This 3.2 mile trail will take you across the countryside connecting Calne and Bremhill, bringing you back down past the Dumb post Inn to the confluence of Fishers Brook and Cowage Brook, before heading back into the fields near Swerves Farm back into Calne.
Important Information:
On-street parking is available near Tesco Express, which is the start and finish point of this trail.
The trail incorporates, stiles, gates, and bridges over fields and roads. Part of this trail is along the road at Dumb Post Hill and down past Ratford Bridge and Swerves Farm. Please follow the Highway Code advice and face oncoming traffic when walking the road.
1) At Tesco Express, cross at the light-controlled crossing and follow the pavement to the roundabout at the end of School Road. Follow the pavement to the right, onto Beversbrook Road.
Continue along the edge of this field, crossing the stile at the lower corner.
4) A short distance further along leads to a bridge over Fisher's Brook. This brook has also been known as Bevers Brook in the past, as highlighted by a 1827 Parish map used by William Lisle Bowles, vicar of Bremhill, poet and writer on histories of Bremhill and Lacock.
Continue across the bridge and up along the left edge of the following field. As you continue up the hill, take a look back at the view. You be able to follow Fisher's Brook due to the corridor of shrubs and trees, which makes for a lovely view.
5) As you reach Lower Whitley Farm, take a left through the gap in the hedge, just before the 'Private Land' notice.
With the hedge on your right now, continue along down past the horse paddocks and through the gate. At the end of the paddocks, you will reach a smaller gate, which in turn will lead you to a bridge over Cowage Brook.
6) While you're on the bridge, take a moment to view Cowage Brook. This brook has its origins as far away as Tockenham, Lyneham and the medieval village of Woodhill, near Bushton.
Continue along the right edge of the adjoining field, until you reach the next gate. Continue on through the next field, going through the gate next to the metal trough.
Take a left, continuing past the picturesque Grade II listed well house, built c. 1875 of ironstone rubble with a timber frame and a pyramidal roof of fishscale tiles.
After a short distance, you will reach a bench, where you may wish to take a well earned rest. Here you will see the scheduled, and Grade II listed, medieval village cross with octagonal base and shaft. The amount of wear on the steps show the importance of the cross of the years.
8) The walk continues around right of the churchyard boundary of Grade I listed, St. Martin's. This church has Anglo-Saxon origins, with additional work in the 1200s, 1400s, and a restoration in 1850. It was here that William Lisle Bowles served as vicar between 1804-45. It was another vicar of Bremhill, John Tounson, who provided the funds for the almshouses on Kingsbury Street in Calne.
Where the churchyard wall meets the main road, there is a stone pillar signifying the end of the wall. To the right of this is a metal kissing gate. Take this path, following it around to the right and past Bremhill Manor.
9) Bremhill Manor is another of Bremhill's many listed buildings. The handsome Manor was built around 1820, however there is earlier work to the rear.
Continue along the path, with views opening up to the south west.
10) As you continue along the field, go through the kissing gate and through the wooden gate beyond. Continuing down the driveway to the main road will bring you out at the Dumb Post Inn, which is well worth a stop when open.
11) Take care as you cross the road and walk south, facing oncoming traffic. There are many wonderful views as you make your way down to Ratford.
Upon reaching Ratford Bridge, take a moment to find the confluence between Fisher's Brook and Cowage Brook, a short distance from here, the Cowage Brook joins with the River Marden.
12) Further along the trail is an outbuilding next to Bridge Cottage. This corrugated iron room that was used as a Baptist Chapel between 1900 and 1970. It has since been turned into a residential annexe.
As you continue along the road, passing Swerves Farm, you will see that the reflective posts come to an end. Just past this point the Right of Way path crosses the road through the hedges. Cross over the road and over the stile, now heading more or less east.
Tracks in the field will lead you to a corrugated crossing over a water course and into another field, heading south east.
You will then reach the final stile, which brings you out to Greenacres Way, part of Calne's relief road. Take care when crossing, the continue through the hedge into a green space and follow the curved path, which will bring you out a Newbury Avenue.
Cross Newbury Avenue and follow it to another green space, Newbury Park. You will be greeted with horse chestnut trees and benches.
When you are ready, continue on past the circle of lime trees, and through the avenue of trees that follows.
Follow the path, which leads back to Amberley Close and back to the start of the walk.
Thank you for using this trail!
Map from the lovely folks at OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors
