Britain

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

The word ‘Avon’ derives from the old Brythonic ‘abona’, meaning ‘river’, which accounts for why you will find numerous British waterways bearing the name. But there is nothing prosaic about the river known as Shakespeare’s Avon that flows for nearly 100 miles from Naseby in Northamptonshire, via Stratfordupon-Avon in Warwickshire, to Tewkesbury on the edge of the Cotswolds.

This Avon segues through idyllic villages to market towns crowned by castle or abbey. Sheer liquid history and poetry, it’s a wonderful route for a tour. So pull on your walking boots and shadow the river along the Shakespeare’s Avon Way long-distance footpath. Or hire a narrowboat (in

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