Savernake Forest

Relaxed Guided Walks around the woods, downs and ancient sites of Wiltshire

Savernake Forest

Take one of six pleasant circular guided tours around one of England's oldest and largest Forests. The Forest, which is at least 1000 years old (and probably 1100 years), is the only privately-owned forest in England, and is 4500 acres in size, although in the mid-18th century Savernake extended to some 40,000 acres. The Forest is rich in flora, fauna and wildlife - all the main types of Deer are present, as are most types of Birds of Prey, including a pair of Red Kites. Several Oak Trees are over 400 years old, and the Big Belly Oak (next to the main A346) is said to be as old as the Forest itself, at over 1000 years old. (Click here for details of the older trees in the Forest). Savernake Forest is an excellent venue for trying out your compass and map-reading skills - as Daniel Boone is reported as saying: “I’ve never been lost, but I’ve been a mite confused for a while”.

Dates and Times: See our Dates Pages for more details
Prices and Discounts: Click here for our current Prices Page

Key to Features
available during walks

Ancient Site

Bluebells (mid April - end May

Monuments

Suitable for Newcomers

Fruit & Nuts
(Autumn)

New - Geocache on this Walk

Scenic Views

S5 - Valleys and Veterans

The fourth Guided Walk is longer, at around fourteen miles, again starting in Marlborough Town Centre, but this time following the River Kennet eastwards to the site of the Roman Town of Cvnetio at Mildenhall - pronounced ‘Minal’ locally. From here a fairly steep climb (200 ft) takes us into the outer edges of The Forest, with good views over the Kennet Water meadows and Marlborough Downs to the north. From here the walk continues around the eastern edge of The Forest, discovering the first of the veteran oak trees, before delving back into the main wooded areas to visit the main ancient and veteran trees. Can anyone find the Braydon and Saddle Oak Trees?

Distance:

14 miles

Walk Time:

4½ - 5 Hrs

Total Time:

5½ - 6 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Climb - 120 ft

Difficulty:

Moderate - 2½

Price Band:

Features:

F M G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

S4 - Curios, Carp and Columns

The third Guided Walk is similar to the second, but covers all the major ancient trees, as well as some of the curios that can be discovered in The Forest. This is a reasonably energetic walk, but would be considered as ‘easy’ by anyone with a little regular walking experience.

Distance:

9 miles

Walk Time:

3 - 3½ Hrs

Total Time:

4 - 4½ Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Rise of 120 ft

Difficulty:

Moderate 2

Price Band:

Features:

F M G

Spring

Days:

Any Days

S3 - Trees and Tracks

The second Guided Walk, of around eight miles, starts in Marlborough, with a short climb up into the Forest, from where we explore many of the major main walkways that criss-cross The Forest, along the way visiting some of the famous veteran and ancient Oak Trees, including the Big Belly Oak (or ‘Big-Bellied Oak’), the Queen Oak, King Oak (now a modern ‘replacement’), and the magnificent Cathedral Oak (500 years old) - pictured left.

Distance:

8 miles

Walk Time:

2½ - 3 Hrs

Total Time:

3½ - 4 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Rise of 120 ft

Difficulty:

Easy 1½

Price Band:

Features:

F M G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

S2 - Savernake Taster

Our second Guided Walk is of four miles, and covers the northern part of the Forest, visiting several ancient Oak Trees, the Grand Avenue , then delves off into some of the more remote areas., viewing hidden properties, ponds

Distance:

4 miles

Walk Time:

1½ - 2 Hrs

Total Time:

2 - 2½ Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Rise of 40 ft

Difficulty:

Easy 1½

Price Band:

Features:

F N G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

S6 - Wartime Wander

In 1940, in the early stages of the 2nd World War, Savernake Forest became an ammunition dump; from 1944 - 1949 most of what is considered to be the main forest was used to hold up to 22,000 tons of high explosives and other ammunition, with two main chemical stores. These were removed or destroyed after the war (from 1947 - 1949) leaving the Forest open for public access again. WW2 artefacts still remain in the Forest (empty cartridge cases are reported as still being found) - why not come along and explore where the original camps and ammunition dumps were sited?

Distance:

11 miles

Walk Time:

4½ - 5 Hrs

Total Time:

5½ - 6 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Climb - 120 ft

Difficulty:

Moderate - 2

Price Band:

Features:

F M G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

The ‘new’ Queen Oak - even this replacement is looking a bit frail.....

Custom Guided Walkers stopping at

The Big Belly Oak

The Original Queen Oak

Guided Walkers at The White Road Oak

‘Old Paunchy’

Lunch at The Column

A saddle oak (not one of the two named Saddle Oaks) in one of the more ancient areas of Savernake containing ‘Oak Clusters’

S7 - Savernake ‘Mix’

Come and take a pleasant stroll around the major features of the Forest - starting at the Picnic Site, taking in the views of the Marlborough Downs, then off on a leisurely walk around the main features of the Forest. See many of the famous named Oak trees whilst visiting some of the older areas containing ‘Oak Clusters’, which most visitors to the Forest miss. We stop for a snack at the Column with its views to Tottenham House, and help seek out two Geocaches. On to the remains of an Ammunition Dump, then into the area which contains most of the older named trees, click here for more details. Into the centre of the Forest, with a final walk along a section of the Grand Avenue, followed by a visit to the WWII main campsite.

Distance:

9 miles

Walk Time:

3 - 4 Hrs

Total Time:

5 - 6 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Climbs - 170 ft

Difficulty:

Moderate - 2

Price Band:

Features:

F S M G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

Snippets of Information

•	In 2008, the Forestry Commission completed a survey of all ancient and veteran Oak Trees in Savernake which reveals there are more than 7000 such trees in The Forest (click for details).

•	Definition of older Trees:

▪

Ancient Trees are in the last stages of their life. Defining what is the “last stage” is difficult, as each tree species has a different typical life span. Birch trees can live for just 40 years, Oak trees can reach 1100 years, whereas some Yew trees are believed to be 4000 to 5000 years old. Ancient trees are defined as being the rarest of their type, and are often the biggest trees of their species.

▪	Veteran Trees will become ancient trees in the ‘near’ future (the exact definition of the term ‘near’ is again dependent upon the species). They will be mature in relation to other trees of the same species in the same area, and will be of special interest, perhaps biologically or aesthetically.

▪	Notable Trees are trees of local importance, and will most likely be next generation Veteran Trees.

•	‘Aging’ Trees - you don’t have to chop a tree down and count the rings to discover its age. Take a look at this article from the Forestry Commission about non-destructive techniques for estimating the age of a tree.

N.B.

Further walks around the southern edge of The Forest are contained within the Wootton Rivers walks.

S1 - Savernake Starter

Our new Savernake Starter is of three miles over fairly level ground. We start at Postern Hill, with its magnificent views over the Marlborough Downs, and learn of the size of the Forest as it is now and how it probably was 1100 years ago. A short stroll takes us though impressive Beech trees to see several ancient Oak Trees. On then to onto a relatively unknown area of the Forest where Troops once tended Ammunitions Stores during WW II. A short distance away is the Grand Avenue, designed and built by Capability Brown, and the longest Avenue in Britain. We return to ‘base’ via a local ‘Geocache’, if anyone can find it! This is an excellent “starter” walk for anyone who is nervous of their walking proficiency.

Distance:

3 miles

Walk Time:

1 Hrs

Total Time:

2 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Climb of 40 ft

Difficulty:

Very Easy 1

Price Band:

Features:

F N G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

S8 - Savernake Geocaches

The tour starts with an interestingly marked Milestone A tour of the more southern end of the Forest, with views of Tottenham House and The Column. Three Geocaches are nearby, and time will be allowed for you to locate their precise position, and fill-in Log Books etc. Onto the old Ammunition Dump, then into the area which contains most of the older named trees.

Distance:

7 miles

Walk Time:

2 - 3 Hrs

Total Time:

4 - 5 Hrs

No of Climbs

Terrain:

Climbs - 60 ft

Difficulty:

Moderate - 2

Price Band:

Features:

F S M G

Spring

Days:

Any Day

Cathedral Oak