Swiald one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Need to get some Swindon to Aldbourne? Why not walk it!

Loved the small villages, old paths and expansive views from the Ridgeway National Trail. So much to like about this route.

For me it misses out on 5 stars because of a small 100 metre section of walking alongside the fast A346. There was enough verge to walk on, but you'd want to take lots of care with a group or children. Check it out on Google Street View before you go?

It was unpleasant for a couple of minutes, but walking this with Slow Ways Darren was fine.

I'd 100% walk this route again and would recommend it to others. We combined it with Aldhun and carried on to Hungerford - a top combination!.

Not a lot to add above Andy Lloyd's review. It's a pretty route between Swindon and Aldbourne. There are some tricky bits especially around the A346 which involves a barrier that is tricky to negotiate and about 100ms of road walking along this busy road. It's nice to sneak up to cross The Ridgeway for a bit and then Aldbourne itself is a lovely village with all the essential amenities.

This is an enjoyable and varied route. Some busy roads are used at the start of the walk as you leave Swindon town centre and approach the outskirts, after that, quiet suburban roads, lanes and a cycle track are used. On the approach to Chiseldon, the route leaves the obvious cycle track and uses footpaths instead and I think this adds to the interest.
On leaving Chiseldon, the route rejoins the cycle track in the direction of Marlborough before leaving the track to cross the A346. This is a busy and fast stretch of road to cross so care should be taken. There is then a 100m walk along the road before picking up a quiet minor road. There is no pavement on the A346 but the verge is wide and the distance short, so in the absence of suitable alternatives, I think this is acceptable. The remainder of the walk until the final approach into Albourne is a very pleasant walk through remote feeling downland and crossing the Ridgeway National Trail. The final approach is along the B4192 where again there isn't a pavement but the verge is for the most part fairly wide.

In all we really enjoyed this route, I wonder how many people will think they have a need to walk from Swindon to Aldbourne or the reverse but I hope that more do! The excellent Blue Boar pub is one good reason to visit and to walk rather than drive!.

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