West Wiltshire

Rising east from the city of Bath is the rolling rural landscape of Wiltshire with its world class heritage, eye-catching chalk horses and picture-postcard villages.

Bradford on Avon bridge Bradford-on-Avon is a bustling market town, packed with specialist shops and art galleries. Located on the edge of the Cotswolds the town is dominated by the River Avon. The ancient bridge in the centre of the town remains its natural focus and the view beyond looks to hillside weavers' cottages and the river bank flanked with 19th century former cloth mills. Other historic buildings worth a visit are the Saxon Church of St Laurence, The Hall and the cavernous Tithe Barn.

Farleigh Hungerford Castle Nearby is Farleigh Hungerford Castle, which hides a sinister past. Visit the chapel for medieval wall paintings & take a look into the crypt!

Travelling north from Bradford-on-Avon is the market town of Corsham which owes its prosperity to the wool trade and quarrying of the golden Bath Stone. Close by is Corsham Court, one of England's finest stately homes set in 17 acres of glorious gardens with a 350 acre Capability Brown park beyond. It houses one of the most important collections of Old Master Paintings in private ownership in Britain. Nearby is the village of Box, home to the famous railway tunnel built by Brunel.

Other Wiltshire villages of note include Castle Combe, set in a wooded Cotswold valley and almost 'too good to be true'. This is a picture postcard village of low-slung stone cottages set by a babbling brook and 14th century Manor House Hotel. Close by is the well-known racing circuit at Castle Combe where speed enthusiasts can attend race meetings, test out their own car or bike, or take a skid lesson at the neighbouring Castle Combe Skid Pan and Kart Track.

Like Castle Combe, the National Trust village of Lacock is quintessentially English. Its mix-and-match collection of half-timbered and stone houses and abbey is often used as a film location.

Other Wiltshire highlights include the impressive house and safari park at Longleat, featuring wild animals, boat cruises and priceless treasures. In the heart of the town of Malmesbury are the historic Abbey House Gardens with over 10,000 different plants set against the abbey backdrop.

The Peto Garden at Iford Manor Garden-lovers will also be delighted by the National Trust's Stourhead House and Garden and the Peto Garden at Iford Manor, an award winning, Grade I, Italianate garden.

Wiltshire has much to offer the visitor including the World Heritage Sites of Stonehenge and Avebury with their shared 6000 years of history, eight white chalk horses, the Kennet and Avon canal and the delightful city of Salisbury with its medieval cathedral.

How to get here: From Bath take the A363 to Bradford-on-Avon, A36 to Warminster and Longleat (passing by the Peto Garden), or the A4 which passes through Corsham to Chippenham from where you can travel to Lacock or Malmesbury. Click on the RAC website for a detailed routeplanner. For information on bus routes and timetables see First Group. There are train stations at Bradford-on-Avon, Warminster and Salisbury. See National Rail Journey Planner.

Find out more:
The Magical Ring - a self-guided tour of Wiltshire's villages and landmarks (£2.50 available from Bath Tourist Information Centre).