Where's the best place for a wintry walk? BARRIE HUDSON lists his favourites.

Old Town railway path

From the Victorian era until the early 1960s, the Old Town Railway Path was part of the Midland and South West Junction Railway, often referred to as Swindon’s other railway after the GWR. Thanks to a major reclamation effort, it is now one of the town’s favourite route for cyclists and walkers. Features of the tranquil path range from visible geological strata to traces of an old station long since demolished. Access is readily available from Signal Way.

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Shaw Forest

The Swindon area’s many parks have an array of origins, but the story of Shaw Forest Park - one of the most recent additions to the roster of local delights for walkers - is among the most surprising and inspiring. Once the site of a landfill which formed the final resting place of countless tonnes of rubbish, the location has been transformed thanks to a visionary programme of reforestation and other remedial work. It has two lakes and a broad range of carefully-created habitats for wildlife. Visit: www.swindon.gov.uk.

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Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill - english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/silbury-hill/ - is one of the most mysterious ancient features in the country as well as being one of the most stunning. A nearby car park off the A4 makes exploring the area easy. Although the ancient earth mound itself is not open to the public, much of the surrounding countryside is ideal for rambling, and the relative gentleness of the terrain means it is suitable for all who enjoy walking.

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Stonehenge

Silbury Hill is close to another ancient and mysterious site. Stonehenge is similar to fellow Wiltshire site Avebury in that in spite of decades of research, nobody can say for sure why its standing stones were erected. Unlike Stonehenge, Avebury offers visitors the chance to walk among its stones. It is an ideal starting point for anything from a casual stroll to a challenging trek.

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Savernake Forest

It was said that in the England of many centuries ago, the forests were so huge that a squirrel could cross from one side of the country to another. Visitors to Savernake Forest can imagine what those forests were like. Information about this Site of Special Scientific Interest can be found at www.forestryengland.uk/savernake-forest

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Barbury Castle

Barbury Castle, outside Wroughton, has been a favourite destination for walkers for many years. To visit the ancient hill fort and its surroundings is to walk in the footsteps of the original inhabitants - people who chose the site not because of its rugged beauty but because its height commanded the surrounding area and made spotting and slaughtering marauders easier.

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Ridgeway

As most visitors to Barbury Castle are aware, the site is a convenient gateway to one of the country’s oldest thoroughfares. The Ridgeway is thought to have already been an ancient trading route when the Romans conquered Britain. It provided one of the earliest reliable forms of access to the south coast and Europe beyond.

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The Thames Path

The Thames Path follows one of the planet’s most historically significant rivers from its beginnings as a minor stream in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier, the engineering marvel intended to protect the capital from flooding. Some walkers choose to devote entire holidays to covering all of its 184 meandering miles, while others prefer to tackle it in instalments - or simply to stroll as they fancy. Visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath

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Coate Water

There are many fascinating and spectacular locations for walkers throughout the Swindon area,but Coate Water Country Park is among the most readily accessible. Even when the popular visitor attraction is at its busiest, a walk by the historic lake is a calming pleasure and a delight for anybody with a fondness for nature. The lake and the surrounding landscape draw many bird species ranging from the familiar to the exotic.

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Clouts Wood, Wroughton

People who prefer their walks tranquil, and who are not averse to dealing with a little mud when the British climate does one of its frequent about-turns, should consider a visit to Clouts Wood, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust location at Wroughton. The trust - www.wiltshirewildlife.org - maintains the location as a nature reserve which is home to countless species ranging from birds to bats

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