OUR latest route in ongoing series supplied by Swindon Ramblers is a picturesque one including Coate Water, Chiseldon and the Hodson Valley.

Distance: 5 miles

OS Maps: Explorer 169, Landranger 173

Start: Coate Water Car Park, SN3 1PT (SU177 827)

Many bus routes pass the entrance to the car park

Directions:

1 Leave the car park and walk up to the lake, then turn left to walk clockwise around the lake. You can either take the high pathway, which is shared with National Cycle Network 45, or the lower path which follows the lake edge more closely. Where the two paths come together again, cross the bridge and continue straight on past the nature reserve board. Further on, follow the signpost to Chiseldon. Cross the M4 using the curly bridge.

2 After crossing the bridge, turn left then right through a kissing gate – signposted ‘Millennium Trail’ – and continue diagonally across the field to the far corner. Go through a kissing gate and veer right up a slight slope through trees, emerging into a large field. Walk along the right hand side of this field – there are good views of Liddington Hill to the left – and at the end continue down a short slope. Where the paths divide, turn left. Cross a gravel path (NCN45) and follow Chiseldon signs down a steep slope and through a kissing gate.

3 Walk towards the far left corner of this field and through another kissing gate. Continue on this path to reach a Washpool Nature Reserve information board. Turn right; do not go under the bridge to your right but continue around the reserve and up the slope to a second information board. Turn right, crossing the old railway line, and follow the footpath straight through the small wood until you reach the backs of several houses.

4 Turn right and follow a residential footpath between houses into Dykes Mews. Ignoring the mews closes, turn right – following NCN45 signs – and join a tarmac path at the end of the cul-de-sac. Turn left on to a wider track. Continue up the track until you reach a road.

5 At the road, turn right on to a concrete driveway and keep left at the gateway. Continue down this track, which can be slippery when wet, through a wooden arched gate and then under a wooden bridge until you reach a kissing gate.

6 Pass through the kissing gate and continue downhill to the bottom of the field, turning left before the path passes through a wide gap in the hedge. Continue along the field edge, with Hodson visible on the skyline, and over a double stile, keeping the fence to your right. Lok out for a gate and wooden footbridge on your right. Follow this path uphill through two strips of woodland with an intervening field. You will reach a large field at the top; turn left along the edge. A little further on, the path turns left and continues through the edge of the wood. Where it veers left again and starts to go downhill, pass through the hedge on your right to rejoin the field edge path. Follow this to a stile on to a road.

7 Turn right along the road, which is narrow, with bends and can be busy. When a grass verge and then a pavement become available on the left hand side, use them. Shortly after crossing the M4, turn sharp left down a path and through a kissing gate. Walk around the left hand edge of the field to the opposite corner and pass into the next field via a narrow plank bridge between two gates. Go through another kissing gate on to a road.

8 Cross the road with care and go through a gap in the hedge on to the boundary path of the Coate Water Country Park. Turn left – not over the wooden bridge – and continue along this path as it runs parallel to the road, then follow it as it turns right and continues through trees. You will reach the lake. Keeping it on your right, pass the cafe and return to the car park.

Swindon Ramblers

SWINDON Ramblers have a walk to suit everyone.

Walks include many local tourist attractions, some include the history and heritage of the county, some to spot wildlife, and some for the beauty of the Wiltshire scenery.

The Swindon group was founded in 1950. The leaders are trained in First Aid, and have first class knowledge of the area.

Swindon and the North East Wiltshire Ramblers have a committee that meets once a quarter. The annual subscription to join the Swindon Ramblers is £35.85 for a single and £47.85 per couple.

The money goes to the Ramblers central office for funding. There are three free walks before you are encouraged to join. Everyone is welcome to simply join in one of the walks or visit the website on www. wiltsswindonramblers.org.uk