Visit Wiltshire Blog

Wiltshire is blessed with many walking routes, suitable for those who prefer a short ramble in the countryside to those who are looking for a challenge. Here, we give you nine reasons why you should walk in Wiltshire.

A popular wedding venue, and famous for the Larmer Tree Festival, the venue for our second instameet of the year was the Larmer Tree Gardens.

Wanting to make the most of the Great British summer, I decided to head off and discover the historic market town of Malmesbury and explore the beautiful Abbey House Gardens.
From the very moment I walked towards St John’s Bridge on the entrance to the town, I sensed this place had many of tales to tell. The architecture of the Avon Mills building, former cloth and silk mills built in 1793 by a clothier named Francis Hill and the surrounding Cotswold stone townhouses lining the High Street, clearly reflecting Malmesbury’s trade and industrial heritage.

I joined Marlborough College as the Director of Enterprise in July 2014. I am responsible for revenue generation from events such as Summer School and our new School of English and Culture for unaccompanied overseas teenagers, our retail operations and the hiring out of our sports facilities.

Many people know of Amesbury due to its close proximity to Stonehenge. In fact, the town is only two miles from the iconic site and in addition to the World Heritage Site, there is an interesting history to be found in and around the town.

Who doesn’t love a dessert? After watching far too much MasterChef over the past few months, it’s got us inspired to find out more about some of the tantalising desserts that are on offer around the county. Take a look at these beauties…

Looking for some exciting events to go to this July? Have a read of our latest blog featuring some super-hot things to do. 

About six months ago, I invested in my first DSLR camera, having found limitations with using my smart phone for taking photography and wanting to get more from my photography.

Mere is often one of those places I’ve been meaning to stop by at but haven’t had the time. Like many people, I’ve passed it plenty of times on my way to and from the West Country and to nearby Stourhead. I decided that I was going to change this, particularly as from the passing bits of the town that I have seen I have been very impressed.

With the Summer Solstice soon on the horizon, we’ve put together the ten best places where you can watch the day begin here in Wiltshire.

When the weather’s fine, there’s nothing better than sitting outside with a glass of wine in your hand and enjoying the fresh air over some food.

Here’s a handy guide giving you some of the top spots to enjoy alfresco dining in Wiltshire and reasons why you should book a table now!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Vaughan’s Cookery School I was born and bred in Wiltshire and moved to London to train with the culinary elite when I was the tender age of 16 years t..

You may have seen that we are currently running a competition on Instagram and Twitter to win a break to Wiltshire. The competition runs until the end of June and is encouraging our visitors to use #timeforwiltshire and #wiltshirespring in their social posts.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve put together some dad-friendly things you can do here in Wiltshire...

When visiting our historic towns and villages it’s always worth taking time to stop, pause and look up at some of our buildings. Often you’ll see a wealth of features that you could quite easily miss.

On a clear evening, there’s nothing better than a spot of stargazing. Wiltshire being a predominantly rural county lends itself to stargazing with the advantage of less light pollution than more urban areas.

June makes a great time of year to make a Wiltshire escape and with some fantastic events taking place this month, there are even more reasons to visit.

In no particular order we have shared some of the most picture-perfect villages to visit here in Wiltshire. 

Like many parts of the UK, there are plenty of historic churches here in Wiltshire. These sometime overlooked buildings are often heritage gems in beautiful locations with their stories of the past to tell. We’ve teamed up with The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) to give you the top 10 of their Wiltshire-based churches to visit and reasons why…

Wiltshire’s May half term will this year take place from 29 May until 2 June. If you are looking for things to do with the children over this week and the weekends either side then this handy guide will be able to help you.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Bowood I am originally from Middlesbrough and started working at Bowood in 1997 having moved back to the UK from Bahrain where I learned to play golf o..

Clattinger Farm forms part of the Lower Moor Farm complex of nature reserves owned and managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. 

I joined the Trust for one of their guided walks, highlighting the Snakeshead Fritillaries which dominate some of the meadows here in April. Many people flock to nearby Cricklade to see these delicate flowers but Clattinger Farm is another fine example of wildflower meadows.

If you’ve ever joined Salisbury Cathedral for one of their Tower Tours then you will have probably seen a fair bit of ancient graffiti as you approach the base of the spire.

Cathedral guide, Steve Dunn (with his team of approximately 60 volunteers) has recently launched a three year project aimed at recording the various marks left on the building over the centuries which will soon be able to be explored on a guided tour.

Driving down a lane just outside of the interesting town of Calne, with its Heritage Quarter, it would be easy to drive past the attraction I was visiting today, thinking it is a residential bungalow. The entrance, however, belies, the treasures hidden beyond the gates, and is well worth searching out.

I’ve always enjoyed walking and had the opportunity to join Chris Lyne of Guided Walks in Wiltshire for a guided walk in the Chalke Valley, to the south west of Salisbury.

It’s claimed to be the most important meal of the day so we asked some of our local bed and breakfast providers here in Wiltshire what they think makes the perfect breakfast. Warning – reading on might make you hungry!

With two Bank Holiday weekends and (fingers crossed) some fine weather, why not plan a visit to Wiltshire during May? There’s plenty to entertain you this month and we’ve selected some of the event highlights you might like to enjoy on a trip here.

We arrived at Netheravon for my tandem skydive on a near perfect Saturday spring morning. The sun was shining and the sky was a cloudless expanse of blue.

I always love visiting Iford Manor’s Peto Garden, it’s a great place to enjoy some tranquillity and every time I make the descent into the village down the narrow country lane I am in awe of the views.

Guests staying at Church Farm Country Cottages, near Bradford on Avon are in for a treat! If you are staying during spring there’s the opportunity to join one of the farm’s lambing tours to see a bit behind-the-scenes on this working farm.

I have enjoyed several courses at Vaughan’s Cookery School in the past and have always come away having had a great time and learnt some new skills, so when I had the opportunity to join the Perfect Pastry course Mr H decided it was time he broadened his culinary skills, and join me. Vaughan’s Cookery School is located in the lovely town of Devizes, and we took the opportunity to stop off in town first, as the range of independent shops there offer some lovely different gifts, and I had a few birthday presents to get. Mr H used the opportunity to call into Wadworth Visitor Centre Shop and pick up a few souvenirs for himself!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Wyvern Theatre My name is Chris and I have worked at the Wyvern for many years in several different departments. I am currently the Ticket Office Manage..

There will be plenty to see and do in Wiltshire over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (29 April – 1 May) read our blog to find out more. 

If you love uploading and sharing your pictures on Instagram then let us help you discover some of the most photographic spots for Instagram here in Wiltshire.

Bradford on Avon is always a pleasure to visit, with its lovely independent shops, great range of eating places, and fabulous selection of place to stay, I am often to be found there enjoying the canal and river walks, or a bit of shopping and coffee culture! However, Friday night was an opportunity to try something completely new to the town – painting and cocktails – how could I resist? So on a beautiful spring evening my daughter and I headed to The Boathouse.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Meadowbank House Bed & Breakfast I have been running Meadowbank House Bed and Breakfast for four years now and I love it! I particularly enjoy meetin..

If you have a toddler in tow and are not sure where to go or what to do then let us give you some fun ideas to help you spend your time here in Wiltshire.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Vintage Classics I have always had a love of classic cars staring with my very first car a 1959 Frogeye Sprite and when the opportunity presented itsel..

If you haven’t been to the small town of Wilton then you are missing out. Here are ten photos that showcase just some of the treasures you can discover on a visit here… we hope you enjoy them!

In Wiltshire, schools will be breaking up from 8-23 April for the Easter holidays this year. Here, we’ve put together a handy guide to some of the family-friendly things you can do over the holidays in Wiltshire.

In addition to the Easter holidays and lots of Easter-related events, there’s plenty more to keep you entertained on a visit to Wiltshire this April. Here we’ve selected ten things to see and do but don’t forget to check out the rest of our website for other ideas too!

With just over a month until St George’s Day (23 April), we’ve put together a handy guide to 8 quintessentially English things you can do here in Wiltshire.

Visitors to Wiltshire may have been to Avebury Stone Circle, however how many of you have explored the wider landscape at this World Heritage Site?

I went on a trip to discover more with Laurence Davis from Oldbury Tours. Accompanying us for the half day tour were Ellie and Gillian Farago from Heritage B&B in Calne. The three of us had all visited Avebury previously and had various different levels of knowledge about the history and spirituality of the area.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Bowood I joined Bowood House & Gardens in 1986, as a 16 year old boy I remember my first job was to brush the office yard! Today, I am responsible fo..

Can’t get enough of the Jane Austen classics? Did you love Downton Abbey? Well we can’t make you be a part of the sets however we can give you some great ideas of places you can stay here in Wiltshire where you can play the part!

Donning my walking boots, I headed for Old Sarum, on the outskirts of Salisbury to improve my map reading skills and to learn about how to use a compass correctly with Downland Walking.

We arrived at the Pewsey Vale Riding Centre on Sunday morning just before 10am, as the three of us Justine, Angela and I, had been booked in for a two hour hack across the beautiful Pewsey Vale in Wiltshire as a birthday treat for me! All of us can ride but we had not been out for a hack for a while so we were a little out of practice.

After starting off my morning in Devizes by joining the Wadworth Shire horses on their deliveries (see my previous blog) I decided to explore more of the historic town.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust I am the Reserve Manager at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and oversee the management of our 37 Nature reserves dotted throughou..

When visiting Devizes it’s always a pleasure to see Wadworth Brewery’s Shire horses out and about making their deliveries. It’s a tradition that has been kept alive by this brewery in a time when many breweries use more conventional forms of vehicle for their deliveries.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. If you are looking for some fun things to do with mum, or perhaps some pampering and relaxation then check out our top ten tips.

We are very lucky, in Wiltshire, in having several great venues and events which attract artists of national, and international, renown. The Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival, Playhouse and City Hall in Salisbury all offer a wide selection of top class productions, and in other areas the Wiltshire Music Centre, Pound Arts Centre and Chippenham Folk Festival offer a diverse range for all tastes.

When my 3 year old son (nearly 4 as he keeps on reminding me), asked if we could go an “army museum“ I knew just the place to take him. George loves creative role play and can often be found attacking and defending his castle with his toy soldiers, knights and action figures, so we planned a visit to the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford Camp, home of The Royal Corps. Of Signals, a short drive from the Wiltshire border.

Oh how we love spring, it’s so beautiful to see the blossoms appearing on the trees, the daffodils popping out along the verges and the bluebells begin to emerge in our woodlands.
We’ve put together a selection of some of our favourite spring photos that we have here at VisitWiltshire, we hope you enjoy them!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Box Steam Brewery I’m Andy Roberts, MD at Box Steam Brewery , Holt. It’s my job to make sure our team are inspired, our beers are great, our fans ar..

We ask Sam Pinkney, from the Merchant's House in Marlborough about her favourite things about Wiltshire in this spotlight on feature... What do you like best about your role at The Merchant's House..

Thinking of planning your next escape but not sure where to go? Let us give you some ideas on why you should book your trip to Wiltshire this March…

I have done several Treasure Trails in the past and know how good they are at helping you to discover new places. So this time I decided to use it to find hidden treasures in a town I know very well, Chippenham.

Wiltshire makes a great base for a day out to the World Heritage Site of Bath. Bath is just a short hop across the border into Somerset and there’s easy access by train from Salisbury, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Chippenham and Swindon (to name just a few places!).

When you think of Westbury you probably think of the Westbury White Horse. It certainly dominates the landscape and is always a welcome sight when I’m passing through the town on the train.

However, Westbury is not just famous for its White Horse, it also has a rich Victorian heritage which is now being celebrated in a new Victorian Westbury exhibition in The Laverton.

Towards the end of January I made a trip to the tranquil setting of Lydiard Park. The morning had been cold and blustery but luckily by the time I pulled up at the car park the weather was beginning to turn for the better. I’d heard that some of the snowdrops were already making an appearance here so I went for a bit of an investigation.

If, like me, the start of the year has left you feeling all a bit ‘January-ish’, it helps to have something to look forward to. So here are 17 great ideas for things to see and do around Wiltshire that are sure to brighten up the first few months of 2017.

I love getting the opportunity to don my walking boots and explore the county and I had the opportunity to do just that on a recent visit to Tisbury.

We all know of the winter blues. Those grey and gloomy days can get even the happiest of us down from time to time however it’s easy to forget just how beautiful winter can be. To help remind you of this we’ve found ten photos taken in Wiltshire that will help show you just how magical this season can be.

About an hour across the Wiltshire border into Dorset you’ll find Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre. Monkey World started off in 1987 (I remember seeing it on the Challenge Anneka programme in the early nineties and that was the last time I had visited and it has really grown since then).

What better way is there to spend a sunny, frosty morning in January then getting together with a group of likeminded photographers and exploring some of Wiltshire’s treasures?
 

Given I grew up in Salisbury and the nature of my job here at VisitWiltshire I’ve always felt that I have known the Cathedral pretty well however one place I’d never ventured to was the Cathedral’s library.

Nestled on the edge of the village of Compton Bassett in north Wiltshire lies Buttle Farm. I met with the owners, Robert and Sara Buttle, who took me on a tour of the farm so I could learn more about what goes on here and the diversification of the farm.

Last Saturday was exactly the kind of winter’s day I like best – cold and crisp but with plenty of sunshine. Perfect walking weather. This route is one of my favourites as it starts and finishes in the city centre and includes some of Salisbury’s best-loved views.

It may feel like it’s not been that long since the children went back to school but before you know it it’ll be half term! If you are stuck for ideas on what to see and do with the children this February half term we’ve put together a handy guide to some of family-friendly activities you can do in and around Wiltshire.

If you are tired of buying the usual gifts for Valentine’s Day and are looking for something different to do then we’ve got some top tips below for romantic things to do here in Wiltshire or some unique gift ideas to woo your special someone.

Think you know Salisbury? How many of these places have you been to or spotted on your travels? There are many treasures to be discovered in and around our historic city.

1. Learn about rural life Step back from the rat race and rest up at one of our farm stay properties. Find out more about the rural Wiltshire ways of life, switch off your phone and reconnect wit..

I’ve been working at Pound Arts for just over four years now and I truly love it. The small team here achieve so much, producing a year round artistic programme of events from The Pound arts centre, two festivals a year (The Blue Sky Festival in June and Magic & Mayhem Festival in November), as well as a Rural Arts Touring programme for Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. My role is to oversee and manage all marketing for these three creative strands, helping to raise our profile as an arts organisation as well as give marketing support to the many artists that come all year round.

If you’ve ever fancied improving your baking skills or practicing your competitive edge against friends or family then a visit to one of our cookery schools is calling.

1. Sunrise at Avebury Stone Circle Forming part of the World Heritage Site with Stonehenge, Avebury is one of Wiltshire’s mysterious gems. 2. Cherhill White Horse One of Wiltshire’s 8 remaining chal..

Once the mayhem of Christmas and New Year’s Eve passes, it’s sometimes hard to think of ideas for what to do during the colder time of year. We’ve put together this handy guide for you giving you ten reasons to visit Wiltshire in January 2017.

The Wyvern Theatre pantomime has become a bit of a tradition for me now, and is a great way of adopting the Christmas spirit.

Just a few miles from the Wiltshire border, into Hampshire, you’ll find the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop.

The museum is dedicated to the Army’s involvement in flight and includes gliders, planes and helicopters and on a grey December’s day I made a visit to see what there was on offer.

I am Marketing & Admin Offer at the museum, which means I have the pleasure of promoting The Salisbury Museum, planning and running the events we stage throughout the year, and welcoming group visitors to the museum. The museum is housed in The King’s House, which dates from the early 13th century. Part of my role is to look after this beautiful building, the site and the team. My background is in Economics and Fine Art, which is a very unlikely combination of interests, but strangely perfect for the job I do.

On an unseasonably warm and clear December evening I was delighted to have an opportunity to visit the Longleat Festival of Lights. Having visited and loved it last year there was a concern that they couldn’t possibly improve on that… but I should have known, being their 50th anniversary year that Longleat would do something even more impressive!

 

As I arrived in Calne on a cold but sunny November’s day, armed with a GoPro, smart phone and SLR camera I was keen to explore some of the town’s historic quarter on such a pretty day.

If you’ve watched any of the BBC’s most recent adaptations of Poldark then you may see a familiar street scene make an appearance, Wiltshire’s very own Corsham.

I headed to the town on a glorious winter’s day. The sun was beaming down and the frost was sparkling on the grass as I began my walk through some of Corsham Court’s parkland towards the Pound Arts Centre.

Don’t let the colder months stop you visiting Wiltshire. Some of our attractions keep their doors (or gates) open over the winter months – making a great choice for a walk after any festive excesses. Here are some of our suggestions for great places for a Wiltshire walk this winter.

Working for the Army Parachute Association (APA) certainly puts a different perspective on life! My name is Julie Cooper and I am the Marketing & Media Manager at Skydive Netheravon. Being a Naval wife, I spent about thirty years moving around the country before coming to live permanently in Corsham in the early 90s.  The last twenty five years have been spent working in the event and tourism sector, so moving to the APA at Netheravon two years ago gave me a brand new challenge.

Ok so when I plan a day out exploring I don’t expect the weather to misbehave for me! However, this week it did just that as Storm Angus made its appearance. Sporting my new stripy wellies and wrapped up warm I decided to embrace the weather and explore some more of the county.

We all know that Christmas can be an expensive time of year but it doesn’t have to be. Here in Wiltshire there are plenty of suggestions of things to do, events to check out and low cost activities you can do to help save the pennies over the coming weeks. Here are some of our suggestions…

We know what it’s like, there’s always someone in your family who’s tricky to buy for. In previous years we’ve written articles on some unique gift ideas for Christmas and we are doing the same again this year. So here we have it (and don’t forget to let us know if you have any other suggestions as well).

The Kennet & Avon Canal has so much to offer, so when I was asked whether we wanted to hire some canoes for a couple of hours to explore it from the water, I jumped at the chance to investigate it with the family.

Wiltshire is home to lots of walks, from brisk walks along the Ridgeway through to shorter ambles along the riverbanks. If you like to bring your four-legged friend on holiday with you, we have some great suggestions of top places to walk your dog here in Wiltshire gathered from some of the VisitWiltshire team and people who work closely with us.

11th Hour Escape Rooms are one of Wiltshire’s newest activities, located above the Audi car showroom, on the Chippenham to Devizes road; you soon forget where you are as you head up stairs to be greeted by Tim and Lizzie, the team behind this great activity. It opened in July and offers a challenging hour of problem solving. The Escape Room concept now has a huge following worldwide, with enthusiasts travelling long distances to try the latest. 

If you fancy a giggle and are looking for a reasonably priced thing to do on a weekend then it is worth checking out Salisbury Arts Centre’s regular Barnstormers Comedy Night.

As the winter draws in, we often dream about snuggling up on a comfy chair in front of a fireplace. With lots of cosy cottages, grand hotels and country inns you can do just that. We’ve put together a selection of places you can stay in Wiltshire where you can get toasty…

Back in July I was delighted to open a birthday present to discover a beautiful folder containing a voucher for the cinema at Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, near Malmesbury.

After a successful first ever golf lesson (see my previous blog) I made the short drive from Cumberwell Park to Bradford on Avon. Parking up by Timbrell’s Yard, along the river, I made a leisurely walk along the footpath towards one of my favourite parts of Bradford on Avon, the Tithe Barn.

When I told my friends that I was going to have a beginner’s golf lesson they laughed at me. Not because golf isn’t a good hobby to take up but more because I’m not particularly well known for my coordination! (Charming I know!).

Whilst I have enjoyed many brilliant performances at Salisbury Playhouse over the years, I had never before ventured behind the scenes, so when the invitation popped into my inbox to join PR & Communications Officer Gemma Twiselton and Digital & Communications Officer Holly Tomkins on their first ever bloggers and vloggers event, I jumped at the chance.

Tell us a bit about yourself… I grew up and went to school in Market Lavington, Wiltshire . When I was young I worked part-time at my local butchers, and at the age of 16 I went to train as a..

You may not think of November as being a particularly interesting time to travel in the UK however you’d be wrong! There is a great variety of colourful events that are taking place in Wiltshire this November that can help brighten up the greyest of winter’s days.

It may not seem like that long since the children have returned to school but before you know it half term will be here. We’ve put together a handy guide to what you can do with children this October half term in Wiltshire.