Salisbury

Both routes take us to the corner of the marketplace. If its Tuesday or Saturday there is a bustling market. And in one corner we find this almost continental cafe scene under a row of London plane trees (painted in 2021, improved in 2023).  Want to see some more?  Then you need to pop into my Salisbury Market page.

At another corner of the marketplace we can see a distinctive line of buildings, including one on the end that looks top heavy.  The low winter sun is bouncing off their windows, creating odd patches of light on the road below.

Behind the market pubs there is a narrow pedestrian street with various shops and a bustling crowd of shoppers.  There is time to stop and eat a Wiltshire pasty (very like a Cornish one but crimped on the top) bought at the bakers, before continuing.  Opposite the tourist information there is a an old butchers - worth a painting in itself - a future subject perhaps.

We come to a cross roads now.  Left past Nando's for a detour to visit one of the oldest buildings in Salisbury - a Coaching Inn built in the 13th century for those building the cathedral.  There is not much clue outside apart from a large ornate iron sign 'Red Lion', but walk through the arch and take in the courtyard, with its colourful vine (here on a wet summer's day) creating its own little world.  Time for another tea and cake.  Return in Autumn for a full does of vibrant colour.

This is the edge of the older part of Salisbury, and if you wander the grid of streets you come across lots of interesting buildings.  After a bit of a meander, head South and with luck you'll pop out at St Ann's Street to get this magnificent view of the cathedral.  Regrettably you are then dumped onto a busy road, but bear with me.  Keep going South, and follow the underpass below the roundabout to emerge in a city park.  It feels a bit neglected, but it does have a nice walk along the river.  Which leads to another underpass and a back gate to the cathedral close.

It is the cinema, and on a sunny winter's day the low sun bounces off a wall opposite and illuminates all the little panes of leaded glass, with spectacular effect.  Parts of the building date back to 1470, including the large stone fireplace in the lobby.  The facade is mock Tudor from 1834.

No trip to Salisbury would be complete without at least a look at the cathedral as Constable saw it.  So we retrace our steps through the shopping precinct and back to the cross roads outside the main gate.  But instead of going through, we head right, and then follow the path around the park for a view of the back of Edward Heath's house (now a museum).  Follow the water and we come to a bridge, which leads us to the water meadows and plenty of views of the cathedral.  From this angle you would never realise its the 21st century and there is a city all around us.

The path crosses the water meadows, which have remained undeveloped - and for good reason.  Its not about preserving views but about the flooding that occurs every so often after a lot of rain. So here is that view again, in winter with the meadows flooded (and on this occasion the path too).