Historic walk in Winchester to help beat the Christmas bulge

Dec. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- What better way to work off all those extra calories in your Christmas dinner than with a short walk, and www.Citysteps.co.uk has just the thing. Our two downloadable audio walking guides to the historic town of Winchester in Hampshire will take you on a eye-opening journey around this fascinating and ancient city.

Once the capital of Saxon Wessex, and later nearly the capital of England, Winchester is one of Britain’s most historic cities. Romans, Saxons, Normans and the British monarchy and Church of England have all left their mark here over centuries of occupation. Not the least of this is Winchester’s mighty Gothic cathedral, its nave the longest of its type in all Europe. Yet despite all its history, Winchester remains a vibrant and important city locally, and the county seat of Hampshire, perhaps because of its accessibility from London.

Both Winchester audio walking guides can be purchased here http://citysteps.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9 for £5 each or both for £8.

Guide one starts right in the historic heart of Winchester, at the Market Cross, next to the medieval Pentice and the site of William the Conqueror's Palace. Strolling up High Street we pass more old buildings like God Begot House to reach the Westgate, one of the former entrances to the city. From there we take in the castle ruins, the Great Hall with its famous Round Table and Peninsula Barracks - once home to the Army in Winchester, now converted into luxury apartments, but still housing a number of military museums. We then descend to South Street, past former churches and a phone box that is now a listed building, to reach Winchester Cathedral, which has the longest Gothic nave in Europe. Our route finishes by exploring the Cathedral Close, including its Roman pavement and resident ghosts.

Our second guide starts from just outside the Cathedral Close, this audio guide first visits Winchester's other remaining medieval gateway - the Kingsgate - and the tiny Church of St Swithun housed above it.Turning the corner, we encounter Jane Austen before passing Winchester College and Wolvesey Castle to reach the River Itchen. A short stroll along the river brings us to the Town Bridge and City Mill, then Winchester's oldest house, the Chesil Rectory, now a fine independent restaurant. Just up the road is the Chesil Theatre, before a climb uphill is rewarded with spectacular views over Winchester from St Giles's Hill. Descending we visit more ancient buildings - a church, a Tudor house and a former medieval pub - before encountering King Alfred the Great's statue on Broadway. Nearby are the remains of the medieval Nunnaminster - one of Winchester's abbeys - and the more modern Guildhall. A short walk up High Street keeps us in the Middle Ages, with sites of a former linen hall, a church and even a medieval public latrine! The route ends on a rather more tasteful note in The Square, near the sublimely tiny Church of St Lawrence, and the site of a gory 17th century execution - complete with ghost...