Stratford sub Castle Village Website
Salisbury, Wiltshire UK
Avon Valley Nature Reserve, Salisbury
The Avon Valley Nature Reserve landscape is owned by Salisbury City Council and managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and a group of local volunteers see newspost.
The Reserve includes an area on the east bank of the Avon, behind Five RIvers Leisure Centre. The boardwalk on the opposite (west) bank of the Avon takes visitors along the riverside, passing reedbeds and leading to meadows.
Information boards mark the approaches to the Reserve, one at the southern end of the boardwalk and another on the grassed area between Five Rivers Leisure Centre and the pedestrian/cycle bridge.
The boardwalk alongside the west bank of the Avon, through the Avon Valley Reserve, may, at times, be submerged.
(Image right - Ron Lightfoot).
The footpath conditions webpage alerts walkers to the conditions to be expected. (Please advise the website if you have observed conditions that need to be included.)
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Just south of the Avon Valley Reserve, newer and higher boardwalks have been installed as part of Salisbury's Riverpark scheme. The spire of Salisbury Cathedral is just visible on the skyline of this image.
The new boardwalks link footpaths near Fisherton Rec/Ashley Road to the Avon Valley Nature Reserve and the original boardwalks.
A 1.3 miles linear walking trail is accessible from Mill Lane, Stratford sub Castle which is north of the Reserve.
Alternatively, join the footpath from the Leisure Centre/allotments end, and walk in the opposite direction.
Part of the trail runs along a boardwalk, other parts follow field margins. According to the season or following heavy rainfall, muddy or waterlogged areas may be a challenge for those visitors wearing shoes. In those conditions, wellingtons are recommended!
A suggested route for a walk through the Reserve is shown in the viewer below
and a copy of the PDF document can be downloaded (right).
Salisbury City Council has published a trail leaflet showing images of some of the wild flowers and animals that might be spotted along the Trail. Children can look out for the 'fairy doors'.
Trail details are in this PDF document
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Further information on the www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk website:
Flora in the Stratford Water Meadows, (the northern part of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve).
Rights of Way around Stratford sub Castle
Wherever you walk in the countryside, the Countryside Code applies. Click the logo to view a leaflet/summary issued in April 2021.
Or to read the full details use this link to the full version.
This webpage was last updated on 25 February 2026. Please let us know if any of the information is out-of-date.