West Woods

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

West Woods

Until around 1300 West Woods was part of Savernake Forest, but now, along with Savernake and Collingbourne Woods, form Marlborough Woodland. West Woods is one-fifth of the size of Savernake Forest, and was clear-felled in 1928, leaving only a few Ancient and Veteran trees on the outskirts. It was replanted with mainly Beech, with some Birch, Pine Sycamore and Ash. Hazelnut can be found along the outer footpaths, self-seeded remnants of the original coppice woodland. The Woods are famous for the ‘Bluebell weekends’ - usually the second and third weekend in May, when the woods are opened fully for vehicular access, allowing the elderly and infirm to enjoy a “sea of blue under a pale green canopy”. These weekends may not always be ideal to see the Bluebells at their best, but luckily West Woods is open for pedestrian access all year round, so we can plan some Guided Walks to suit the full arrival of Spring. Many of the Ancient Sites around the Kennet Valley are easily accessible from West Woods, making it one of our popular routes for our Guided Walks.

WW2 - West Woods Circular Tour

We leave Marlborough for West Woods following the route as in Walk WW1 above, and visit the site of Shaw. Dropping back into West Woods we examine the various groves and copses that make-up the complete Woods. A short walks takes us to Lockeridge to see Sarson Stones on the outskirts of the village - Who’d A Thought a Pub would be called that? We return into West Woods again and back to to Clatford Bottom, from where we walk down into Manton, and follow the River Kennet back into Marlborough.

Distance:	11 miles	Walk Time:	3½ - 4 Hrs	Total Time:	4½ - 5 Hrs
No of Climbs	2	Terrain:	Rise of 250 ft	Difficulty:	Easy 1.5
Price Band:	D	Features:	A B F G	Day:	2nd & 4th Thurs P.M.

WW1 - West Woods Starter

From Marlborough we follow part of the Wansdyke and White Horse Trail westwards, stopping by to visit the Marlborough White Horse. At the summit of this part of the walk we have risen by some 250 ft to over 670 ft asl, giving us tremendous views of the Marlborough Downs to the north. Don’t be alarmed though, the incline is not as steep as it sounds, as the climb is over 2 miles! We drop into Clatford Bottom, and enter one of the dense Pine areas of West Woods, which can be eerily dark, even on a summer afternoon. We pick up the Wansdyke again and visit the site of the medieval village of Shaw, before returning back too the Woods and Clatford Bottom, from where we drop down into Manton, and follow the River Kennet back into Marlborough.

Distance:	9 miles	Walk Time:	2½ - 3 Hrs	Total Time:	3½ - 4 Hrs
No of Climbs	1	Terrain:	Rise of 250 ft	Difficulty:	Easy 1.5
Price Band:	C	Features:	A B F G	Day:	2nd & 4th Thurs A.M.