CE20_p22_p23_Walk 6/8/2009 11:29 Page 1
Walk A walk on the wild side
Words by Richard Pasco
vast majority of the walk was on Gloucestershire. It seemed like
footpaths rather than tarmac and was unchartered territory.
easy going from start to finish with no
So I saw a need for a book that
F
OR this issue’s walk I
ascents or descents en route. The route
would help people access this
was joined by
directions below are taken from Judy’s
somewhat neglected, but very lovely,
Malmesbury author
book, along with the map.
area on foot; and help celebrate what
Judy Jones who has recently
As we began our walk I asked Judy her
it has to offer.
reasons for writing the book, and it soon
self-published two new books
I kept going on about this to
became evident that an awful lot of
friends. They said: “Well you’re a
on walking and cycling in the
research and work had gone into its’
walker and writer - you do it.”
production:
Malmesbury and North
Having found the dog - four weeks
“I began to explore the countryside and
Wiltshire area.
villages around Malmesbury, initially,
after she went missing - I decided to
We chose to do one of the walks from
while searching for my lost dog Fly back
get on with it, with Fly as my chief
her book and opted for a six- miler
in 2001. It was quite a revelation.
research assistant, designing routes
starting in Cricklade and looping around
I was struck by the sheer variety of the
doing them at different times of year,
to Cerney Wick and back, covering a
landscape - rivers, old canals and railway
then farming them out to other
surprisingly wide variety of terrain. We
lines, farmland, lovely villages and village
walkers to check for accurancy, clarity
were accompanied by her dog Fly, who,
pubs - all well-served by footpaths and
and safety.
as it turned out, was central to the idea bridleways.
The result is Walks Around
for the book. Yet the walking guides available at the
Malmesbury and North Wiltshire,
Our starting point was the car park at time tended to overlook north Wiltshire featuring 25 routes of between 3-8
the Town Hall in Cricklade, although the and its borders with south miles in length.”
Judy Jones
taking a
well earned
break with
her dog Fly
Renovation work on
One of the many stunning views on route
one of the canal locks
Map and directions by Judy Jones
Pictures by Richard Pasco yards, bear right to join the Thames path, on over a footbridge until you reach a
and enter a field. Keep a boundary on fence enclosing the grounds of a
your left as you aim for a metal kissing house. Go right just before the fence,
Description: A treat of a walk for all
gate across a gap in the tree line ahead in following the path over a wooden
seasons on level ground alongside the
front of some houses. footbridge. Continue ahead onto a
Thames and then two linked disused
2. Once through the gap, bear right drive, going over a cattle grid, then a
canals undergoing restoration. You pass
past houses on your left, go through a bridge.
through North Meadow near Cricklade
metal kissing gate on the right, and head 6. About 10 yards after the bridge,
where thousands of snakeshead fritillaries
left across the field. Continue through a turn left and go over a stile next to a
bloom from late April into May - creating
metal gate onto a path. metal gate to your left. Go straight on
a spectacular display. The walk starts and
3. Once level with a large barn, turn following a track for about 50 yards,
ends in Cricklade - 11 miles east of
right over a small footbridge, signposted to an information board. Follow the
Malmesbury, a 20-minute
Thames Path. Follow the path round the path as it bends right down a slope
drive along the B4040.
back of the barn. towards the main road (A419) soon to
4. Go through a metal gate on your bend left. Keep a metal fence and a
The
left and continue on the path, keeping tree line on your left. Now you have
the river on your left. You soon enter the route of the Thames and Severn
North Meadow. Stay close to the canal on your right. On reaching a
Route:
Walk
Thames until you reach a road, you should see ahead a restored
From
footbridge over the river. Don’t round house or length man’s cottage
Cricklade
cross the bridge. Go over the stile built to house canal workers in the
public car park
to the right of the bridge, and 18th century.
next to the Town
then turn sharp right, keeping the 7. Turn left onto the road, soon to
Hall, cross the road
river behind you. reach the Crown Inn (tel. 01793
and turn right along the High Street
5. Continue straight ahead along the 750369) and a T-junction. Cross the
pavement passing the splendid Jubilee
path, keeping a field boundary on your road and the stile next to a signpost.
Clock - on your right by a road junction.
right (and North Meadow beyond it). As you Continue ahead to cross a narrow
1. Just before reaching the river, turn
enter a copse you soon see part of the lane, and pick up the path again
left along North Wall. After about 30
old North Wilts Canal on your left. Carry straight ahead of you. Go through a
22 COTSWOLDESSENCE | SEPTEMBER ~ NOVEMBER 2009
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk
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