The best walks and hikes around Chilcomb

The Faladoon Nature Reserve is a peaceful, lesser-known area, historically associated with Winchester College, that lies alongside the internationally important River Itchen chalk stream. Located near Winchester, this reserve forms a green corridor that offers tranquil walks, including a loop that connects to the historic Hockley Railway Viaduct. The area is significant for its diverse flora and fauna typical of a managed chalk-river flood plain, providing habitat for various bird species like kingfishers and woodpeckers, and serving as a key spot for local wildlife enthusiasts and conservation groups like the Conchological Society due to the presence of rare mollusc species.

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 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 Buttercross is a magnificent, many-pinnacled, 15th-century stone market cross located prominently on Winchester's High Street. Originally known as the City Cross, it acquired the name "Buttercross" because its five octagonal steps and surrounding area were traditionally used by country people to sell dairy products, eggs, and other produce. The highly decorative Gothic structure features a tall central shaft, numerous smaller pinnacles, and twelve figures, including the Blessed Virgin, various saints, King Alfred the Great, and William of Wykeham (though many of the statues were added during an 1865 restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott). The monument is also famous for a local "small riot" in 1770, when the citizens successfully prevented a local squire from dismantling and moving the historic cross to his private estate.

a key landmark that crosses the River Itchen right next to the famous Winchester City Mill on the eastern edge of the city centre.

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 Weirs is one of the most picturesque and historically significant areas in Winchester, primarily known for its beautiful riverside walk and its close association with the River Itchen and the city's medieval and Roman past.