2nd Tuesday
Varies
Leader: Steven Phelps
The Trail Walker group, usually meet every second Tuesday of the month aiming to complete long distance trails in bite size chunks of less than 10 miles. There is some flexibility with timing to ensure as many people as possible can experience the sense of achievement in completing a full trail walk. Members share transport so there is no need to retrace our steps.
There is a surprisingly wide selection of trails which pass through or close by Wiltshire’s beautiful terrain and varied scenery. Many of the trails have historical significance following roman roads, trading routes, canals and archaeological sites. The group maintain a comprehensive list of trails within or passing close by Wiltshire, both as a record of past achievements and for future consideration. We take particular care to walk at a comfortable pace for everyone with regular breaks – So that we all enjoy the trail walking experience.
Since the beginning of 2024 the trail group has completed the Stour Valley Way winding through Dorset following the river from its source at Stourhead in Wiltshire to the finish at Hengistbury Head overlooking Christchurch Harbour, a distance of some 61 miles.
In July we start our next trail walk – the Coleridge Way – featured in the August 2022 edition of the BBC Countryfile magazine which winds its way from The Valley of Rocks, Lynmouth, Devon to Coleridge Cottage in Newton Stowey, Somerset, were the poet Coleridge and his family lived from 1797 close to his friend William Wordsworth a near neighbour. The trail encompasses many places in which Coleridge sought inspiration: parts of Exmoor and gentle countryside of Somerset with the Bristol Channel as a fitting backdrop. The total trail is approximately 52 miles in length and we aim to complete it over 6 months finishing just before Christmas.
A lot of us enjoy walking but lack the confidence or means to attempt trail walking routes. If you are tempted to try walking the Coleridge way over 6 months, do get in touch. New members are really welcome to join our small friendly and supportive group as we ramble along England’s finest public footpaths, sometimes rounding off the day’s efforts with a refreshing debrief in a local hostelry.
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