Bedwyn Circular via Savernake Forest and Marlborough Walk

31.0 km (19.3 mi) with 407m ascent/descent. For a shorter or a longer walk, see below Walk Options.

7 out of 10, with 7 hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 10 ½ hours.

A meandering route through Savernake Forest with its veteran trees and through historic Marlborough.

Savernake Forest today is just a fraction of its historical size, but yet is the largest privately owned forest in Britain. It stands on a Cretaceous chalk plateau within the North Wessex Downs AONB, presenting as rolling downland serrated by four shallow dry and wet valleys. This creates the damp heavy soils well suited to oak and beech woods. Pollarding has taken place for many generations, leading to the trees developing sizeable girths and having curved pieces of bows. Some of the picturesque veteran trees are over 1,000 years old and many have recently been protected, named and signed. More than 20 of the named trees are passed on this walk, as well as numerous other grand oak, beech and chestnut specimen.
The forest itself is a mixture of some plantations (outside of the core area), Ancient Woodland, landscaped spaces, pastures, commons and other open areas and a few long avenues with grand vistas.
Its timber has been managed by the Forestry Commission since 1939, but under the condition that the public shall have access to it (apart from a few clearly marked private areas).
The link routes from and to Great Bedwyn cross some pastures and smaller woods and lead through the landscaped Tottenham Park, ending with a scenic descent into a valley, while the route from the forest into Marlborough follows a dismantled railway line and goes through the river meadows of the Kennet and the Old Town. After lunch, you walk out of the historic market town with its extra-wide High Street and through fields back into Savernake.

Amongst the many walk options are several out-and-backs or loops to or past veteran trees not on the main walk, as well as one through the Chisbury Camp hillfort site.

A slightly longer start leads through the wooded Chisbury Camp hillfort Site and enables a look at the early 13^th century St. Martin’s Chapel (English Heritage), this adds 750m and 20m ascent.
An Extension in the heart of the forest leads past the True Braydon Oak (adds 150m and is more mud-prone).
A Shortcut not long after cuts 550m but also 3 of the named trees.
A Major Shortcut cuts out the northerly part of the forest and the loop through Marlborough plus subsequent route through fields back to the forest (cut 8.6 km/5.4 mi and 133m ascent/descent (4/10)).
An Extension Loop through the northerly part of the forest adds 700m.
Bus lines 20 and 22 (Marlborough – Great Bedwyn – (Hungerford)) and 80 (Swindon – Marlborough – Tidworth/Ludgershall) link Marlborough, Cadley (10.6. from the end of the walk) and Bedwyn Station. They take you either from Marlborough to Cadley to cut out the non-forest part right after lunch, or on to Great Bedwyn Station (lines 20 and 22 only) from either Marlborough or Cadley. Both: Mon-Sat only.
An Extension Loop past five more named trees in the southerly part of the forest adds 1.1 km.
Apart from above mentioned extensions and loops, some of the named ‘veteran’ trees are reached on out-and-back diversions. The text mentions what distances are added for those diversions.
At the end, a variation cuts 700m distance. This includes 500m on a busy road without a walkable margin.

OS Landranger Map: 173 (Swindon & Devizes)
OS Explorer Map: 157 (Marlborough & Savernake Forest)

Bedwyn Station, map reference SU 279 644, is 103 km west south west of London, 120m above sea level and in Wiltshire. It is on the Berkshire and Hampshire line from London Paddington. The journey time is from 65 minutes. Currently, a change is needed at Reading or Newbury. A Newbury – Bedwyn train will wait for up to 5 minutes for a delayed train from Paddington.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 09.00 hours.

Numerous options along Marlborough’s High Street, see the walk directions for details.

The Three Tuns Freehouse 1 High Street, Great Bedwyn, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3NU (01672 870 280). The Three Tuns is located 300m from the end of the walk.

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

May-23 Thomas G