Bedwyn Circular via Savernake Forest and Marlborough walk

More veteran trees than anywhere else in Europe, undulating pastures, historic Marlborough and the landscaped Tottenham Park

Cathedral Oak, Savernake Forest SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [Young Paunchy and Cathedral Oak Loop]
Cathedral Oak, Savernake Forest

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [Young Paunchy and Cathedral Oak Loop]

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Views across Kennet Valley from lane to Brown's Farm SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)
Views across Kennet Valley from lane to Brown's Farm

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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A very old oak tree, after re-entering Savernake Forest SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)
A very old oak tree, after re-entering Savernake Forest

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Spider Oak, Savernake Forest, off Postwives Walk SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [King and Queen Oaks Loop]
Spider Oak, Savernake Forest, off Postwives Walk

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [King and Queen Oaks Loop]

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Ailesbury Column in the sun, Savernake Forest SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)
Ailesbury Column in the sun, Savernake Forest

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Rolling Fieldscape on final descent SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)
Rolling Fieldscape on final descent

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough)

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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View back to Great Bedwyn, from lane up to Chisbury SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [Chisbury Camp Option]
View back to Great Bedwyn, from lane up to Chisbury

SWC 399 - Bedwyn Circular (via Savernake Forest and Marlborough) [Chisbury Camp Option]

Aug-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk399 52421794985

Length

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

Toughness

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

Walk Notes

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.

Walk Options

A slightly longer start leads through the wooded Chisbury Camp hillfort Site and enables a look at the early 13th 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.

Maps

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

Travel

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.

Lunch

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

Tea

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.

Named Significant Trees on route
Name signed/unsigned on/off main route trivia
King of Limbs unsigned 65m off the main route Radiohead’s 2011 Album is named after it
Crockmere Oak signed 300m off the main route
True Braydon Oak signed either 215m off the main route or on a loop adding 150m
Saddle Oak II signed 40m off the main route
Saddle Oak I signed 50m off the main route
Great Sweet Chestnut unsigned 40m off the main route
Great Beech unsigned 15m off the main route
Old Paunchy signed 120m off the main route
White Road Oak signed on the main route
Bumble Oak signed on the main route
Young Paunchy signed 120m off the main route
Cathedral Oak signed 500m off the main route on a loop
Brudenell Oak signed on the main route
Spiral Oak signed 200m off the main route
Big Belly Oak signed 350m off the main route 1 of the 50 Great British Trees
Cluster Oak signed 180m off the main route
New Queen Oak signed 165m off the main route on a loop
Original Queen Oak signed 355m off the main route on a loop planted in 1536 to celebrate the wedding of Jane Seymour to Henry VIII
Spider Oak signed 415m off the main route on a loop
Replacement King Oak signed 600m off the main route on a loop
Pointing Oak signed 650m off the main route on a loop
Ayers Oak signed 820m off the main route on a loop
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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Version

May-23 Thomas G

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Walk Directions

Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

This is just the introduction. This walk's detailed directions are in a PDF available from wwww.walkingclub.org.uk