VisitWiltshire Visitor Guide 2024

Stonehenge Huts
Longleat
Kennet & Avon Canal
Bradford on Avon
Silbury Hill
The Great West Way is England undiluted. England
concentrated. Around a quarter of it runs through
the beautiful county of Wiltshire.
Much of the Great West Way’s appeal lies in its enormous variety.
Stroll around ‘Capability’ Brown parkland at Bowood House
and Gardens. Channel your inner racing driver on a lap of Castle
Combe Circuit. Or see how many incredible animals you can spot
on a six-and-a-half-mile drive-through experience at Longleat,
the first Safari Park outside of Africa.
If Stonehenge and Avebury feature on your wish list, try to visit
at dawn or dusk to fully appreciate the magnetism that has drawn
people to them over thousands of years.
The industrial revolution left a rich legacy in Wiltshire. Not least
the Kennet & Avon Canal. Walk or cycle the towpath. Take to
the water with a kayak or paddleboard. Relax aboard a traditional
narrowboat. Uncover fascinating industrial archaeology at
Wilton Windmill and Crofton Beam Engines near Marlborough.
Or visit McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon, housed in the
beautifully renovated Grade II listed buildings of Brunel’s former
railway works, and search for bargains in over 90 top name stores.
Many of Wiltshire’s timeless towns and villages are within easy
reach of the Great West Way. Marvel at Bradford on Avon’s 14th
century tithe barn. Visit the heritage quarter in Calne to learn
of its colourful past. Seek out the wealth of historic buildings in
Chippenham. Discover Corsham, familiar to many as Truro from
BBC’s Poldark. Unearth the rich heritage of Georgian houses in
Devizes. Wander through the stunning National Trust village of
Lacock. Explore hilltop Malmesbury, England’s oldest borough.
Stroll along the high street in the handsome former staging
post of Marlborough. Stumble ac unique industrial architecture
in Trowbridge. Or visit the medieval city of Salisbury with its
magnificent Cathedral.
With beer gardens for summer and log fires in winter, an authentic
English pub experience is hard to beat. So settle down at one
of Wiltshire’s many traditional inns. If your Great West Way
adventure includes an overnight stay, you can enjoy home-from
home hospitality in a friendly B&B, character and charm at The
Old Bell Hotel or some serious pampering at Whatley Manor
Hotel and Spa. Other options include the chance to live the rural
dream on a farm stay, or climb aboard a traditional narrowboat
and let the lapping waters soothe you to sleep.
Rail connections along the Great West Way are excellent, linking
Wiltshire with London’s Paddington and Waterloo stations at one
end, Bristol and Bath at the other. Within 90 minutes, or less, of
leaving the capital you can find yourself here, enjoying authentic
English experiences.
Uncover Wiltshire’s secrets. Go to GreatWestWay.co.uk and
discover an essential strand of England’s story.
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