Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 08
Combining expansive countryside views surrounding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty with vibrant cities and thriving towns, the Great West Way welcomes you to explore its exciting route this spring and summer. This issue has everything from sporting events, summer music festivals to best days out with the kids. Learn about the Great West Way’s vast history as you visit some of the wonderful museums found along the path – including brand new exhibitions and events and treat yourself to a hot brew and freshly baked scone at one of the routes quintessential teashops. Discover star-studded celebrities born along the way from royalty to internationally acclaimed actors and authors and don’t miss our interview with Graham Dillamore, deputy head of gardens and estates at Historic Royal Palaces. We hope this latest edition with its range of experiences will help inspire you to make the most of a season full of unforgettable memories .
Combining expansive countryside views surrounding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty with vibrant cities and thriving towns, the Great West Way welcomes you to explore its exciting route this spring and summer. This issue has everything from sporting events, summer music festivals to best days out with the kids. Learn about the Great West Way’s vast history as you visit some of the wonderful museums found along the path – including brand new exhibitions and events and treat yourself to a hot brew and freshly baked scone at one of the routes quintessential teashops. Discover star-studded celebrities born along the way from royalty to internationally acclaimed actors and authors and don’t miss our interview with Graham Dillamore, deputy head of gardens and estates at Historic Royal Palaces. We hope this latest edition with its range of experiences will help inspire you to make the most of a season full of unforgettable memories .
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BY BIKE AND FOOT<br />
Hiring a bike and cycling along the canal, countryside<br />
paths and trails, taking a walk through picturesque<br />
villages and visiting our three Areas of Outstanding<br />
Natural Beauty and three UNESCO World Heritage<br />
sites by foot is a beautifully scenic experience.<br />
Whether you’re up for a lengthy hike in the<br />
Cotswolds, a cycle ride racing down the 13.7km (8.5<br />
miles) steeply twisting Swinley Red trail with its<br />
berms, drops and white-knuckle descents, or just<br />
fancy a potter around some village antique shops,<br />
walking and cycling is a wonderful way to explore.<br />
You can cycle the entire length of the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong><br />
<strong>Way</strong> via National Cycle Route 4, which links up<br />
regional cycle routes such as the Thames Valley Cycle<br />
Route and the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route.<br />
The National Trails website gives details of longdistance<br />
walking trails along the route: The Cotswold<br />
<strong>Way</strong>, The Ridgeway and the Thames Path.<br />
Go to Sustrans for more (shorter) cycle routes on the<br />
National Cycle Network, in and around the touring<br />
route. There are also some excellent routes along the<br />
Wiltshire Cycleway, including a picturesque 15.3k<br />
between Corsham and Bradford on Avon.<br />
Be sure to read the Information Points page to find<br />
out where to pick up local maps and walking trails.<br />
Plus, download our <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> map before you<br />
set off.<br />
Did you know? Bristol was officially Britain’s first<br />
cycling city. Join the locals with a ride on a<br />
pay-as-you-go YoBike, hire a tandem or go on a<br />
Cycle the City tour of Bristol's best landmarks.<br />
BY BOAT AND ON WATER<br />
The Kennet & Avon Canal is a wonderful way to<br />
travel along part of the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong>. This ribbon<br />
of beauty and history stretches between Reading and<br />
Bristol and is looked after by the Canal & River Trust.<br />
Slow down and enjoy all 87 miles of the Kennet<br />
& Avon Canal as part of your <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong><br />
adventure, using our Kennet & Avon Canal map.<br />
Hire a boat or hop on a barge tour for the ultimate<br />
experience in slow travel. Multiple companies<br />
operate along the River Thames and the Kennet &<br />
Avon Canal. Visit Thames and The Kennet & Avon<br />
Canal Trust are useful places to start.<br />
You can canoe, kayak or book one of the numerous<br />
boat trips. Passing through countryside, market<br />
towns and picturesque villages, the canal offers an<br />
abundance of natural beauty, fascinating wildlife,<br />
outstanding canal structures, fabulous vistas and<br />
heritage galore. The lazy pop pop pop of the engine<br />
while you travel slowly through attractive towns like<br />
Hungerford, quaint villages such as Wootton Rivers<br />
and architectural masterpieces like Bath.<br />
Of course, the famous Caen Hill Lock Flight in<br />
Devizes is a real wow – look up from the bottom of<br />
the 16 locks that form the main ‘staircase’ – now<br />
that’s one way to get boats to travel uphill.<br />
Take a look at our Marina page for hire boats and<br />
boat tours and find details of river transport options<br />
in the capital on the Transport for London website.<br />
Did you know? Queen Elizabeth II reopened the<br />
Kennet & Avon Canal in 1990 after a passionate<br />
band of volunteers gave it an impressive revamp.<br />
<strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk<br />
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