Tales from the Riverbank

Clare Balding heads to the waterways of the River Thames, which stretch over 200 miles from Gloucestershire to Essex, exploring the freshwater Thames, from its humble beginning and on as it meanders through beautiful countryside teeming with wildlife, grand estates and inspiring landscapes. On her trip, she views the 'dreaming spires' of Oxford, the landscapes that inspired Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, and the regal splendour of both Cliveden estate and Windsor Castle.

Clare Balding heads to one of her favourite stretches of water, the River Wharfe, which runs through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Her journey takes her past chocolate box villages, through the magical Bolton Abbey estate - home to one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the country - and to spectacular Harewood House, before ending on the banks of the river in Wetherby, where Clare is serenaded by a Yorkshire brass band.

Winding its way over 150 miles, from the mountains of mid Wales to the Severn Estuary, the beautiful River Wye criss-crosses the border between England and Wales. Clare Balding's journey along it takes in the 
magnificent Tintern Abbey, stunning Symonds Yat, and the riverside city of Hereford, before ending in the quaint Welsh town of Hay on Wye.

Clare Balding's river adventures continue in the north of England, exploring the mighty River Tyne, following it from the vibrant city of Newcastle, past beautiful towns and villages, remarkable Roman ruins and riverside retreats, into Northumberland towards its source. Among the sights and stops: the iconic Tyne bridge; the historic riverside town of Wylam; fly fishing Series at Watersmeet; and Kielder Reservoir, northern Europe's largest manmade lake.