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Relaxed Guided Walks around the woods, downs and ancient sites of Wiltshire
Savernake Forest
Take one of our many pleasant circular guided tours around what was England's largest Forest. Savernake (or ‘Safernoc’ as mentioned in a Charter of 934), is therefore over 1000 years old, and is the only privately-owned forest in England. It is 4500 acres in size, although in the mid-18th century Savernake extended to some 40,000 acres. The Forest is rich in flora and fauna, with rare lichen and funghi. All the main types of Deer are present, as are most types of Birds of Prey, including a pair of Red Kites. Many Oak Trees are over 600 years old, and the Big Belly Oak (next to the main A346) is said to be as old as the Forest itself, at perhaps 1100 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 actually 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
Prices and Discounts: Click here for our current Prices Page
Key to Features
available during walks
available during walks
A
Ancient Site
B
Bluebells (mid April - end May
M
Monuments
N
Suitable for Newcomers
F
Fruit & Nuts
(Autumn)
(Autumn)
G
New - Geocache on this Walk
S
Scenic Views
This Guided Walk is longer, at around twelve miles, 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?
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Distance: |
14 miles |
Walk Time: |
4½ - 5 Hrs |
Total Time: |
5½ - 6 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
1 |
Terrain: |
Climb - 120 ft |
Difficulty: |
Moderate - 2½ |
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Price Band: |
D |
Features: |
F M G |
Days: |
Any Day |
The fourth Guided Walk is similar to the third, but covers more of 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.
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Distance: |
7 miles |
Walk Time: |
3 - 3½ Hrs |
Total Time: |
4 - 4½ Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
1 |
Terrain: |
Rise of 120 ft |
Difficulty: |
Moderate 2 |
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Price Band: |
C |
Features: |
F M G |
Days: |
Any Days |
The third Guided Walk, of around seven miles, starts at Postern Hill Picnic Site, and explores 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 (perhaps around 900 years old) - pictured left.
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Distance: |
7 miles |
Walk Time: |
2½ - 3 Hrs |
Total Time: |
3½ - 4 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
1 |
Terrain: |
Rise of 120 ft |
Difficulty: |
Easy 1½ |
|
Price Band: |
C |
Features: |
F M G |
Days: |
Any Day |
Our second Guided Walk, of four miles, covers the northern part of the Forest, visiting several ancient and veteran Trees, the Grand Avenue , then delves off into some of the more remote areas, viewing hidden properties and ponds.
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Distance: |
4 miles |
Walk Time: |
1½ - 2 Hrs |
Total Time: |
2 - 2½ Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
1 |
Terrain: |
Rise of 40 ft |
Difficulty: |
Easy 1½ |
|
Price Band: |
A |
Features: |
F N G |
Days: |
Any Day |
In 1940, in the early stages of the 2nd World War, Savernake Forest became an ammunition dump, and 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) - so why not come along and explore where the original camps and ammunition dumps were sited?
|
Distance: |
10 miles |
Walk Time: |
4½ - 5 Hrs |
Total Time: |
5½ - 6 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
2 |
Terrain: |
Climb - 40 ft |
Difficulty: |
Moderate - 2 |
|
Price Band: |
D |
Features: |
F M G |
Days: |
Any Day |
The ‘new’ Queen Oak - even this replacement is looking a bit frail.....
Guided Walkers stopping at
The Big Belly Oak
The Original Queen Oak
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 ‘Oak Cluster’ areas of Savernake
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, if you wish, you can help seek out a nearby Geocache. On to the remains of an Ammunition Dump, then into the area which contains most of the older named Oak 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.
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Distance: |
9 miles |
Walk Time: |
3 - 4 Hrs |
Total Time: |
5 - 6 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
0 |
Terrain: |
Climbs - 40 ft |
Difficulty: |
Moderate - 2 |
|
Price Band: |
C |
Features: |
F S M G |
Days: |
Any Day |
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In 2008, the Forestry Commission completed a survey of all ‘Ancient’, ‘Veteran’ and some ‘Notable’ trees in Savernake. The survey, which took several years to complete, revealed more than 7000 such trees, which includes Oak, Beech, Chestnut, Maple. All trees were tagged and their positions recorded using GPS. Several Oak trees have been ‘Named’ over the last millennium - << Click here for more for details >>
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•
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The Definition of the older Trees:
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▪
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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.
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▪
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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.
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▪
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Notable Trees may be much younger than Ancient or Veteran Trees, although Ancient and Veteran trees may also be Notable. Notable trees may be trees of local importance, or may be a rare variety, or may exhibit some speciality of growth etc. Some Notable are likely to be the next generation Veteran Trees.
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•
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‘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. And why not join one of our Guided Walks of the older trees (S3, S5 and S7 above, or S9, S10 or S11)?
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N.B.
Further walks around the southern edge of The Forest are contained within the Wootton Rivers walks.
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 looked 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.
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Distance: |
3 miles |
Walk Time: |
1 Hrs |
Total Time: |
2 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
1 |
Terrain: |
Climb of 40 ft |
Difficulty: |
Very Easy 1 |
|
Price Band: |
A |
Features: |
F N G |
Days: |
Any Day |
S8 - Savernake Geocaches
The Walk starts with an interestingly marked Milestone and is 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 some of the older named Oak trees.
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Distance: |
7 miles |
Walk Time: |
3 Hrs |
Total Time: |
4 - 5 Hrs |
|
No of Climbs |
0 |
Terrain: |
Climbs - 60 ft |
Difficulty: |
Moderate - 2 |
|
Price Band: |
C |
Features: |
F S M G |
Days: |
Any Day |
The Cathedral Oak
