This circular walk takes in parkland, woodland, pretty villages, especially Great Bedwyn, which has various facilities. Returning on the Kennet and Avon Canal past the famous Crofton Beam Engines dating back to 1812 and still operational some summer season weekends.
(D/A) From Burbage High Street walk North and slightly uphill. Take the right fork at Stibb Green. Follow this road downhill then up again until you reach Durley.
(1) Walk downhill on the road through Durley. Where the houses end, take a signed footpath on the right through a gate and across Tottenham House estate, passing through clumps of trees and crossing 2 drives. Keep following the well marked path. After a woodland path section reaches St Katherine’s Church.
(2) Walk past the church to crossroads. Take signed broad track straight on. This goes downhill and uphill through woodland bordering fields and then passing some forest cottages. At the top of the hill, just past a cottage on the left, turn left onto a lane. Just before reaching a wider road, take a footpath to the right. This follows the edge of the field and borders the road. Soon you have to join the road, turning right. Continue downhill into Great Bedwyn.
(3) Continue down the high street, forking right past a village shop. Shortly turn right into Church Street. Walk past another village shop. A monumental stonemason used to work here.
Upon reaching the church on your left, enter the churchyard and follow the path going diagonally right through it. On exiting take a path to the left, which leads to the railway. Cross this carefully using the pedestrian crossing. Next, cross the Kennet and Avon Canal and turn right to follow the towpath.
(4) Walk past Crofton Beam Engines and pumping station. Keep along the canal. You leave the canal at bridge 103, and walk up a broad track to Wolfhall Farm.
(5) At the farm, you reach a lane on a right-angled bend. Turn right and follow the lane back to Burbage. Upon reaching Burbage and another lane turn right and follow this lane uphill until you reach Burbage High Street.
Describe here the instructions to follow from the starting point.(D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 168m - Burbage High Street Start
1 : km 2.83 - alt. 169m - Durley
2 : km 4.55 - alt. 168m - St Kathrine's
3 : km 7.28 - alt. 126m - Great Bedwyn
4 : km 10.51 - alt. 130m - Crofton Beam Engines
5 : km 12.68 - alt. 158m - Wolfhall
D/A : km 14.12 - alt. 168m - Finish Burbage High Street
Walking boots recommended.
Shops and Three Tuns pub in Great Bedwyn.
Cafe at Crofton Beam Engines.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
(3) In Great Bedwyn, admire the work of local stonemasons from the past on the village shop walls in Church Street and in the churchyard. If you go to the church there are graves from the Seymour family who lived at nearby Wolfhall.
(4) Crofton Beam Engines dates back to 1812, and are the oldest beam engines in the world which can still fulfil their original purpose. Open during the summer season. In steam some weekends. There is also a good cafe there. Please see the website for up to date information.
(5) Wolfhall: Jane Seymour and family used to live here in a house whose remains lie partially in the grounds of the current Wolfhall Manor. This is not open to the public.
A lovely varied circular walk taking in part of Savernake Forest and Kennet and Avon Canal.
A walk on a lane to Durley then across the Tottenham House Estate to St Katherine's. Then onto Savernake Forest. Fine views and beautiful Savernake Forest.
A scenic walk. Beautiful in late spring. Including woodland, fields and downland.
A lovely walk across fields and through pretty villages and passing Wilton Water. Seeing Crofton Beam Engines before returning along the Kennet and Avon Canal.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.