Severnside

The Yew Tree at Chaceley is only half an hour away, but I had never been there before yesterday. Caroline and I were the only customers, sitting on the lawn separating the pub from the River Severn. After winding along the road that leads North from Tirley - a much hedged-in lane - it's a surprise to come across such an open landscape all of a sudden - as if you've reached the seaside.

No doubt passing traffic is usually heavier than it was during our lunch hour, the landing-stage being big enough to accommodate a fair few barges. And as indicated by a weathervane, there's a sailing club just downstream, though we only saw one yacht on the river.