Start at the River Park Leisure Centre in Gordon Road.

At the start of your walk you’ll find the grave of Alfred the Great in Hyde Abbey’s ruins.

From here walk into the Recreation Ground, passing the tennis courts on your left and after crossing the bridge take a right.

You can stop to feed the ducks, or alternatively keep walking over the bridge, following the park path round to your left.

Go through the bollards and take the tree lined street, before turning left at the traffic lights.

Follow the road which will then bear left until you reach the Willow Tree pub.

Crossover and walk along the river and take the next bridge on your left and meander down Water Lane.

As you walk through the narrow park, keep going straight until you reach the main road, and then you’ll want to find a suitable crossing point by the Winchester City Mill.

As you walk down the ramp, you can enjoy the views of the fast-flowing River Itchen as you wander along The Weirs, while keeping the wall of Wolseley Castle on your right.

Watch out for the local Heron!

You’ll want to follow the path as it bears round to the right. Here you might fancy a quick pit stop to admire the ruins of this medieval castle and Wolvesey Palace.

By the traffic barrier, take a left and follow the road and then take the next right after Winchester College New Hall.

At the top of this one-way road you’ll find the start of the water meadows.

If you’re familiar with ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, then enjoy walking in the footsteps of one of the world’s most famous poets, John Keates.

Over two hundred years ago, he walked along this very river at sunset and the words became the poem To Autumn.

There are lots of flowers along this riverbank all year round and several dipping spots for dogs.

Take the water meadows path, and from here you’ll be able to see some of the older buildings that belong to Winchester College.

At the end of the path, take a right and walk straight, past the playing fields until you reach the end of the road.

Then turn left and take the second road on your left, Clausentum Road.

Walk straight ahead and after the bend you’ll see an opening by the end of the wall and woodland on your left-hand side.

Take this shaded route and see if you can smell the wild garlic.

At the end of the path, turn right and you should recognise where you are.

Cross over the road and retrace your steps back along the water meadows.

You might even want to stop and enjoy the view of St Catherine’s Hill on your right.

At the end of the water meadows, turn right and then left after New Hall.

At Wolvesey Palace, take College Street on your left after the traffic barrier.

At the top of College Street, walk right under Kingsgate, one of two surviving medieval gates in Winchester.

Turn right again and walk under the coat of arms which adorns the cathedral gate.

Follow the path around to your left, and maybe peruse the books that stand outside the Deanery Bookstall.

From here you’ll have impressive views of Winchester Cathedral as you walk through the cathedral close.

In the far-left hand corner there is an archway that leads to the cathedral grounds.

Here you’ll be standing by the main entrance of Winchester’s one-thousand-year-old cathedral with an unusual mosaic window that was shattered during England’s Civil War and pieced back together how it is now.

Follow the path straight ahead in a north-easterly direction until you reach the pedestrianised high street. Walk left up the high street.

If you fancy a pit stop then grab a table and a bite to eat at the Winchester Bakery while admiring the Butter Cross, a historical monument.

The baked goods are very tempting, and the cafe even stands on the site of William The Conqueror’s palace and features a very ornate fire place.

After refuelling, continue up the high street, taking the second turning on your right.

Walk back down the hilly one-way system until you reach Parchment Street.

Turn left and walk to the end of the road, where you will take a left.

You will want to turn right onto Gordon Road but it’s a tricky crossing so be wary.

Then follow the road round to the right and as it bends left, until you see the car park.

  • By Camilla Dowson, Senior Media Manager at Ordnance Survey

Walk at a glance

Start: River Park Leisure Centre, Gordon Rd, Winchester, SO23 7DD

Distance: 5.86 kilometres

Time: 1 hr 29 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

URL: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/18939797/

Map: Winchester OL32OS Explorer

Toilets: Yes

Nearest Pub (and café): King Alfred Pub, 11 Saxon Rd, Winchester SO23 7DJ

OS Maps App rating: 5

Three tips to navigate with OS Maps App

1. The red triangle on the OS Maps App is your friend. Hold your phone out in front of you like a torch, and if you turn 180 degrees, so will the triangle. That points you in the direction you need to go.

2. Don’t slavishly follow the red line on the route. Remember, in OS Maps App, this line is only a navigational guide. Pay close attention to the pathways (denoted by black dotted lines on the map). In practice these are the markings you’ll need to make your way around on the ground.

3. Keep an eye on the app whenever approaching forks in the route. Use common sense - if a suggested path looks untrodden or in bad condition, then stay on the main one.

Download OS Maps App from the Ordnance Survey shop. Full annual subscription is available for £34.99.