The Stone Bridge

A humped old bridge of mossy grey stone arches over the river here, just wide enough for a cart and not much else. Its parapets are low enough to sit on, and many have, judging by the initials carved into the stone. Below, the water runs clear and slow over smooth pebbles, and the odd trout can be seen holding steady against the current in the shadow of the arches.

The lane climbs up from the farms to cross the bridge, and on the far side the land rises gently toward the dark line of the forest. A narrow path leads down from the end of the bridge to the riverbank itself.