The water meadows south of Winchester Cathedral are one of the loveliest walking routes in southern England. The path follows the River Itchen through a classic chalk-stream landscape: crystal-clear water running over beds of ranunculus, willow and alder on the banks, and trout visible in the shallows. The meadows were historically managed by a complex system of channels and sluices to protect early spring grass growth from frost.
From the Cathedral Close, the path runs south past Wolvesey Castle, through the water meadows, and eventually to the Hospital of St Cross — a distance of about a mile. St Cross itself is a remarkable survival: an almshouse founded in 1136 that still provides a "Wayfarer's Dole" (bread and ale) to any traveller who knocks on the door. The whole walk, out to St Cross and back, takes a comfortable 90 minutes.