Route 004 - Penn Wood (High Penn)

This is a 1 mile walk around Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's Penn Wood nature reserve, taking in plenty of wildlife and two ponds, and if you're patient, at least one kingfisher.

This route is, unfortunately, not accessible. After rain, some of the route can be very muddy, so ensure appropriate clothing. 

Access to the nature reserve is gained from High Penn, off Oxford Road, by the new housing development. Follow the main track uphill to the top, parking in the gap between High Penn farm access gate and the nature reserve gates.

Directions

1) There are two lots of gates to pass to gain entry into the reserve. When through the gates keep to the left track.

After the parking place, we passed High Penn farm, which likely originated from the common pasture called 'Penn' in the 1600s. It was held by William Northey in 1728 and accounted for 131 acres. Over time most of the land has been sold, with the nature reserve on a long-term lease from Hills Waste.

2) Take the left-most track along the edge of the 7.7 hectare nature reserve. In the 1930s, this land was first worked as a sand quarry by The Hills Group, before being used for inert landfill. 

3a) You will then reach a metal gate. Here we will turn left, keeping to the main reserve, however if you're a Geocacher, you may wish to detour and collect the caches before returning to the walk. Also, on the other side of the gate is the slow worm refuge, which was populated in 2003 by slow worms from the allotments near Newcroft, before Hills Homes developed housing there.

After a short distance you will arrive at a pond surrounded by trees.

3b) You can turn left, following the blue line on the map, if you'd like to take in the views of this pond. If you're patient, you may see a kingfisher swooping across the pond's surface.

4) Returning back to the main route, follow the track ahead, which will lead to a private fishing lake. 

5) Even in winter, this fishing lake provides beautiful views, with lots of birds to see. Take care when walking around the pond, as some of the path is narrow and close to the water.

Aside from the lake at Bowood, Penn Wood likely boasts the largest publicly accessible bodies of water in this area of Wiltshire and is quite a well kept secret!

6) Follow the track around and past the fishing lake. At the junction, take the left path which will bring you back to the gates that we started out from.

There are many paths within the nature reserve, which are well worth exploring. There are thousands of trees, and in the summer plenty of orchids to enjoy.

Thank you for using this route!

Map from the lovely folks at Google.

Route 003a - Cherhill Downs Walk (Short)

This is a walk up to the Cherhill White Horse, around the Lansdowne Monument and back down to the A4 alongside the village of Cherhill.

The route is around 1.70 miles and will take around 1 hour without stops.
This route is not suitable for wheelchairs / pushchairs. Please ensure that you dress sensibly , there are some sharp uphill and downhill stages over chalk which can become very slippery.

Parking is available at Cherhill village or the lay-bys along the A4 (please be careful if using these, the A4 is a busy and fast road).
While there are no shops at Cherhill, during normal times, The Black Horse pub is open (check with the pub for opening times).

1) When you have parked / arrived at the start point. Enter the track by the White Horse information board and walk along the lovely beech trees. Soon you will be afforded your first view of the horse, monument, and Oldbury Castle.

2) At the gate, take a moment to sit on the bench, knowing that the next stage is a pretty serious (for Wiltshire) uphill climb.

3) Make your way up the chalk path, taking in the ever-expanding view of this wonderful area.
The White Horse was a scheme brought about by Dr Christopher Alsop, doctor at Bowood, in 1780. It is Wiltshire's second oldest horse and was made under his instruction - by megaphone!

4) At the top of the hill, follow the path veering right and head towards the Lansdowne Monument.
To your left is Oldbury Castle, an iron age hillfort. Amazingly, a 1996 geophysical survey discovered 20 circular features within the hillfort. These are thought to be the 2000 year old remains of Iron Age round houses.
At this stage you will be at the highest part of the walk, at around 258 metres.

5) As you approach the monument, veer to the right of it. This will allow you to read the information board and appreciate the work that must have gone into this structure. It must have been difficult work getting all of this stone up the hill in the 1700s.

This monument, in dire need of repair, was built in 1845 using a design by Sir Charles Barry for the 3rd Marquis of Lansdowne, in memory of his ancestor Sir William Petty. Unfortunately, repairs completed in 1990 by the National Trust used soft stone, which is now crumbling down. 

6) Near the monument is a bench to rest and enjoy the view, perhaps have your lunch!
After the monument, follow the path to the right, there is a fence to the left. Follow this down to the wooden gate, which you can open via the latch.
Keep to the left of the mound, which we'll walk around.
The the left you will see some woodland a short distance away. Within this woodland the River Marden emerges, making its way to Calne and then towards Chippenham to meet with the River Avon. 

7) As we round the mound, you will see some gates. Head to the leftmost gate, which can be operated by latch.
Make your way down the chalk path, which is steep - and can be slippery.
As you reach the bottom, there are gaps in the hedgerow, take a moment to appreciate the views of the monument, castle, and horse. Such a spectacular part of Wiltshire. 

8) Crossing the A4, you will see that there is a Queen Victoria wall box, possibly dating from the 1890s.
From this point, make your way back to your vehicle, while making the most of the countryside views on your way. 

Thank you for using this route!

Map from the lovely folks at OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Route 002a - Horsebrook Nature Trail - Linear

This short linear walk will take you along the Horsebrook Nature Trail, one of Calne's best kept secrets

Important Information:

There is roadside parking available. There are no benches or toilet facilities. This path is fine for pushchairs and wheelchairs - I would expect it to be find of mobility scooters (please give me feedback if you have experience of this route with a mobility scooter).

1) This picturesque stretch of land next to the river Marden was gifted to the town by three-time Calne Borough mayor, Charles Robert Syms. Walking along the recently upgraded path, so much wildlife can be seen, from brown trout and mandarin ducks to squirrels and deer.

Beginning at Horsebrook, which has space for on street parking, the first sight of the river is gained from the bridge. Looking further down the street, you will be able to see Horsebrook mill. The mill, also known as Swaddon’s mill, for one of the families that ran the mill, originally dates back to the 1600s as a fulling mill.

The mill was sold and converted a few times before being rebuilt by Joseph Bailey in 1822, who turned it into a five-storey factory, the biggest in Calne at the time. The mill was devastated by fire in 1861 and the 1930s, before eventually being turned into flats.

Facing south on the bridge, you will see a path to the right of the bridge railing, from here we begin our walk along this peaceful brook. Since the path was upgraded in 2018, this walk is now accessible from here to the steps encountered at Brewers Lane.

Horsebrook, a name which was in use by 1828, likely refers to horses that would have used the brook when at the mill. This first stretch of the walk is bordered by wild garlic in the spring, such an evocative scent – and just one of the many plant species that make this trail such a paradise.

2) Horsebrook Trail Plaque

Following the path as it meanders, we come upon a plaque commemorating Syms, who was a local and well-known builder around Calne. He developed nearby Horsebrook Park c. 1954 and it was the remaining land, which couldn’t be used for housing, that was donated to the town.

Further along the path, to the left, is an opening that reveals a cluster of bug hotels, also some young trees, which will make the path even more secluded in time. For now, we can see the housing on Saddleback Close with their gambrel roofs and riverside gardens.

3) As we come to the end of our walk, what always grabs me is the amount of birdsong along the trail. As the crow flies, the trail is only 200 metres from the A4: The Great West Way. For me, the highlight of the walk is the exotic-looking mandarin duck. Seeing them perched on the branches of trees never ceases to amaze me. They’re often seen across the river, in an opening just prior to the steps that lead out of this section of the trail. Quiet patience may also bring out the muntjac deer that frequent the site.

Upon climbing the steps, you can continue across Brewers Lane to a second, shorter section of the trail. Alternatively, turn right following Shelburne Road up to London Road. Turn right again and follow London Road to The Green. Again, turning right, continue to Horsebrook, completing the walk. The final option, is to stop before the steps, turn back, and enjoy the trail in reverse.

Thank you for using this route!

Click to watch the video.

Originally published at: https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/calne/blog/read/2020/08/walk-walking-the-horsebrook-nature-trail-b457


Map from the lovely folks at OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Route 001a Newbury Avenue Park (Short)

This is a short walk that will take you through the Newbury Avenue Park.

This route is less than 1 mile with an altitude variance of around 15 feet.

Important information:
Plenty of roadside parking is available for those that don't live along the route.
Additionally, there is a local centre, which includes a Tesco Express.
While this walk is fine for pushchairs, an oddly placed gate at the North End Play Area and some kerbs mean that I wouldn't recommend this route for mobility scooters.

Directions:

1a) I will start describing this route from Amberley Close, where the path follows a line of trees, then an avenue of trees that lead directly to Newbury Avenue Park.

1b) Newbury Avenue Park
There is a lovely circle of lime trees here, and plenty of benches. There is a dog bin, however no litter bins yet.

2) Exit the park on via the western path and continue in a westerly direction through Newbury Avenue.
This development was part of the Persimmon-led Lansdowne Park estate, built in the 2000s.

3) Cut through, via the gates on the left and at the end of this short alleyway, turn left again. The path bends a little before coming to more gates. At this point, turn left onto Carpenter's Close.

You will notice that this is no longer a close. It was opened up during the same Lansdowne Park development, which added Woodsage Way.

4a) Continue on to Braemor Road, a 1960s development. Braemor Road will turn a left corner, with the straight direction becoming North Way. Just after this point, on the left, is an alleyway with a lovely beech hedge.

Follow this alleyway to the North End Play Area.
There is plenty of play equipment for children, along with benches.

4b) Exiting the northern end of the park will lead you back to Amberley Close, the end of this circular walk.

Thank you for using this route!

Map from the lovely folks at OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors

One of my Google 360 images of the Circle of Trees.

Place Names of Calne: Holy Trinity, Trinity Park and Church View

Both the church and school of Holy Trinity were built in 1867, with the church being Grade II listed, and is the resting place for many of Calne's residents, such as Canon Duncan of St. Mary's, since St. Mary's churchyard closed[1][2].

Holy Trinity refers to the Christian doctrine that while there is one God, there are three divine representations, referred to as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Trinity Park was developed in the 1970s-1980s and comprises primarily of detatched housing, with some terraced near the end of the street. The housing is either block or brick with some having interesting wooden bays on the first floor.

Church View

Church View was built in 2006[3] by Colburn Homes on land that is inbetween Trinity Park and Tudor House. This land was previously a site for warehouses.

I've included Church View in this post as being opposite Holy Trinity, it must have been named for this church!






References:
[1] CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, Calne - 1270942 | Historic England. 2019. CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, Calne - 1270942 | Historic England. [ONLINE] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1270942. [Accessed 30 June 2019].
[2] Calne - Holy Trinity C. of E. School, Calne. 2019. [ONLINE] Available at: https://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getschool.php?id=440. [Accessed 30 June 2019]. 
[3] Application number N/06/02474/REM.
[4] Consecration  John Bull - Monday 28 March 1853 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001945/18530328/021/0007 [Accessed on 10 March 2020]