original Roman stone wall, built in the third century AD, can be found encased in a small grotto on The Weirs, near the River Itchen and the Bishop on the Bridge pub. While much of the stone was dismantled over time, especially in the 18th century to accommodate traffic, the subsequent Anglo-Saxon and medieval city walls largely followed the original Roman line, meaning the general boundary of the Roman town still influences the layout of Winchester today, with the remaining medieval gates, Kingsgate and Westgate, standing in the tradition of their Roman predecessors.

The striking bronze statue of King Alfred the Great is one of Winchester's most recognizable landmarks, dominating The Broadway at the eastern end of the High Street near the River Itchen. Sculpted by Sir Hamo Thornycroft, the colossal, 15-foot-tall figure was erected in 1901 to commemorate the millennium of the king's death—a pivotal figure who made Winchester his capital and is credited with being "The Founder of the Kingdom and Nation," as inscribed on its granite base. Depicting a heroic, bearded Alfred in a regal stance with a downward-pointing sword hilt forming a cross, the statue celebrates his dual role as a military champion against the Vikings and an early Christian leader, all while standing proudly in the city he helped define.

The Sword: Alfred is shown grasping a large, cross-hilted sword with the point facing downwards. This posture is symbolic, representing not just his prowess as a warrior who defended his kingdom against the Vikings, but also his role as a Christian leader, with the hilt forming the shape of a cross. The Pedestal: The statue rests on a large pedestal of Cornish granite, which is inscribed with just one word: AELFRED. Historical Portrayal: Thornycroft's depiction is a romanticized, heroic one—showing Alfred with a long, flowing beard—even though contemporary coins suggest the King was clean-shaven. The monument represents the Victorian-era idea of Alfred as a perfect warrior, statesman, and philosopher king.

The statue depicts Alfred the Great (847–899 AD), who was the King of the West Saxons and is traditionally regarded as the first King of the Anglo-Saxons and the founder of the Kingdom of England. Winchester was his capital. Sculptor: Sir Hamo Thornycroft, a highly-regarded Royal Academician. Completion: It was completed in 1901, although it was commissioned to mark the millennium of King Alfred's death (which was in 899 AD). Size: The bronze statue is monumental, standing at 15 feet (4.57 m) high and weighing about five tons. The total height with its granite pedestal is around 40 feet. Location: It stands prominently at the eastern end of The Broadway, near the junction with Bridge Street and Eastgate Street, with the High Street extending behind it toward the city centre.

The Roman walls at "The Weirs" in Winchester are a rare and important visible fragment of the city's ancient defenses. Location: The visible fragment of the Roman wall is located in the area known as The Weirs, specifically near the River Itchen and close to the Bishop on the Bridge pub. Appearance: It is typically housed within a small, often gated or railed grotto-like enclosure, standing below the current ground level (demonstrating how much the ground has risen over the centuries). Significance: It is believed to be the only remaining visible section of the original Roman city wall of Venta Belgarum.

More information about King Alfred: https://www.cityofwinchester.co.uk/history/html/king_alfred.html