Salisbury Station Circular Walk

Leave the train station, following the signs to Market Square. You will pass the Tourist Information Centre on Fish Row, on the south side of Market Square. With the Guildhall behind you, cross the Market Place diagonally to the library and take the signed riverside walk path leading to Ashley Road.

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Cross the footbridge over the river and go left on the gravel path. Begin walking through the Avon Valley Nature Reserve, a beautiful stretch of the river with reed beds, water meadows, woodland and grassland.

The path curves right to meet a paved trail, where you turn left to reach a road. Cross and continue to the right on The Portway, a track leading to Old Sarum. When the path branches right, keep straight on over the field, turning left through gates onto the access road to the great earthwork of Old Sarum. It was first constructed in 500 BC and later occupied by Romans and Saxons. Today, it consists of a ruined castle, cathedral and bishop’s palace, built by William the Conqueror. Internal disputes, and the development of Salisbury in 1226 led to Old Sarum’s decline.

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Retrace your steps to the access road and follow the track left along the field to emerge at Castle Road. Continue to Victoria Park and walk to the main gate. Cross the road here, pass Moberly Road and continue over Victoria Road. Cross the bridges over the ring road and then the railway.

Cross Wyndham Road and carry on through Swaynes Close on the footpath. Turn right on Bedwin Street, and then left on Rollestone. Bear right at Winchester Street to reach Endless Street and Market Square. Many of the lane and road names reflect the historic trades and activities in the area—Poultry Cross, Fish Row, Salt Lane and Butcher Row. Exposed wattle-and-daub walls exist on the first floor of Watson’s gift store on Queen Street. The Odeon Cinema on New Canal Street, can be accessed through a medieval hall built in 1470 and restored by Pugin in 1834. The Red Lion Hotel on Milford Street displays Parliament clocks—large, glassless-faced clocks that saved patrons the five-shilling tax levied on timepieces in 1797. Not to be outdone, the mummified hand of a card cheat is displayed in the Haunch of Venison pub on Minster Street.

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Now, follow the signposted route to Cathedral Close. Voted England’s favourite view, this 13th-century cathedral* was the inspiriation for Constable’s painting from across the water meadows. It also has the country’s tallest spire, at 125m.

From the west entrance there is an uninterrupted view of nearly 140m to the high altar. It has the largest cloister in England, although it was never a monastery, and the chapter house holds one of only four surviving copies of the Magna Carta. Allow at least an hour to visit the cathedral and chapter house, perhaps stopping for refreshments in the Refectory Restaurant.

* £5 donation suggested

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Leaving the cathedral, emerge on West Walk, where former prime minister Edward Heath lives. Along here you will also find The Wardrobe Military Museum, the Medieval Hall and the Salisbury Museum. To the north is the National Trust property, Mompesson House & Garden (open April to October). To return, retrace the route following the signs to Salisbury station.

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