My favourite walking stations - Pewsey and Bedwyn

 

Kieran Seale spoke to Susie Brew of the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership about why Pewsey and Bedwyn are great stations to walk from.

 


Both Pewsey and Bedwyn stations are on the Reading to Taunton section of the Great Western main line between Paddington and the south west.  It takes roughly an hour to get to either station from Paddington, although getting to Bedwyn station may require changing at Newbury. 

 The two stations are at either end of the Pewsey Vale.  The Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership is a member of the Walkers are Welcome scheme and their website gives details of five walks from Pewsey station and eleven walks from Bedwyn.  Each of the walks has a map as well as route descriptions and are available free of charge.

Pewsey and Great Bedwyn are linked by the Kennet and Avon Canal, about 10 miles from each other - so going between the two stations would be an easy walking option.




The village of Pewsey is a great place to begin walks with pubs, independent cafes and shops and a supermarket - as well as public toilets open 24/7.  The Crop Circle Visitor Centre & Exhibition is walkable from Pewsey station – a 4.5 mile walk along the Kennet & Avon Canal from Pewsey Wharf to Honeystreet Mill, where you’ll also find Honeystreet Mill Café & Farmshop.

The village of Great Bedwyn, which is served by Bedwyn station, has a pub, café, post office and shop.   From there you can visit the Wilton Windmill (the only working windmill in Wessex) or the Crofton Beam Engines (45 minutes along the canal from Bedwyn station):

 




For more adventurous walkers, both stations give access to spectacular downland which provide panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.  There are many Neolithic and Iron Age sites and beech clumps on the top of the hills.  The highest point in Wiltshire is Milk Hill at 294.3m, home to the Alton White Horse which is carved into the hillside.

 



Long distance walking routes are available for those who want to stay in the area for longer.  The Vale of Pewsey is also served by an ‘on demand’ bus which you could use to return from linear walks.

 



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