A Winchester Walk 12
It is a magical place : John Keats was so captivated that he here conceived his ode ‘ To Autumn ’. There were , he said , ‘ the most beautiful streams about I ever saw ’, and the air was ‘ worth sixpence a pint ’.
The timber-framed cricket pavilion , Hunter Tent , that next comes into view across the playing fields , looks out over a ground where Douglas Jardine ( 1900 – 58 ) learned the cricketing skills needed to defeat Donald Bradman ’ s Australians in the controversial ‘ Bodyline ’ Test series of 1932 – 33 .
To the left is the looming presence of St Catherine ’ s Hill with the remains of an Iron Age fort at the top . Before formal games became a regular part of College life , boys would regularly process up its slopes for badger hunts , free fights , loosely arranged cricket and football matches , and collecting wildflowers and birds ’ eggs .
At the point where the footpath meets Garnier Road , there are two options to extend the walk : A or B . Both will take you back to College , and both take about one hour .
Views along the Itchen .
The Hospital of St Cross from the Itchen .