Biddestone conjures up everyone’s image of a typical English village, with its duck pond, old pub, Saxon church, and its broad village green. It is situated about three miles west of Chippenham, on a minor road between the A420 and A4 routes to Bristol. Biddestone has many lovely buildings, most dating from 17C and 18C. This lovely village is only a few minutes drive from Castle Combe and is well worth the short detour.
Calne is a lively town with many fine houses built by the wealthy clothiers of yesteryear which can be seen around The Green. The beautiful St Mary’s Church is a legacy of their generosity and inside is a memorial to Dr. Ingenhousz who pioneered vaccination. At nearby Doctor’s Pond, during experiments Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen. Today you can enjoy the interesting buildings, riverside walk, antique shops, old coaching inns and the Friday market. Along the A4 the town gives way to the open countryside and the picturesque Wiltshire Downs.
To the east of the town there are several historical sites that are free to visit, including the White Horse at Cherhill carved into the chalk hillside with a challenging footpath to the top and ancient monuments such as West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, and the Avebury Stone Circle.
Malmesbury is a beautiful hill top town, built in golden Cotswold stone, surrounded by the River Avon, and the skyline is dominated by the imposing Malmesbury Norman Abbey. The fine 15C Market Cross, the Old Courtroom, Almshouses, narrow medieval streets, quaint alleyways, the river walk and the town’s museum, with amusing tales of the town’s colourful past and personalities, are all easily accessible on foot from town centre. A varied range of events are hosted by the town, from Farmer’s Markets to the Summer Carnival in August, and frequent concerts in the wonderful surroundings of the Abbey. Being close to the M4 this is a good base to discover north Wiltshire and the south Cotswolds. Charlton, just north of Malmsbury. is home to Charlton Park, which hosts the World of Music, Arts, and Dance (WOMAD) festival.
Cricklade is the only Wiltshire town on the River Thames. The wide High Street has a remarkable range of buildings dating from 13C. North Meadow National Nature Reserve is of special interest to wildlife enthusiasts and is home to the UK’s largest population of wild Snakeshead Fritillaries. The Thames Path National Trail passes through the town, while nearby is the Cotswold Water Park, with one hundred and thirty two lakes this is a great place for walks, water sports, fishing, bird watching and much more.
Royal Wootton Bassett is just off the M4 and centrally placed to explore numerous town and countryside attractions, from white horses and Avebury nearby to Stonehenge, an easy drive away. Discover the beautiful Wilts and Berks Canal, and take a scenic trip on the Swindon and Cricklade Steam Railway. Nearby Jubilee Lake is a natural habitat for a variety of birds, butterflies, ancient trees, and wild flowers providing a peaceful setting for anglers and walkers.
At Templars Firs there is a Trail Boat event on the canal in the summer, this is very popular and details can be obtained from the Visitor Centre at Lyneham. Lyneham House & Country Park should be on your visit list, and nearby at Broad Town is Wiltshire’s most northerly white horse carved in the chalk hillside in 1863.
STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway A First Class Day Out
STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon SN2 2EY Tel: 01793 466646
www.steam-museum.org.uk
www.facebook.com/steammuseum @steam_museum
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Swindon is famous for the Great Western Railway works, which has been brought alive at:
STEAM (Museum of the Great Western Railway) which is housed in a beautifully restored railway building in the heart of the former Swindon Railway Works. Here you can climb aboard iconic locomotives, drive a train simulator, ‘be a signalman’ and even walk underneath 80 tons of metal. To find out more about STEAM and the Museum’s fun event programme, visit the website.
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