The Southern Flyer starts This is part of building was altered to its Did you know? at Waitrose, where you the National current appearance. 6 9 The Southern Flyer Cycle Network A recent refurbishment Over the years, Swindon can cycle the paved route The Southern Flyer project (Route 45) and accompanied the change artist Ken White has painted to town, or walk along the is an upgrade of an existing canal route. Here are you can follow of name to “The Runner”. a number of murals around cycle and pedestrian route some points of interest the path east the town, including many with a canal theme. One of along the way... towards Old Town, or between Wichelstowe and Swindon town Did you know? his best known is that of head west to get to the centre. The route is two miles in length Hundreds of people take the Golden Lion Bridge on and is paved and off the road, with safe Mannington Retail Park. part in the duck race every the side of a house on crossing points at busy junctions. two years, held by the Fleming Way. 3 Swindon Old Town Rotary Faringdon Park On this guide, we also show two walking Club over the late May Ken is also the official artist Faringdon Park (once known routes to town; one along the Wilts and for Richard Branson and is Bank Holiday. The fun, as the GWR Park – and also Berks canal, the other through Old Town family event is held on the credited with the “Scarlett known over the years as Cambria Bridge Lady” emblem on the side of and the viewpoint of the Radnor Street Westcott Recreation The Plantation and Victoria cemetery. Ground with 10,000 plastic and mural Virgin’s aircraft. You can see Park) played a big part in 1 ducks meandering down This Cambria Bridge was more of his work at the social life of the Swindon The cycle route uses Redposts Drive, www.kenwhitemurals.co.uk Rushey Platt the River Ray and through built in 1877, and modified Railway Villagers and Wootton Bassett Road and follows the Nature Reserve the Arkell's pub, The Runner . in 1893 and again in 1978. occupies a special place in old canal route up to Wharf Green, where you can park your bike in the Managed by Wiltshire It is now home to a time- 7 the history of Swindon. Wildlife Trust, this nature travelling community mural It was purchased by the Brunel Cycle Park. The route is suitable reserve sits alongside the 5 to reflect aspects of the Great Western Railway in for high-speed commuter journeys as canal just south of Kingshill town’s history and heritage. 1844 for the benefit of the well as leisure purposes for all abilities. railway workers who lived in Road. Here you can A concrete post at the end From the route it is also possible to the 300 cottages to the Beavan’s Bridge discover the wetland plants of Cambria Bridge has connect onto the Old Town Railway Path s n o i t c a r t t a d n a east of the park. In 1925, and animals that have become a Tardis, and a and extend your journey to West and The small neat stone bridge the park was made over to s k r a m d n a l , e g a t i r e h l a n a c called “Beavan’s Bridge” evolved to suit these special shimmering stream of time, North Swindon, or Old Town, Coate conditions. If you listen Swindon Corporation for use s ’ n o d n i w S r e v o c s i D used to be an old farm filled with local history, Water and beyond. carefully you may hear the emerges from its open as a public park, and is now r e y l F n r e h t u o S access. The current bridge Milton Road Bridge ‘plop’ of the Water Vole as door to spread along the popular with local residents itself is relatively new, built Erected in 1890, the Milton enjoying a leisurely stroll e h T it dives into the river or structure. Among the images in 2000 by Wilks & Berks Road Bridge replaced the canal. See Birds such as Radnor Street Cemetery are The Mechanics’ Institute, and central Swindon office Follow us on Twitter canal volunteers with previous “Black Bridge”. Jack Snipe, and the Reed Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a workers taking a break funding from the Radnor Street Cemetery is The Central Club and @Swindon_Travel Warbler. Dragonflies can Swindon-built locomotive, a from work. Millennium Commission. also known locally as Clifton Institute on Milton Road be abundant in the pond. large ‘175’ and Billie Piper – When built in 2000, it was Street Cemetery. used to have an overhanging aka Doctor’s assistant 10 the first new stone-arch The cemetery covers a large extension, which was Rose Tyler. Also featured bridge built over the canal 4 sloping area, incorporating thought to have been Swindon Travel are suffragette Edith New, in living memory. some 33,000 internments. related to canal activity, Choices Railway Works pioneer The benefits but wasn’t. (The club was Inside the grounds is a Daniel Gooch, the Octobus of cycling and The Southern Flyer forms a demolished in the 1970’s). part of Swindon Borough 2 small chapel, which is not mobile youth project and walking include: Council’s Local Sustainable used for weekly worship, community TV station The original bridge had Transport Fund (LSTF) but in the past was used Swindon Viewpoint. There is ornamental balustrades but • Improves general health, helping to project (that runs up to March 2016) when a funeral took place; a large image of Ken White, these were replaced in 1981 The Goddard family lower blood pressure and heart rate, which is known as Swindon Travel Choices. nowadays it is opened on the Swindon artist who first with brick and concrete. You’ll come across a lot of as well as improving mental health For more information about the Southern occasions for displays by painted a mural at the references to “Goddard” and wellbeing Flyer and the wider Swindon Travel Choices the Friends of Radnor bridge more than 30 years 8 around Swindon, such as project please visit: • Helps with weight and stress Street Cemetery, who also ago as part of a series Goddard Avenue and www.swindontravelchoices.org.uk management Link to hold tours of the cemetery across the town. A painted The Goddard Arms pub. (details can be found on plaque says: “Dedicated to • Improves fitness Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ Old Town Railway Path The Runner Pub The Goddard Family were swindontravelchoices There has probably been their Facebook page). Ken White’s Cambria Bridge Lords of the Manor of In congested areas cyclists and This is Skew bridge, which • an inn on the site of Outside the chapel is a mural in 1982.” Swindon, living on the pedestrians breathe in less fumes StreetSmart when built in the 1880’s Report any maintenance issues along the The Runner since early in war memorial. This is an The new mural was Goddard Estate in The than drivers carried the then Midland Southern Flyer route such as broken glass, the 18th century , but the official Commonwealth War produced in 2015 by local Lawns from 1563 until and South West Junction Saves you money to Swindon Borough Council’s StreetSmart current building is relatively Graves Cemetery where artists’ group The Visual 1927. The last of the male • Railway over the canal. team on 01793 445501 (Monday to young - only 110 years old! 104 servicemen are buried Drop in a collaboration with Brunel Cycle Park line, Major Fitzroy Pleydell Produces no pollution so is good for The line closed again circa • Friday 8.00am-8.00pm; or at all other from both world wars. The Railway Kids, a youth Located within the ground Goddard, a diplomat, died in the environment and tackling 1961 and the track was In 1825, a John Garlick times on 01793 466453 club organised by the floor of the Brunel West 1927. His widow, Eugenia climate change finally removed in 1978. It is built a pub here and called www.swindon.gov.uk Mechanics’ Institution Trust, Car Park, the Brunel Cycle Kathleen, left Swindon in now a footbridge and cycle it The Royal Oak but the Often quicker to get around in towns and in partnership with Park opened in 2010 as an 1931. The Manor was • To report any infrastructure maintenance route over the newly name was shortlived and and cities www. Swindon Borough Council. undercover storage area demolished in the 1950’s problems please call Swindon Direct on the restored section of the only a year later it was numbers above, as StreetSmart. for people to leave their and the grounds were Fewer cars on the road and more Wilts & Berks Canal. re-christened The Running swindon • bikes whilst in town. opened as parkland and cyclists and pedestrians means Horse. There is access from the Protected with swipe card remain so today. The wood, safer roads Skew Bridge up onto the old Arkell's were the fourth travel access (anyone can apply lake, sunken garden, Have fewer days being ill each year railway path, and there are owners in 1883 and rebuilt for a card; there is elements of the walls and • also steps (and a wheeling it in 1891. Outwardly it choices a one off cost of £10), the gateposts at the So whether you cycle or walk for your Design, cartography and 11.15 .org.uk print by Pindar Creative channel to assist cyclists) to remained the same until there are now hundreds entrance to Lawns are all whole journey, or simply part of it, you know you will be healthier as a result! ww w.