Did you know #Heathrow expansion means building over FIVE rivers, severing links between the internationally rare #chalkstreams of the #Chilterns and the Thames for fish and otters?

It really was 😁

I've now followed this Avon from trickling streams north of Pewsey, to the sea. Often only catching glimpses of it, other times embracing the river bank.

Only 3% of our rivers are accessible. As @righttoroam.bsky.social says:

Isn't it time more were opened up?

I arrived at the cathedral close to sunset. There stands the Walking Madonna. In a fit of conceit I had to have my picture taken with her. Then a dash to the train station to catch the hourly train home.

The Avon twisted into Salisbury, the cathedral ever visible. At one point I was following the wrong river but it took me to a rather natty set of public loos, with each named after a river.

Having never visited old sarum before, the scale was mindblowing. 5 thousand years of history. I need to visit properly another time when I can stay long enough to make the entrance fee worthwhile.

The river widened and the landscape expanded.

Approaching busy A345 dual carriageway I played the familiar game. How would I get across? Bridge, tunnel or suicidal dash? Bridge. Phew.

Reaching Amesbury just as a church bell tolled 12, a tea and cake stop.

I stitched various paths together. Sometimes following the Pewsey Avon trail, sometimes following footpaths and roads closer to the river.

Chocolate box villages with thatched roof houses were linked by the woven thread. Churches alternating with tranquil fields

The reality today is that only 8% of the countryside is open to public access, and only 3% of our rivers, with around 20 million people living more than 15 minutes from access to nature. Access under CRoW is a postcode lottery, with over 100 constituencies left with no access land at all.

That's such a shame. I would have liked to have tagged them.

My first King Charles postbox, a yew tree said to be over 3000 years old (just wow!) and a visit to Janes Austen's home. A splendidly muddy walk.
Thoroughly recommend the LDWA walks for those who fancy a decent stretch.

Awww. I'm sorry to have brought up sad memories.