Where can I visit the river?
There are many places to visit the River Avon. Discover them for yourself. Have a picnic, take a walk, see the wildlife. Walk the Avon Valley Path or visit your local riverside park on your next trip to town - you'll be suprised how close to the river many of the towns in the Avon catchment are.
click on the map or links below to find out where…
- Salisbury
- Langford
- Blashford
- Amesbury
- Pewsey
- Hengistbury Head
- Ringwood
- Downton
- Fordingbridge
- Wilton
- Christchurch
- Tisbury
- Smallbrook Meadows
Avon Valley Path
The Avon Valley Path is a 34-mile, long-distance walking route that takes you from Salisbury to Christchurch and the sea. It was opened in 1992 and runs from Wiltshire due south through Hampshire to finish in Dorset. The Path is named after the river whose course it follows. Please bear in mind that this route can become seriously waterlogged from December to May.
- Facilities: various path conditions
- Contact: Hampshire County Council, tel: 01962 870500
- Avon Valley Path website
- Hampshire County Council Avon Valley Path Website
Salisbury
Great access to the river
Salisbury's history is tied in with the river and there are many places where you can get close to it. Most of the publicly accessible land in Salisbury is managed by Salisbury District Council's Parks Department.
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avon Valley Local Nature Reserve | Reedbed and river 15 minutes walk from the centre | Surfaced paths and boardwalk | SU 137 311 view map |
| Queen Elizabeth Gardens | Formal riverside gardens | Tarmac paths and nearby toilets | SU 138 299 view map |
| Churchill Gardens | Formal riverside gardens with some wild areas | Tarmac paths and nearby toilets | SU 150 294 view map |
| Town Path | Links the city centre with Harnham across the Harnham Water Meadows | Tarmac path | SU 138 299 view map |
| Middle Street Meadows | Quiet riverside park with great views | Grass paths | SU 133 294 view map |
| Churchfields open space | Hidden riverside walk | Grass paths - can become muddy | SU 128 297 view map |
| Broken bridges path | Peaceful footpath at the back of Salisbury | Mixture of surfaced and rougher paths | SU 127 303 - SU 129 295 view map |
| Harnham Recreation Ground | Formal riverside park | Grass paths | SU 137 291 view map |
| Harnham Water Meadows | Managed by the Harnham Water Meadows Trust | No accessible paths | SU 138 299 view map |
| Riverside Path | Links the city centre with the Avon Valley Local Nature Reserve | Tarmac paths | SU 141 309 - SU 143 301 view map |
| The Maltings | City Centre shopping area where you can get close to the river | Tarmac paths and nearby toilets | SU 143 301 view map |
| Crane St to Fisherton Bridge | Short riverside stretch showing restoration of riverbanks | Tarmac paths and nearby toilets | SU 142 299 view map |
Langford
Great access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langford Lakes Nature Reserve | Langford Lakes is owned by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. It has been developed into a special place for wildlife and people. The former gravel workings are now a nature reserve. The river Wylye is home to the native brown trout and grayling as well as a host of "minibeasts", which the fish feed on. Otters regularly use the river and lakes. The Trust has enhancedthe wetland habitats at Langford Lakes. River restoration work has been carried outto improve the habitat for many plants and animals. Langford Lakes is a special site to visit at any time of the year. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the reserve due to its use as an educational site. | Education centre, meeting room for hire, visitor centre,bird hides,toilets, parking for coaches/minibuses (group visits by prior arrangement), car parking, dedicated parking for disabled visitors, cycle racks. The reserve is open daily from 9.00am to dusk. | Langford Lakes centre (01722) 790770 | SU 037 370 view map |
| Langford Trust Nature Reserve | Just upstream from Langford Lakes, this is a quiet informal nature reserve managed by and for the local community. | Grass paths | SU 035 374 view map |
Blashford
Great access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blashford | Blashford Lakes are a series of flooded gravel pits used as water storage, as important conservation areas and for recreation by sailing, water-skiing and fishing clubs. The three hides are open daily between 9am and 4.30pm. The Centre is open all year to organised groups. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the reserve due to its use as an educational site. A network of footpaths run through the reserve and link to the New Forest and Avon Valley Long Distance footpaths. These footpaths and a number of wildlife viewing screens are always open. | Surfaced gravel paths. | Blashford Lakes Centre 01425 472760 | SU 153 075 view map |
Amesbury
Good access to the river
The market town of Amesbury lies on the River Avon nine miles north of Salisbury. There is good access to the river at a number of points.
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lords Walk | Short walk along the river on the northern edge of Amesbury. | Some surfaced paths, some grass paths. | SU 154 449 view map |
| Queensberry Bridge | Excellent views along the valley from this historic bridge. Interesting facts about Queensberry Bridge. | Tarmac path. | SU 151 413 view map |
| Recreation Ground | Access to long or short walks along the river Avon from the Recreation Ground. | Some surfaced paths. | SU 149 471 view map |
Pewsey
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones Mill | A fenland nature reserve, on the outskirts of Pewsey. Jones's Mill has a network of ditches, ridges and furrows; evidence of their past use as traditional water meadows. | The reserve is criss-crossed with paths, giving good access to most areas, but the peaty soil remains wet underfoot for most of the year, making wellies the footwear of choice even in summer. | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 01380 725670 | SU 169 611 view map |
| Scotchell Nature Reserve | An area of wet woodland near the source of the Avon itself. Owned and managed by Pewsey Parish Council. | Surfaced gravel paths. |
Hengistbury Head
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hengistbury Head | Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Christchurch. It is owned and managed by Bournemouth Borough Council. This is where the Avon finally meets the sea and the viewpoints on Hengistbury Head provide wonderful view of this. | Some surfaced gravel paths, some tarmac paths. | 01202 420909 | SU 165 911 view map |
Ringwood
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bickerley Pocket Park | Bickerley pocket park is a peaceful spot beside the River Avon only 5 minutes from the centre of Ringwood. | Surfaced paths. | SU 145 052 view map |
| Bickerley Common | Bickerley common is on the edge of the Avon Valley in Ringwood with wonderful views across the valley and links to the Avon Valley path and the Castleman Trailway. | Surfaced gravel paths. | SU 147 049 view map |
Downton
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre of Town | The River Avon can be enjoyed from the centre of this historic market town in Wiltshire. | Tarmac paths. | SU 178 216 view map |
| Millennium Green | The Downton Millennium Green offers a breathing space for enjoyment by the village and visitors for all time.Its most striking feature is the landscape, typical of a river valley running through chalk downlands with the Avon at this point meandering through a broad flood plain.A flat landscape broken only by hedgerows, clumps of trees and an occasional building. | Some surfaced paths, some grass paths. | SU 176 208 view map |
| Moot | The Moot is an ancient monument with a reputed Saxon meeting place and parliament which is now a Grade 1 18th century ornamental garden. Visitors can take a delightful walk down to the River Avon, around the medieval bailie mound and see the lake and glorious setting of amphitheatre. | Some surfaced paths, some grass paths. | SU 182 213 view map |
Fordingbridge
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Park | Playing fields and childrens play area alongside the river | Some surfaced paths. | SU 151 140 view map |
| Centre of town | The River Avon can be enjoyed from the centre of this historic market town in Hampshire. | Tarmac paths. | SU 149 142 view map |
| Folds Farm | Great public footpaths across the Avon Valley | SU 152 155 view map |
Wilton
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flouse Hole | Nature reserve owned by Wilton Estate managed by Wilton Conservation Volunteers. | SU 095 315 view map | |
| Wilton Shopping Village | A shopping outlet village with excellent access to the River Wylye just before it joins the Nadder. | Tarmac paths | SU 101 313 view map |
| Recreation Ground | A secluded recreation ground on the River Wylye. | Some surfaced paths | SU 097 315 view map |
Christchurch
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Facilities | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanpit Marsh | Stanpit Marsh Local Nature Reserve is situated just below the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Stour. Dorset website | Access is available for wheelchairs along a flat gravel path. The path runs for approximately 300m up to the information hut where there are outside display boards. The path is reasonably level across the marsh areas for the more able, but can become boggy in the winter. | Christchurch Borough Council Warden - 01425 272479 | SU 168 924 view map |
| City Centre | There are bridges and riverside walks in the town centre that lead you along the course of the Avon as it makes the final part of its journey to the sea. | Tarmac paths. | SU 162 928 view map | |
| Priory | Riverside location next to channel coming off the Avon that leads to an ancient mill. | Tarmac path runs alongside priory to mill | SU 161 925 view map |
Tisbury
Good access to the river
| Location | Description | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Tisbury | Riverside park leading to walks along the Nadder | ST 945 292 view map |
Smallbrook Meadows
Local access to the river
| Location | Description | Contact | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallbrook Meadows | Smallbrook Meadows is a Local Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Warminster managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, consisting of a number of disused water meadows lying between the Rivers Were and Wylye. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Website | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 01380 725670 | ST 880 443 view map |
