Great Green Bedwyn climate action group and Bedwyn Footpaths Group are leading this walk, supported by Wilton Manor Farm and Southern Streams, a local group of landowners working together to enrich and protect the landscape.
We will visit a variety of habitats: the new wetlands, downland and farmland, pausing along the way to learn about regenerative farming methods and to hear about the history of this land which has been farmed since Roman times. The Lemon family have been farming in the area for generations and using regenerative methods for more than 20 years. In 2023, in partnership with ARK (Action for the River Kennet), they created a new wetland area to help filter and purify water running into the chalk streams and to provide a space for wildlife.
We hope to see a range of butterflies, wetland and downland birds and meadow flowers, including cover crops, bug and bird strips, water margins to reduce soil erosion, retained hedges, and coppices to support biodiversity. If you are lucky, rare emus can be spotted in Wilton Village!
After the walk, visitors may wish to book lunch at The Swan in Wilton (see below) or picnic at the Windmill.
The walk is free, but donations are appreciated to support Great Green Bedwyn (details available on the walk).
There is hardly any shade on the walk, so please bring hat and water. Part of the route is on farmland, so the surface may be uneven and have long grass. There is one long, steady incline towards the end of the walk. Ticks and horseflies active in the area.
Walk leaders/organisation: Judy Haynes and Sylvia Wyatt, Great Green Bedwyn
This walk is now full but click ‘book now’ to join the waiting list.
Walk information
- Booking: Free – Booking essential – 22 places
- Distance & approximate duration: 4 miles (6.4 km) – 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate (more challenging, for keen/active walkers).
- Accessibility: Suitable for older children (12+). Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (see useful information). Not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Dogs: No dogs.
- Refreshments: Bring snacks and drinks as needed. There are no places to purchase refreshments on the route (see below).
- Toilets: There is a Portaloo at Wilton Windmill that is usually open even if the Windmill is closed.
- Meeting point: Wilton Windmill, Wilton, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3SW. What3Words: cheer.snippets.fussed. OS grid reference: SU 275 616. Google Maps.
- Public transport: The on-demand bus stops at The Swan, Wilton, SN8 3SS. 15 mins walk from the meeting point. Book the bus 7 days in advance on the app or by phone: Connecting Wiltshire. Trains available to Bedwyn station, The Knapp, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, SN8 5RD. Trains stop from Paddington, Reading, Newbury, Hungerford and other stations in between, see Great Western Railways. The station is about 2.75 miles from the meeting point. The on-demand bus can be booked to collect from Bedwyn station.
- Parking: Free private parking for the event only. Please park as directed on the day, in the field adjacent to Wilton Windmill, Wilton, SN8 3SW. What3Words: nip.tries.thudded.
For general booking information, health and safety advice, terms and conditions please see our useful information page.
Further information
Refreshments and further toilets (not accessible) can be found at The Swan Inn, Grafton Rd, Wilton, Marlborough, SN8 3SS – 15 mins’ walk from start of walk. Open Saturdays 12.00am-11.00pm. Booking advised.
Wilton Windmill is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons during the summer months, see Wilton Windmill.
The heritage attraction of Crofton Beam Engines is between the villages of Great Bedwyn and Burbage. It is open in the summer months, see Crofton Beam Engines.
This walk is brought to you by our partners:
- Great Green Bedwyn is a community climate action group which aims to share ideas and take action to reduce our carbon footprint.
- Bedwyn Footpaths Group’s monthly walks encourage walking for health and wellbeing and its members actively help to protect and promote the footpaths.
- Action for River Kennet (ARK) exists to protect and improve the Kennet, its tributaries and the River Pang.
- Southern Streams is a farming cluster group of more than 23,000 acres with land that delivers water to the River Kennet, River Dun and Shalbourne Brook.
