Great Bedwyn and Wilton Windmill Walk

Great Bedwyn and Wilton Windmill Walk is a 5.5 mile loop trail located near Marlborough, Wiltshire, England that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips.

Length5.5 miElevation gain495 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (3)

Getting There

A circular walk from the village of Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire. The walk has a lovely mix of things to see including a few glimpses of industrial heritage. Visitors will get a chance to enjoy a long stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal along with the old Crofton Pumping Station and Wilton Windmill, the only remaining working windmill in Wessex. On the return stretch visitors will pass through woodlands and fields before getting a chance to explore Great Bedwyn itself. The walk has only a few steady ascents and descents and there are no stiles, just a few easy to use gates and one squeeze gap. The majority of the route is along earth and stone tracks, towpaths and paths all of which will be muddy after wet weather. There is one small stretch of road walking and you will also need to cross the railway tracks towards the end of the walk so take care here with children and dogs. Check the opening times of the windmill and pumping station if you want to see inside these attractions. Approximate time to complete is 2 to 2.5 hours.

Start to Crofton Pumping Station

From the station car park, return to the T-junction with Brook Street, cross over and turn left along the pavement. Follow the pavement over the two brick arch bridges & over the railway and then the canal. Almost immediately turn right into the wharf car park and go straight ahead to follow the towpath with the canal on your right. Continue along the canal towpath past four locks. At the fifth lock, Lock 60, you will see Crofton Pumping Station on the opposite bank with its very tall brick chimney stack. Crofton Pumping Station was built in 1807 to provide water to the canal summit. It is a grade I listed building housing two Cornish beam engines, one of which is the oldest working beam engine in the world still in its original engine house and capable of doing the job for which it was installed. During the summer the station is open for public access and the engines are steamed on some weekends. Check the website for prices and opening times. To visit the station, cross over the canal via the lock gates and pass under the railway underpass. When you are finished return to the canal towpath.

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Crofton Pumping Station to Wilton Windmill

To continue the walk, retrace your steps back along the towpath for a few paces and then take the footpath off the canal signed for Wilton Windmill. Cross over the small sluice gate and then continue ahead on the mud footpath with Wilton Water on your right. Follow this grass path as it bends alongside the water. At the end of the field, follow the path as it bends to the right onto a small track to reach the village pond ahead. Turn left up the village road with thatched cottages either side. Pass The Swan public house on the right and follow the main road as it bends to the left. Follow the road edge with care (there are no pavements here) going uphill. Go straight on at the cross roads and after a few paces Wilton Windmill will come into view on the right. Shortly afterwards take the right turning away from the main road signposted to The Windmill and Shalbourne. Continue ahead and the entrance track to the windmill is on the right immediately after some tennis courts. Wilton Windmill was originally constructed in 1821 and is the only working windmill remaining in Wessex. It was in operation for 100 years before falling into disrepair. Restored in 1976, it is now used to mill flour once again and as a tourist attraction. The site is open at all times but the mill itself and shop are open limited hours on Sundays during the summer months so check before you set out if you want a guided tour.

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Wilton Windmill to End

When you have finished visiting the mill, return to the road and turn right to continue your route. After about 500 yards, opposite a road signed to Hungerford, turn left up a mud track. Take the next turn into a smaller track on the right (after about 300 yards) along the edge of the woodland. Follow the path between trees and you'll reach a T-junction with a three way signpost, turn right towards Great Bedwyn. After a few more paces you'll come to a T-junction with a stone track, turn left into Bedwyn Brail. Note that dogs should be on leads from this point to protect the game birds. Follow the stone track through the woodland and small grass clearings which give great views in both directions. Eventually the stone track turns into a grass path as you come into a large clearing ' keep ahead and then take the left hand path at the fork to follow the footpath into Ivy's Copse. Follow the path snaking through the woods until it emerges into an arable crop field. Go ahead, keeping the field boundary on the left. Eventually, as you start to head downhill Great Bedwyn will come into view ahead. When you are just 100 yards from the canal, bear right down a footpath across the field towards the church and a stone bridge. Pass through the gate and go ahead over the canal bridge to reach a rail crossing. (NOTE: This rail crossing was closed for repair in Summer 2018. If it is still closed when you visit, simply use the canal towpath to head back to Great Bedwyn instead). Cross the railway via the white gates, taking care to listen carefully for trains. Go ahead across the field and pass by St Mary's Church on your right. Pass through the squeeze gap (which is only about one foot high so most people and dogs will be fine) and go ahead through the church yard. Exit via the wooden gate and turn right into Church Street. Follow the pavement and you will pass the impressive post office on the left which houses several commemoration stones and monuments, examples of the work of Lloyds Stonemasons Yard which is next door and was established in 1790. At the end of Church Street, with The Cross Keys public house on the corner, turn right to return to the station.

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The walk starts from the railway station in the village of Great Bedwyn near Marlborough in Wiltshire. If you are travelling by train the station is on the London Paddington ' Reading ' Newbury ' Westbury ' Castle Cary ' Plymouth line. If you are travelling by car there is a small free station car park on The Knapps off Brook Street. Approximate postcode SN8 3NU.

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (40)

Photos (80)

Activities (28)

Completed (98)

Elena Woodacre

April 11, 2021

Hiking

Lovely walk, real favourite

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Amanda Cunnington

April 4, 2021

Walking

Easy beautiful varied walk

Danielle Brazier

April 2, 2021

Hiking

A bit of everything. Very lovely.

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Annette Welch

March 23, 2021

Hiking

Nice walk. Some slightly hilly parts but not too tough. Muddy in places but easily passable

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Thomas Gregory

March 21, 2021

Hiking

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Kelly Gorman

March 17, 2021

WalkingMuddy

Lovely walk along the river. The windmill is definitely the highlight. a tad muddy in places and a small amount of time is spent on the village road. Normally the pub would be open in Wilton (fab food).

Billy Mcguinness

March 8, 2021

WalkingGreat!

Beautiful route, one of our favourites to date in this area

Sadie Hawkins

March 7, 2021

WalkingGreat!

Highly recommend this trail. A lovely gentle start along the canal before some quiet roads and a beautiful bridleway. Not too muddy for early March.

Emma Buffett

December 13, 2020

Hiking

Great varied trail. Quite muddy at the moment but so long as you're prepared it's not too bad. Some lovely things to see on the walk to keep it interesting.

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Ann-marie Ann-marie

December 4, 2020

WalkingGreat!Muddy

There are some lovely views over the Downs. Narrow boats are a delight to see. It can get muddy in places especially after it's rained. Wilton Windmill is the highlight of the walk.

Alison Dixon

October 25, 2020

Walking

Lovely gentle start to the walk along the canal. Gets very muddy on the last leg if it's been raining!

Samantha Gabriel

September 8, 2020

Hiking

Lovely walk along the water and seeing the cool houseboats. Trail is easy and pleasant. Historic windmill still operates. I recommend this trail. About 2.5 hour walk.

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Lauren Barrow

September 6, 2020

Walking

Very nice.. easy walking, perhaps a little too much on road

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Karina Gibbs

August 30, 2020

WalkingGreat!

Brilliant walk, canel and woodland, The Swan at Wilton for a quick refresh about half way round was perfect.

David Worley

August 29, 2020

HikingGreat!

Julie Heaton

July 17, 2020

WalkingGreat!

Gorgeous walk on a lovely sunny day. Free all day parking at the railway station. We had no trouble navigating the route and thanks to the review from Donna below, we knew to look out for the track with the missing road sign. Stopped in the village of Crofton for a drink at the pub, then continued onto the windmill for our lunch. First walk using alltrails pro app - no complaints.

Donna Fielder

May 27, 2020

WalkingNo shade

A beautiful area of Wiltshire. This walk is fairly simple to follow. Take care between stage 2 and 3. Rd sign for Hungerford was missing and the description to get to Ivy Copse was a little off. I used the map along side it as almost missed the track. Great views, this was good to take the children on.

Helen Brown

January 11, 2020

Following Harrys shorter walk in the review I took short cuts too as wanted an hour or 2 walk maximum. I parked in the lay by opposite the windmill, went and looked around the mill. Then walked down the road and hill into the village. The turning to go off along the lake and canal is a bit hidden after the pub opposite the pond. Beautiful area, some pigs, horses and a donkey on our route.

Harry Neale

January 1, 2020

Walking

Made our own little shortcut which more or less halves the route but it was great. Will try the full walk one day when the puppy can manage 8km

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Victoria Done

April 1, 2018

Nice varied walk for Easter Day. We spent ages at the Pumping Station and they have a lovely cafe so we were well fortified for the rest of the walk. Good directions plus new signage in the Woods meant that we didnât get lost once, which is always a bonus for us!

Steve Green

May 1, 2016

steam day at crofton and bluebells made this a fabulous walk. Even a bride turning up for her very posh looking wedding at the end in Great Bedwyn

Anne Sutherland

March 20, 2015

First to Review

A really lovely varied walk - canal, woods, historical interest. The windmill site has picnic tables and benches which make for a perfect halfway stop for a picnic - yes, even on 20th March it was warm enough to stop for a picnic.