The River Bourne is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 county of Wiltshire

Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...

, and a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the River Avon.

The Bourne's source is at the eastern end of the Vale of Pewsey

Vale of Pewsey

The Vale of Pewsey or Pewsey Vale is an area of Wiltshire, England to the east of Devizes and south of Marlborough, centred on the town of Pewsey.-Geography:...

, near the village of Burbage

Burbage, Wiltshire

Burbage is a village and civil parish in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire, England. It is about south of Marlborough and west of Newbury.-Local government:...

. The river cuts through the chalk escarpment

Escarpment

An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...

 at Collingbourne Kingston

Collingbourne Kingston

Collingbourne Kingston is a village and civil parish about south of the market town of Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. It is one of several villages on the River Bourne, which is a seasonal river usually dry in summer....

, to flow south across Salisbury Plain

Salisbury Plain

Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...

 through the villages of Collingbourne Ducis

Collingbourne Ducis

Collingbourne Ducis is a village and civil parish on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It is one of several villages on the River Bourne, which is a seasonal river usually dry in summer.The United Kingdom Census 2001 recorded a parish population of 849....

, Tidworth

Tidworth

Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...

, and Shipton Bellinger

Shipton Bellinger

Shipton Bellinger is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England.Shipton Bellinger is located around north-east of the town of Amesbury and north-east of the city of Salisbury. It lies on the A338 and is close to that road's junction with the A303...

. Here its course becomes more south-westerly, through Cholderton

Cholderton

Cholderton is a village in the Bourne Valley of Wiltshire, England, close to the border with Hampshire.Cholderton Charlie's Farm, one of 16 Rare Breeds Survival Trust approved farm parks, is located here.-External links:****...

, Newton Tony

Newton Tony

Newton Tony is a rural village and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire, close to the border with Hampshire. Situated in the Bourne Valley, Newton Tony is approximately north-east of its post town, Salisbury. At the 2001 United Kingdom census, the parish had a population of 408...

, Allington

Allington, Salisbury

Allington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, about nine miles north-east of Salisbury. The parish includes the villages of Allington and Boscombe.Nearby villages are Idmiston, Amesbury and Newton Tony....

, Porton

Porton

Porton is a small village situated in Salisbury in Wiltshire, England, in the United Kingdom.It is most notable for being home to the military installation of Porton Down....

, Winterbourne Gunner

Winterbourne Gunner

Winterbourne Gunner is a small village in the UK but seems larger, as it joins on to Winterbourne Dauntsey, which itself is joined on to Winterbourne Earls. It is located in Wiltshire in England about five miles northeast of Salisbury situated on the A338. The Defence CBRN Centre is located to the...

, Winterbourne Dauntsey

Winterbourne Dauntsey

Winterbourne Dauntsey is a village in Wiltshire, England, near Salisbury just off the A30 London Road. It adjoins the villages of Winterbourne Earls and Winterbourne Gunner...

, Winterbourne Earls

Winterbourne Earls

Winterbourne Earls is a village in Wiltshire, England, near Salisbury. It adjoins Winterbourne Dauntsey.-Facilities:*The anglican parish church is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels.*There is a primary school for boys and girls up to the age of 11....

 and Laverstock before joining the Avon near Salisbury.

The Bourne valley is followed for its entire length by the main A338

A338 road

The A338 is a major trunk road in southern England, that runs from the junction with the A35 at Bournemouth in Dorset to the junction with the A420 at Besselsleigh in Oxfordshire, roughly long.-Route:...

 (Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

-Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

) road, which continues south of Salisbury along the Avon valley.