Alistair and myself (Emma) set off from the wonderful old inn at the heart of a picture-perfect Wiltshire village. The sun was out but the air was still pleasingly fresh, perfect conditions for walking.
One of the things I love about this walk is the sheer number of quaint thatched and tiled cottages it takes you past, each one prettier than the last. The verges and hedgerows were full of spring flowers, primroses, daffodils and the very first bluebells starting to emerge.
We paused at the village church to take a look around the ornate Victorian interior (and say hello to a very friendly sheep in the graveyard). Our route then took us out across the fields and up towards a local lookout point where we enjoyed stunning views across the landscaped grounds of a grand 16th century manor house. In the bright, crisp air, the landscape stretched on and on, and we could see for miles out across the Somerset countryside. Tearing ourselves away from the view, we continued on through a shady woodland. Wild garlic carpeted the floor and the first delicate white flowers were starting to bloom, releasing that unmistakable garlicky fragrance into the cool spring air.
We carried on walking along fields, paths and quiet country lanes, enjoying the silence of our rustic surroundings. This corner of the Somerset/Wiltshire border is utterly rural, as you wander from village to village, farm to farm, there’s an unmistakable sense of stepping back in time. However, our path did, eventually, take us back to our start point, where we gratefully enjoyed a refreshing cold drink on the inn’s shady terrace before heading back to Foot Trails HQ.
This picturesque walk is part of our Bath & The Avon Valley and Wessex Ancient Kingdom tours. If you’d like to explore this rural idyll, it’s not too late to book for this summer. Simply visit our website page or send us an email.
