🥾 Walk 485 - Great Bedwyn, Shalbourne and Wilton

Ten of us, including three visitors, turned up at Great Bedwyn railway station on Saturday 13th November for one of Ian's walks. This walk promised a coffee stop and a few surprises en-route. We weren't disappointed.

Setting off from the station, we crossed the railway and the canal before turning into Frog Lane. Passing some thatched cottages and the village hall before turn right onto a footpath called Galley Lane. A series of bridleways and footpaths took us through farmland and woodland. On numerous occasions, we surprised pheasants in the undergrowth, who would suddenly take off, making that grating croaking noise.

Soon we were in the picturesque, and somewhat upmarket village of Shalbourne. Here we stopped at the local shop to get cups of tea and coffee, plus a few pastries from the bakery. We consumed these on the village green.

Leaving Shalbourne, we headed down a long straight footpath and encountered our first surprise. This was also a surprise to Ian. A tree had fallen across the path since he had done the recce. We had to climb through its branches to continue on the path.

Reaching Starveall Farm, we were greeted by a couple of very hairy pigs that ran up to the fence like dogs that were pleased to see a familiar visitor. A much more pleasant surprise.

Joining the Mid Wilts Way we passed through the villages of Marten and Wilton. Several times we got views of the Wilton Windmill, but we didn't go up the hill to see it this time. Instead, Ian brought us to a small walled field full of emu. Another one of his planned surprises. These massive, flightless birds came over to investigate us.

Leaving Wilton village, we followed a forest trail through Wilton Brail. We then crossed into Bedwyn Brail and took a long straight path through more forest. We could just make out something at the top of the hill but it wasn't clear what it was.

It was another of Ian's surprises. A large wooden chair flanked by two totem pole tree carvings - one of an owl and the other resembling an Easter Island head.

Leaving the forest, we crossed the canal and entered Great Bedwyn through the grounds of St. Mary's Church. (It was no surprise to visit a church on one of Ian's walks.) From there, it was a short distance back to the railway station. See our route on Google Maps.

Thank you to Ian for leading this walk.

📸 Back to Volume 38

Return to volume index