Boxing Day (December 26) is traditionally another quiet day. Since we still had a huge Christmas Lunch to walk off, we decided to walk the Water Meadows. This is a beautiful walk through Queen Elizabeth Gardens, past the site of Constable's view of Salisbury Cathedral and subject of many of his landscapes, to the Old Mill, through the village of Harnham, returning through the Old Harnham Gate to Salisbury Cathedral.
Queen Elizabeth's Gardens are a city park, with a small enclosed area with swings and slides and sand boxes for children, beautiful views over the rivers Nadder and Avon into the back yards of many Close homes. Continuing through the Gardens you come to the Water Meadows which are natural but there is a paved path, which leads to the Old Mill at Harnham. You can either retrace your steps or continue through the village of Harnham, which will eventually bring you to the Harnham Gate entry to the Cathedral. A slow amble, such as we took, can last 2 hours, especially if you stop in at the Old Mill for a cuppa.