Welcome to Wiltshire Walks
Welcome to Wiltshire Walks, a venture that provides Guided Walks and Theme Tours around the footpaths, woodlands, downs, rivers, villages & ancient sites of North Wiltshire and the Kennet Valley. We also provide short Courses on associated topics such as Map Reading & Compass Skills, GPS & Geocaching, and can supply professionally produced detailed Maps and Route Cards for our Self-Guided and Custom Walks.
*** New for February ***
- New additions to our Website:
- A Forum for general disussion of walking and features in the area, and for related topics such as maps software, GPS equipment & software, and for general topic related questions and answers.
- An easier On-Line Provisional Enquiry and Booking system.
- Guided Tours of the remains of the Marlborough Branch and M&SWJ Railways Lines.
- New Course content - practical help with setting-up GPS equipment.
Geocaching is a fast-growing hobby across the world, which involves hunting-down hidden containers called ‘caches’. The primary technique for finding caches is by the use of a Handheld GPS device. Caches contain a Logbook, often toys and trinkets, and sometimes clues to further caches (‘Multi-Caches or ‘Offset-Caches’’). Trinkets may be removed if desired, but Geocaching etiquette asks that a replacement should be made. Caches may also contain trackable times called Travel Bugs or Coins, which are designed to be removed and taken to a new cache - the movement of these can then be tracked via the main Geocaching Website, and by use of Google Earth. Further details of Geocaching may be found from the main Geocaching Website - click here.
North Wiltshire contains around 800 Geocaches, including many Multi, Offset and Virtual Caches. Geocaching is considered to be a solitary or family hobby, but if care is taken, groups can Geocache together without compromising individual ‘finds’ within the Group. Handheld GPS units are available at between £70 and £500 which will be capable of taking you to within 5 metres of a cache (on a good day); however it is feasible to Geocache without a GPS unit, if sufficient planning is involved.
Want to know more about Geocaching and whether it is for you? Don’t want to spend out on a GPS unit? Just want to take a tour of a few Geocaches that are hidden in areas of outstanding natural beauty in North Wiltshire? Then why not join one of our Walks that cover some of the local Geocaches and discover the fun for yourself!! Walks that have Geocaches on-route are now marked with a G on their ‘Features’.
Click here for more details....
General Information
Our Walks and Tours are based in Marlborough, the historic Market Town in North Wiltshire, which is surrounded by navigable footpaths, accessible downland and woodland (including Savernake Forest and West Woods) with many ancient sites such as Avebury, Silbury Hill and Stonehenge within easy travelling distance. Two ancient trails pass nearby; the Ridgeway and the Wansdyke. Rare flora and fauna abound; the villages and towns are filled with fascinating buildings steeped in history - making it a fabulous area for the photographer or historian to visit. Marlborough is an ideal central base for a walking, biking or touring holiday, so why not add one of our Guided Walks to your plans, or base a complete short holiday around one or more of our Guided Walks, or perhaps a complete Theme Holiday?
Everyone recognises that outdoor exercise is beneficial to our health and well-being (see our News Page), and in the current economic climate walking holidays can be achieved at considerably less cost than a more traditional holiday. However, walking holidays require a degree of researching and arranging, a good knowledge of map-reading at both the planning stage and 'on the ground', and can often be a solitary affair which may suit some walkers, but not all. So let our Path Leader take away the worry of the exactly route of that Public Right of Way, or, if you wish, learn Map Reading & Compass skills during the walk!
Guided walks are not a new idea, but can often be a little too long or strenuous for some walkers, may not provide enough variety of activities along the walk, or do not allow the time to just stand and take in the views. Wiltshire Walks provides small groups of walkers (3 - 8 persons, maximum of 10) with appealing walks along navigable pathways having scenic views, with the Path Leader providing a knowledgeable commentary when necessary. Time is given for the walkers to learn new skills such as dowsing for 'ley-lines', to stop and look at the views and take photographs, and to have the chance to chat and make friends with the other walkers.
Short guided tours of Marlborough town are also available - see the ‘Blue Plaques’ of the town, go on an ‘old pub crawl’, and investigate the original routes into the town and the hidden alleyways off the High Street.
Previous experience has shown that most all ‘social walkers' enjoy becoming involved in other activities, or learning new skills during the walks. When applying for more information about our Walks, our Enquiry Form will ask about your interests and hobbies, and if several prospective walkers have shown an interest in any one particular activity then we will set that activity as the theme for that walk. See our Activities Page for more information.
For more information about our Guided Walks, Dates and Prices, How to Book, Food and Accommodation during your stay, local Pubs and Restaurants, & Taxis and Public Transport, Local Events, and our supporting businesses, please see our More Details Page.
Marlborough High Street
from High Walls
Pink Hazelnuts
and..........
Pink Walking Boots!
Views on our Walks
- ‘Hover’ for a
larger Image
and .......
Black Swans!
Guided Walk stopping at the remains of the last Savernake Ammo Store
** New Lower Prices and Walks Structure for 2010 **
Big Price Reductions!!! Wiltshire Walks is already the most economically-priced Guided Walks company with around 40% lower pricing than our nearest competitor! And, for 2010 we are offering a more simplified pricing structure, with prices reduced by around 25% on all Guided Walks. Click here for more details.
Pre-book a Guided Walk for a date/time to suit you now!!! We are now able to accept bookings for Walks dates and times that may be more convenient for you. Choose your Walk from any of our Lists (click here), or ask us to produce a Custom Walk tailored to your requirements. Click here for more details.
Guided Walks now at Weekends!!! Because of the reduced workload at this time of year we can now offer most Guided and Custom Walks at weekends. Click here for more details.
Snowdrops now starting to flower
on the banks of the River Kennet.
February - the month of Purification.
The land needs rain this month, and snow is even more beneficial; snowdrops are now blooming.
February - named from ‘Februa’, the Roman feast of purification
Avoid travelling by night in snowy weather
A Traveller’s Warning
Walk fast in snow
In frost walk slow,
When frost and snow are both together
Sit by the fire and save shoe leather
Unknown
Be careful of your health and Diet
“In this month, all slimy fish, white meats, foggy fenfowls, milk and such-like food of a phlegmatic humour, that do oppilate and stop the liver and veins and thicken the blood, are to be eschewed.”
Browne’s Almanack 1627