Full Walk Details 2021

CORSHAM WALKING FESTIVAL - FULL WALK DETAILS 2021

For booking arrangements and full terms and conditions please see our website page

FESTIVAL OPENING

The Opening Ceremony is at 12:00 on Friday 11th June, at Springfield Community Campus, Beechfield Road, Corsham, SN13 9DN.

WALK GRADINGS

 Easy: Mostly level terrain; suitable for most walkers  Moderate: Some short steep gradients or rough terrain; some stiles  Challenging: Requires fitness and stamina; steep gradients, stiles

FRIDAY 11TH JUNE FRI 1: FORD TO CASTLE COMBE LOOP

8 Miles, Moderate, 5.5 hrs duration, 10:30 from White Hart Pub, Ford, Chippenham SN14 8RP, please use the White Hart Pub Upper Car Park off the Colerne Road: £5, 16+

Walk along the old coach road to North Wraxall and then to the idyllic village of Castle Combe before returning to Ford. Enjoy scenic views, wooded valleys and, a clapper bridge!

The walk starts from the beautiful hamlet of Ford and proceeds along an Old Coach Road to the village of North Wraxall and then to nearby Truckle Hill Roman Villa excavated in 1859- 60 by George Poulett Scrope of Castle Combe.

The excavations revealed a substantial villa containing sixteen rooms, including a bath suite, within a large building. The ramble continues to an ancient form of bridge known as a ‘clapper bridge’ (formed by large flat slabs of stone supported by stone piers) across Broadmead Brook and proceeds to Nettleton Mill, a Grade II listed fine former mill house situated in a picturesque Cotswold setting. Then to Castle Combe, a quintessentially English village often named as the ‘prettiest village in England’. Castle Combe has featured as a film location, most recently in The Wolf Man, Stardust and Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse. There are public toilets in Castle Combe.

Following the lunch stop in Castle Combe, the walk follows the Macmillan Way and the By Brook south back to Ford via Long Dean Mill and cottages, enjoying again the wooded valleys and scenic views.

Bring lunch/snacks/water

Opportunity for post-walk refreshments in the White Hart PH, Ford.

FRI 2: CORSHAM BLUE HERITAGE WALK

4.5 Miles, Easy, 3 hrs duration, 12.15 from Springfield Community Campus: £5

An enjoyable circular walk through Corsham’s history via Corsham High Street past the Town Hall that was used as a hospital during WW1, Mayo Memorial with its hidden mouse, and Corsham Court Folly before entering Corsham Park at St. Bartholomew’s Church.

The walk crosses Corsham Park past the ‘Ha Ha’ and sunken fence and over the dry arch and on towards the Eastern end of the Park heading down to the site of the old Chequers Inn.

We then continue along country lanes through the quiet hamlets of Easton and Westrop via open countryside to return to Corsham Park.

Traversing Corsham Park once more, but with the lake in view, we reach South Avenue. Did you know that Corsham Park and lake were designed by Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton?

Coming out at the War Memorial and Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses we then turn back towards the Town Centre passing Lady Methuen’s School, the Methuen Arms and Mansion House to finally arrive back at the start.

This is an easy walk but there is one stile to negotiate and don’t forget that Corsham Park paths can be muddy if it has rained.

Bring snacks/water

Sponsored by Airbus www.airbus.com

FRI 3: HARTHAM GROUNDS AND WEAVERN WONDERS

6 Miles, Moderate. 4.5 hrs duration, 13:15 from Springfield Community Campus SN13 9DN: £5, 12+ (includes donation to the Charity, Wiltshire Mind)

This walk offers a unique opportunity to see Hartham Park Estate using paths not open to the general public. It is by kind permission of Hartham Park Estate, and with the cooperation of the Jones’s who farm adjacent to Hartham, as we will be crossing and using their fields to access the house, and later the Weavern Valley. This is private land and permission is given for the Festival walk only.

We will leave Corsham and cross the A4, walk along Middlewick Lane, turning right on to the private metalled track owned by Church Farm.

At Church Farm, on the way to Hartham, we will be met by Mrs Kate Jones, the farmer, who will lead us over fields into Hartham Estate. We will later leave Hartham Estate grounds, via their farm tracks to join a public path into the Weavern Valley. The paths may be muddy if there has been recent rainfall, especially in the Weavern area.

After our visit to Hartham Park we exit the estate and follow a public footpath down into the Weavern Valley to Collett’s Bottom. There is then a long, and, in places, a steep climb back up from the Weavern Valley to No Notion Cottages to join a minor road, passing Rudloe Manor House, to cross the busy A4. We will return to Corsham via the Rudloe Estate, crossing the B3109, to Park Lane, Basil Hill Barracks then along Hudswell Lane to Pockeridge Drive and Pockeridge Lakes returning to the Springfield Community Campus.

Hartham Park is an 18th century Georgian mansion with 50 acres of gardens and parkland, landscaped by Harold Peto, and has one of only three functional stické tennis courts in the world (the other two are at Knightshayes Court, Tiverton, Devon and the former Viceroy of India’s summer palace in Simla, India).

There will be a chance to walk in their gardens, including the Knot Garden, Stable Yard and Clock Tower and Ladies Walk. We then cross their meadow to the Stické Tennis Court. We will be offered a cold drink outside.

Whilst under the ownership of Baron Islington, Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor to Hartham. Later, during World War II the upper floors of the house were used as dormitories for the WAAF serving with RAF No 10 Group based at Rudloe Manor. Hartham Park has been redeveloped into a prestigious business park and café.

Dogs are not permitted in Hartham Park grounds.

Access to external grounds by kind permission of Hartham Park - www.harthampark.com

Access to farm paths by kind permission of Church Farm B&B - www.churchfarmbandb.com

Bring lunch/snacks/water

Sponsored by David Ingram Residential www.david-ingram.co.uk

TH SATURDAY 12 JUNE

SAT 1: BOX, ST CATHERINES AND MARSHFIELD LONG LOOP

17 Miles, Challenging, 8 hrs duration. 08:30 from The Selwyn Hall free car park, Valens Terrace, Box, SN13 8NT: £5, 16+

This is a beautiful circular walk that takes us from Box, following the By Brook, into the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Walking is on footpaths, alongside pretty brooks, through fields, woods and quiet lanes. There are stunning views across these valleys as we walk paths on adjacent ridges. It is a hilly walk (ascent approx. 1000m).

Starting from Box we travel west along the By Brook valley before climbing up Banner Down, which has been managed by The Batheaston Freeholders Association since 1719… that is over 300 years! Following parts of the Limestone Link we walk along the secluded St

Catherine’s Valley, with a glimpse of St Catherine’s Court, a Grade 1 listed Elizabethan manor, to the ancient and attractive Cotswold market town of Marshfield.

We then return southeast via Lucknam Park and Thickwood to pass Widdenham Farm and Euridge Manor Farm following the By Brook alongside Drewetts Mill and back into Box.

Please bring a packed lunch/snacks/water

Sponsored by People Business Psychology www.peoplebusinesspsychology.com

SAT 2: CORSHAM NEEDS A SUPER-HERO

2 Miles, Easy, 2 hrs duration, starts between 09.00-14.00, from Springfield Community Campus: Free but please book in advance.

Prizes donated by Automattic Comics and Toys of Corsham for the highest scoring team.

A local self-guided walk for teams of 2 – 4 to solve a problem and save Corsham from a terrible fate. You walk at your own pace. A map and questions are provided. You must finish by 16:30. Answer sheets will be sent out after the Festival weekend.

Dr Doom, one of The Fantastic Four’s and Spiderman’s most evil foes has set a terrible trap for Corsham. Unless the Town Council pays a ransom of £10 million pounds, a hidden bomb will be detonated shortly after 16.30 today. The gas released from the bomb will react with the Bath Stone of the town’s buildings and turn them – PURPLE!!!!

The Fantastic Four are on holiday and Spiderman is away. We’ve tried to contact several other superheroes but they are rehearsing their next blockbuster movies – Corsham needs a superhero to find the bomb and save the town from a terrible fate. Are you up to the job?

The dastardly demon has left some obscure clues as to where the bomb is hidden. The arrogant Dr Doom is sure no one can solve the puzzle and so find where the bomb is hidden. Corsham’s fate is in your hands…

Using the map and instructions provided, walk around the town and try to solve the clues sent by Dr Doom. They will reveal the letters which spell the name of the location where the bomb is hidden. Some sharp minded superheroes may be able to guess the location after solving some of the clues. This is not enough - you must solve all the clues as the correct answers form the code to defuse the bomb.

To have any hope of saving the town, answers must be handed in to the Festival HQ at Springfield Community Campus by 16.30. Correct answers will be made available after the Festival– let’s hope someone cracks the code!

Bring water/snacks. There are also plenty of pubs and cafes in the Town where you may wish to take a break to gather your thoughts!

Sponsored by Automattic Comics and Toys of Corsham www.automatticcomics.co.uk

SAT 3: CORSHAM TO BOX PEACOCK HERITAGE TRAIL

9 Miles, Moderate, 5.5 hrs duration, 09.30 from Springfield Community Campus: £5, 12+

A circular walk with magnificent views of the countryside between Corsham and Box whilst exploring the heritage related to the By Brook valley.

The outward-bound journey from Corsham passes along Pockeridge Drive and Spring Lane to Westwells. We walk past the former HMS Royal Arthur site, now Wadswick Green, and across fields to Chapel Plaister to pass the 13th Century Chapel used as a roadside refuge for pilgrims travelling to Glastonbury and mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Entering the splendid tree lined avenue of Hazelbury Manor we follow footpaths around the Manor and gardens to emerge onto a bridleway that has excellent views out over the By Brook valley out towards Colerne and Bannerdown.

Continuing through Box Hill Woods, the site of many underground quarries, we emerge on to Box Hill Common with fantastic views of Box, Brunel’s GWR Middle Hill Tunnel and down towards Bathford and Bath. Refreshments and toilet facilities are available here at the Quarryman’s Arms.

Continuing down Quarry Hill and through fields, we emerge at the 2000 Millennium Lacy Wood site with the chance to view the famous East entrance of Brunel’s Box Tunnel built between 1836 and 1841.

Following the main road into Box, where once lived the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry author of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ stories, we make our way to the By Brook and Box Mill - home of Real-World Studios. We follow the banks of the By Brook upstream to Drewett’s Mill across fields that act as flood meadows. Drewett’s Mill was mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday and remained in working order until 1990.

After a short but steep walk up the lane from Drewett’s Mill, we take a bridleway that has outstanding views to the North over the valley to Colerne. Taking a narrow lane past Folly Cottage we climb up to the lane on which we turn right towards the entrance of the former RAF Rudloe Manor site used during WWII as the Headquarters of 10 Group throughout the Battle of Britain.

Taking a moment to soak in the long-distance views towards Bath from Rudloe Firs, we cross the A4 and pass through Rudloe to reach Park Lane. The last leg of the walk passes the former WWII Corsham Ammunition Depot Tunnel Quarry, Hartham Park Quarry that dates back to 1810 and is still active today, St. Patrick’s’ Church - a former school, glove and gas mask factory, Pickwick and the Hare and Hounds to finish at the start.

The bridleways and paths, especially alongside the By Brook and through woods can be muddy if it has rained recently.

Bring a packed lunch/snacks/water.

Sponsored by Airbus www.airbus.com

SAT 4: KINGSDOWN, MONKTON FARLEIGH, DUNDAS AQUEDUCT

10.5 Miles, Challenging, 6 hrs duration, 09.30 from Kingsdown Golf Club back car park to far right side, Kingsdown, Wiltshire SN13 8BS: £5, 16+

This circular walk has far reaching views towards Salisbury Plain. We pass through Sally-in- the-Woods, joining the River Avon path to the spectacular Dundas Aqueduct and returning via Monkton Farleigh.

The walk proceeds south to the village of Monkton Farleigh, then west towards nearby Brown’s Folly and continues south again through Sally-in-the-Woods. A descent follows to the River Avon valley and then along a pathway to the splendid Dundas Aqueduct which carries the Kennet and Avon Canal. The aqueduct was designed by John Rennie and completed in 1805. A short canal towpath walk takes us to the Brassknocker Basin where the Angelfish café and toilets await.

Following the lunch stop the afternoon starts with a steep climb through Conkwell Woods and then north to Farleigh Wick and the return via fields and pastures to Monkton Farleigh before retracing steps back to Kingsdown Golf Club. Optional post-walk refreshments at the 19th hole (Clubhouse)!

Bring a picnic lunch/snacks/water (or refreshments from Angelfish Cafe)

Sponsored by BCH Camping www.bchcamping.co.uk

SAT 5: HISTORIC MILLS & SITES ALONG THE BY BROOK

11 Miles, Moderate, 6 hrs duration, 09.30, from Biddestone Green, SN14 7DG: £5, 16+

From the picturesque village of Biddestone, the walk heads across open farmland, joining the MacMillan Way, following the By Brook, along the Weavern Valley past the site of the Friends’ Meeting House towards Slaughterford. Here we begin to see evidence of industrial heritage, including the partially rescued Rag Mill, as we continue on towards Ford.

Crossing the A420 we traverse fields where the path gradually rises away from the By Brook giving delightful views down in to the valley as we approach the world-famous Castle Combe. Turning west and then south, we descend in to West Yatton Down Nature Reserve, following the valley to the ancient Manor House on the outskirts of Yatton Keynell. The route then opens out into arable land where the paths lead us back to Biddestone.

Bring packed lunch/snacks/water

SAT 6: THE PATHS LESS TRAVELLED

8.5 Miles, Easy, 4.5 hrs duration, 10.00 from Springfield Community Campus: £5, 12+

This walk will weave its way through Corsham alleyways towards the wood and past Pockeridge Lakes, emerging onto Pockeridge Drive and crossing the eastern end of Brunel’s Box Tunnel. We will then follow footpaths through Moor Green to the ancient hamlet of Bakers Corner.

The footpath takes us past Neston Lodge and on towards the Park Lane Quarry (now re- opened). Turning north, we pass industrial remnants relating to the quarrying and mining industry, arriving at The Ridge. At the duck pond we take the footpath past Monks Park to Chapel Knapp, through the edge of Gastard, following the road to Thingley and over the railway bridge.

The footpath then brings us to Corsham Park, passing the Lake and crossing the Avenue to Corsham Court and St Bartholomew’s Church. The walk then returns to Springfield along Corsham High Street and winding back through the alleyways.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water

SAT 7: HAZELBURY CHALLENGE

7.5 Miles, Challenging, 4.5 hrs duration, 10:00 from The Selwyn Hall Car Park (Free), Valens Terrace, Box, SN13 8NT: £5, 16+

This delightful circular walk explores the countryside in and around Box.

The route starts deceptively, a gentle stroll through the water meadow alongside the By Brook to Drewetts Mill. Here we head up hill and are eventually rewarded with a panoramic view across the valley.

We wind our way through the lanes and field paths via Box Hill and on towards Chapel Plaister and past Hazelbury Manor. The intricate route zigzags up and down before bringing us back into Box.

Just as you think we are about to head back to the car park, we zig, or perhaps zag, up Hazelbury Hill for the final climb of the day.

An airy stroll with superb views across the valley and then through the woods and fields bringing us down to the western entrance of Box tunnel. Finally, we return to the Selwyn Hall car park.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water

Sponsored by Corsham Chamber of Commerce www.corshamchamber.com

SAT 8: GOD’S WONDERFUL RAILWAY, BRUNEL AND BOX TUNNELS

6.5 Miles, Moderate, 4.5 hrs duration, 10:30 hrs from Springfield Community Campus, Finish in Box or return by X31 bus to Corsham. £5, 12+ (includes donation to Box Methodist Church Organ Appeal Fund).

This linear walk leaves Corsham heading west towards Pickwick, down Middlewick Lane to pass the fine freestone houses of Middlewick House and Hartham Manor. Travelling along the old Turnpike Road we descend and ascend through The Larches passing No Notion Cottages.

The route continues towards Box with glorious views of the valley of the By Brook and the city of Bath beyond. The group will stop for a picnic lunch on Box Hill Common, close to the Quarryman's Arms Pub. We will be joined by rail enthusiast Michael Rumsey who will give an informative talk about the remarkable Box Tunnel, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Western Railway.

The route has a couple of short steep inclines that take us on top of Box Tunnel and its little Middle Hill companion before finishing in Box village for our short bus journey home.

Please make your own arrangements from Box back to Corsham or use the X31 bus (remember your bus pass or fare). www.faresaver.co.uk/timetable.php.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water

SAT 9: LACOCK, SPYE PARK, BOWDEN HILL LOOP

7.5 Miles, Moderate, 4.5 hrs duration, 10.30 from Lacock National Trust Car Park, Hither Way, SN15 2LW: Parking charges may apply. Meet at car park entrance: £5, 16+

The circular route leaves the village with a fine view of Lacock Abbey, then over the Packhorse Bridge which has been the main route in and out of Lacock since Medieval times but was rebuilt in the 18th Century. A footpath crosses the water meadows and crosses the course of the old Roman Road, passing Queenfield, following the footpath gently rising towards the Spye Park Estate. The ascent gets a little steeper but eventually gives wonderful views across the fields towards Melksham, Chippenham and Corsham. We then climb on, skirting Foxbury Wood. Eventually we arrive on Bowden Hill where a short walk down to St Anne’s Church gives further wonderful, widespread vistas.

The route then crosses Bewley Common, towards Reybridge, along the causeway and over the bridge. After crossing the ford into Lacock, we pass St Cyriac’s Church and many quaint, historic buildings including the medieval lock-up and Tithe Barn on our route back through the village. Numerous television and film dramas have been filmed here including sections of Downton Abbey, various Jane Austen novels and Harry Potter at Lacock Abbey.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water

SAT 10: NORDIC WALKING

1 Mile, Easy, 1 hr, 15 mins duration, 11:00 from Springfield Community Campus, FREE - but please book in advance, 16+

This introductory session to Nordic Walking will give you an insight into how the poles can propel you along and work the whole body. Get a taste of how light you will feel on your feet and how the whole body is mobilised enabling you to walk further with no more effort. Poles will be provided. (8 people max).

Organised by Gemini Outdoors

Bring water

SAT 11: CHILDREN’S TREASURE HUNT

1.25 Miles, Easy, 1 hr duration, starts between 14.00 – 15.30, from The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, SN13 9HX. You must finish no later than 16.30. FREE but please book CHILDREN in advance. Suitable for 5-12 year olds accompanied by an adult.

This fun self-guided treasure hunt encourages young people to discover the High Street and Corsham Park in a novel and enjoyable way. Families will hunt from The Pound Arts Centre to the High Street.

Answers to treasure hunt on return to The Pound where participants will be awarded a certificate and small gift.

Prizes donated by Automattic Comics and Toys of Corsham www.automatticcomics.co.uk

Bring snacks/water

SAT 12: LICHENS MOSSES & FERNS

2 Miles, Easy, 2 hrs duration, 14.30, from Springfield Community Campus, FREE but please book in advance.

Walk with Transcoco using hand lenses to see lichens, mosses and ferns on walls and trees. They're always there - you never noticed!

Many of us are familiar with the trees and flowers that come and go with the seasons, but we are strangely unaware of the non-flowering plants that are around us all the year round. At first sight they are just splotches and blotches on walls and trees, but looked at through a hand-lens we discover they have their own strange alien structures and are an important part of local biodiversity.

We’ll be looking at ferns, mosses and lichens, most of them on walls that you might walk past every day, and some in local woods and gardens. In each of these places there are a handful of common species you can quickly get to recognise, and learn a few jaw-breaking Latin names to amaze your friends. Diploicia canescens, we’re coming for you!

This walk is led by Transition Community Corsham (Transcoco), the local environmental and sustainability group which aims to make Corsham a more sustainable, positive and rewarding place to live and work.

Most of green stuff out there is flowering plants, including trees and grass. Flowers are very nice. There’s a story about the 18th-century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus at a posh dinner party. Many high-born young women, knowing of his interest in plants, had brought along their flower paintings to show the great man. Painting flowers was thought to be a suitably decorous occupation for young ladies. At which point he proceeded to tell the company about his latest discovery: that flowers were actually the sexual organs of plants. Imagine the horrified mothers, tittering girls and smirking fathers!

The flowering plants have done very well for themselves. Kicking off about 120 million years ago, they did a deal with the insects and now both groups dominate the planet. But there are lots of other non-flowering plants, much older, yet still with us, and visible in plain sight all year round. We’ll be looking at three distinct sorts: ferns, mosses and lichens. They often don’t look much to the naked eye, so we’ll be using strong hand-lenses to zoom in. Then they are fantastic.

Ferns are usually quite big, often used ornamentally. Most of the big ones die back in the winter, so we are more interested in the small tough ones that are there all the time and grow on walls, with charming names like the rustyback and the maidenhair spleenwort.

Mosses are small but there are many different kinds, easily distinguishable under the lens. You’ll be amazed. They’ve been relegated to tricky spots by the flowering plants but hold their own on walls, trees and cracks in pavements. They can stand drought, but sometimes need the wet because they still reproduce in the old-fashioned way with swimming sperms and stationary eggs. Plants with sperms! Even Linnaeus didn’t know that.

Lichens are not really plants at all, but fungi with tiny plants inside them that produce food from sunlight, making them self-sufficient. It’s a clever trick, and lichens were probably the first organisms to cover the land, long before animals or any other kinds of plants. And they are still here, absolutely everywhere. It is said they cover 6% of the earth’s surface. All those grey and black and yellow marks and blobs on walls, zoom in and you’ll find real living organisms quietly getting on with their lives, rain or shine, as they have been for at least a billion years.

Bring snacks/water

Supported by Transcoco – donation optional www.transcoco.org.uk

TH SUNDAY 13 JUNE

SUN 1: COTSWOLD CORSHAM TO GEORGIAN BATH

11 Miles, Moderate, 6 hrs duration, 9:00 from Springfield Community Campus SN13 9DN. £5, 16+

A lovely linear walk with excellent views passing hamlets and intriguing places of interest before walking along the Kennet & Avon canal towpath into the Georgian city of Bath. The route passes close to the 2-mile railway tunnel built by Brunel through Box Hill and then to Westwells where Bath stone was once quarried.

Kingsmoor Wood, an army training base between the two World Wars but then turned over to the Royal Navy at the start of WW2 as Kingsmoor Camp, a holding depot for naval ratings awaiting drafts to sea and foreign stations, is then visited.

The route continues, passing a 13th century Anglican church used as a roadside refuge for pilgrims travelling to Glastonbury and areas mentioned in the Domesday book of 1085.

With views of Hazelbury Manor the walk descends through woodland before crossing a main road on the outskirts of Box, then, ascends to the charming and hidden hamlet of Washwell and village of Henley.

Continuing near Kingsdown the walk then follows the edge of the Box valley with glorious vistas before the gradual descent into Bathford.

The meadows at Bathampton are crossed followed by the long, flat walk alongside the canal, passing many beautiful bridges and locks with glimpses into the gardens of the Georgian houses on the way to the final destination of the bus station.

With such a variety of landscapes and history the walk is very popular, and with the opportunity to stay in Bath mid-afternoon to explore the city or just relax with a cake and coffee!

Return to Corsham at you own leisure on the Sunday bus service (X31) - don’t forget your bus pass if applicable.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water

Sponsored by Carl Todd Clinic www.thecarltoddclinic.com

SUN 2: CORSHAM NEEDS A SUPER-HERO

2 Miles, Easy, 2 hrs duration, starts between 09.00-14.00, from Springfield Community Campus: FREE but please book in advance.

Prizes donated by Automattic Comics and Toys of Corsham for the highest scoring team.

Please bring snacks/water. There are also plenty of pubs and cafes in the Town where you may wish to take a break to gather your thoughts!

Sponsored by Automattic Comics and Toys of Corsham www.automatticcomics.co.uk

SUN 3: CORSHAM BOUNDS

14.5 Miles, Moderate, 8 hrs duration, 09:30 from Springfield Community Campus, £5, 16+

This walk will completely circumnavigate Corsham Town and highlights the diverse terrain that surrounds it. There are steep paths through woods with views on the edge of the By Brook valley, open fields and charming country lanes, passing old and new stone workings on the way.

We head north out of Corsham, down and up through the Hartham Park valley, to The Larches, then, rising through the woods to pass No Notion cottages. The walk will head west through Rudloe to Hazelbury Manor with fine views of Colerne, Box and the By Brook valley.

We will turn south through open fields to Westwells and onwards to Chapel Knapp and Gastard, and then east along quiet country lanes towards Thingley and Easton. We return to the Springfield Community Campus via Corsham Park and the through historic Market Town centre of Corsham.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water.

SUN 4: WOODLAND WANDERS AROUND THE AVON VALLEY

9 Miles, Challenging, 6 hrs duration, 10.00 from Canal & River Trust Car Park BA15 1BX, (parking charges apply): £5, 16+

A delightful circular walk with great views, woodland walks and reminders of the area’s stone mining past.

Our route passes under Avoncliff Aqueduct and we will see remnants of the stone mining industry at Murhill.

The walk starts through the beautiful Avon Valley, passing the ancient Tithe Barn alongside the River Avon and Kennet & Avon Canal before climbing steeply to Winsley. Walking along quiet lanes and through Conkwell Wood, we will reach Inwoods where there is substantial new tree planting as well as ancient woodland.

A visit to Hartley Farm Shop and cafe1 will revitalise our spirits and give us the boost to cover the final couple of miles back to Bradford on Avon where we will be rewarded with fine views from the terraces at the top of the town.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks

1 Due to the pandemic and ongoing restrictions this walk will no longer stop at the farm shop and café. 13

SUN 5: HIDDEN QUARRIES OF BOX HILL

7.5 Miles, Moderate, 5 hrs duration, 10:00 from Springfield Community Campus, £5, 12+

This walk goes from Corsham to Box Hill and back. The outward-bound journey from Corsham passes along Pockeridge Drive and Spring Lane to Westwells and across fields and quiet lanes to Box Hill.

At Box Common, near the top of Quarry Hill, the group meets with an expert on the history of the Box Hill mines and who is an experienced mine guide. Our expert will give his popular, fascinating and informative talk on the history of the mines during their working life and since closure. At Box Hill there are excellent views across the valley to Batheaston.

After the talk and lunch/refreshments, walkers cross the A4 to follow a path towards the old RAF Rudloe Manor Site where there are excellent views across the By Brook Valley towards Colerne.

The return journey via wood and farmland paths goes through Rudloe Wood, then a steep descent and climb through the Larches and then uphill towards Pickwick Lodge. The remainder of the walk follows farm tracks and quiet lanes towards Corsham via Middlewick and Pickwick, returning to the Springfield Community Campus.

Bring picnic lunch/snacks/water