1 A walk along the Ridgeway - readily accessible from Barbury Castle - is a walk in the footsteps of those who founded the country’s earliest civilisations. More than a millennium before the start of the Christian era, travellers were using what was already a well-established path to cross the country. The Ridgeway was a vital trade route and a conduit for imports from Europe and father afield, including jewellery and other items subsequently unearthed by archaeologists probing the remains of settlements.

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2 Lydiard House - www.lydiardpark.org.uk - is not merely a treasure but a treasure containing countless others. Set amid the beautiful surroundings of Lydiard Park, the house is widely regarded as the finest of all Swindon’s publicly-owned properties. Before the shrewd decision was made to purchase it on behalf of the people of the borough in the 1940s, the house was for centuries the residence of the St John family.

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3 Legend famously has it that in ancient times England was so densely forested that a squirrel could cross from coast to coast without ever having to set foot on the ground. A visit to Savernake Forest, less than half an hour from Swindon, evokes that mythical era. Some of the trees there have lifetimes spanning three millennia.

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4 When the Oasis Leisure Centre opened more than 40 years ago, it was one of the the most advanced venue of its kind in the region - and an instant hit. An indoor pool with waves and slides was a futuristic novelty. Today the centre remains one of Swindon’s most popular visitor destinations. An extensive refurbishment earlier this year included the installation of a new flume tower and slides. Visit www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/swindon/oasis-leisure-centre-swindon

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5 Barbury Castle provides access to the Ridgeway, but as most people in the Swindon area know, it is well worth a visit in its own right. Settled just as human beings were mastering the smelting and use of iron, the site was chosen - like many of its kind - because hilltops gave crucial strategic advantages to those who held them. Marauding rival tribes and factions could be spotted at great distance and more easily repelled. Traces of the site’s earliest occupation remain today.

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6 Steam - Swindon’s museum of the Great Western Railway - is a great place to visit at any time of year and whatever the whims of the climate. In addition to some of the finest locomotives and rolling stock built at the Works, the museum exhibits countless items relating to the era and the Swindon people without whom there would be no GWR story to tell. steam-museum.org.uk

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7 The chill of the winter months - although not necessarily the frequent downpours - of the winter months seems to add to the mysterious atmosphere of Avebury’s ancient stones. Once visitors have had their fill of the enigma, there is not shortage of places to go for coffee, tea or something rather stronger.

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8 Jolly Roger Adventure - jollyrogerplay.com - has been a godsend to generations of parents in need of a place where children can let off steam in safety. Indeed, some of the children who were among the first users of the play area many years ago have long since grown up and begun bringing their own children. The slides and other pieces of equipment are constantly improved and updated, and staff are always on hand.

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9 Studley Grange - www.studleygrange.co.uk - is perhaps best known as the home of Butterfly World, the all-year-round attraction where visitors can walk among butterflies from all over the world, but its other attractions include an indoor play area, a reptile centre and a mini-zoo.

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10 The Merchant’s House in Marlborough - themerchantshouse.co.uk - dates from the 17th century and offers an insight into the lifestyle of silk trader Thomas Bayly, who was twice mayor of the town. The large interior space contains many fascinating artefacts.

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