Wiltshire walking route and map NoW13

GREAT BEDWYN TO CROFTON

Click on thumbnail for picture of Wilton windmill

Waypoint	Map Reference	Bearing to next waypoint
START	SU 2798 6458	226
WP1	SU 2770 6427	148
WP2	SU 2785 6407	139
WP3	SU 2816 6376	157
WP4	SU 2839 6332	180
WP5	SU 2843 6276	206
WP6	SU 2815 6207	278
WP7	SU 2799 6208	176
WP8	SU 2803 6181	268
WP9	SU 2704 6170	329
WP10	SU 2642 6257	321
WP11	SU 2594 6307	35
WP12	SU 2654 6408	352
WP13	SU 2637 6484	295
WP14	SU 2597 6499	17
WP15	SU 2606 6541	23
WP16	SU 2629 6606	87
WP17	SU 2675 6612	165
WP18	SU 2690 6569	138
WP19	SU 2728 6533	134
WP20	SU 2749 6515	129
WP21	SU 2786 6489	163
START	SU 2798 6458	-

General:- This is a fairly flat walk but you do get good views and, unusually for Wiltshire, much of the route is through woodland. There are two routes back from Crofton, the short one along the canal, the other through woodland and open fields.

There are 2 key points of interest on the route and as none of them take a long time to view it's worth a short detour. They are only open from Easter to end of September so it's worth saving this walk for the spring/summer period.

Crofton Steam Engine is unique and people often look in disbelief when they realise its sole purpose is to pump water up from the river below to the Kennet & Avon Canal. The canal suffered water shortage problems right from the outset, much of it went via leaks but the chain of locks at Devizes also consumed vast quantities of water each time a boat went through. The Victorian canal owners turned to James Watt, inventor of the steam engine. He provided a giant beam engine with cylinders 3 feet in diameter to pump the water and housed it in a massive 3 storey building with a chimney to match. The curious will notice a small building close to the canal, this houses a modern pump to do the same job as the steam engine and you cannot but wonder how far technology has come when you compare the size of one with the other. More remarkable still, the steam engine is in running order! A dedicated team of enthusiasts fire it up most Bank Holidays so you can see it in all its glory. At other times you can visit and imagine the vast machine hissing and whooshing as the beam rocks. Log on to www.katrust.org to learn more.

Wilton windmill is also fully restored and they too allow the public to watch it work on Sunday afternoons. At first sight it is hard to believe the sails are able to drive the crude wooden machinery to grind corn but, providing there is enough wind, once the sails are set you can see it work with a timeless grace little seen in modern machinery.

(GPS length short route 4.97 miles, longer route 7.58 miles).

How to get there: From A4 Marlborough to Hungerford Rd turn south at SU 2956 6789. Follow signs to Great Bedwyn passing through Chisbury on the way. Once in Great Bedwyn follow signs to railway station. Park in station carpark.

From the south: Turn left off A338 at SU2914 6142 Follow signs to Great Bedwyn passing through Crofton on the way. Once in Great Bedwyn follow signs to railway station. Park in station carpark.