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PICTURESQUE VILLAGES TO STOP AT ALONG THE ROUTE BY BOAT OR TRAIN
Ready to plan a Great West Way adventure by train or on water? You can visit these pretty villages plus plenty of other fascinating destinations and attractions along the way. Book a Great West Way Discoverer pass for easy and convenient travel, with the option to hop on and off at stops all along the route...
There are many ways to travel the Great West Way between Bristol and London; by bike, boat, car, foot or by public transport using the Great West Way Discoverer pass. If you choose to explore by rail, you can easily hop between vibrant cities like Bath or Bristol, historic towns like Windsor or Newbury, and even small, sleepy villages where you can enjoy a taste of traditional English village life. Here’s a selection of some of our favourites within easy reach by train or by water.
THE COOKHAMS VILLAGES
Cookham, Cookham Rise and Cookham Dean are referred to locally as ‘The Cookhams’. Although Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, was mainly a product of the author’s imagination, the sleepy riverside village of Cookham Dean, where he lived as a boy, may well have inspired him. Try the National Trust’s 3-mile Wind in the Willows walk. In fact, these well-heeled Berkshire villages by The Thames have attracted plenty of creative residents over the years, including artist Sir Stanley Spencer and actress Jessica Brown Findlay - Lady Sybil Crawley in Downton Abbey. Plan your visit to Cookham to see the colourful Swan Upping Ceremony taking place during the third week of July. This is the time when the Royal Swankeeper catches all the new cygnets and assigns ownership. You might also enjoy a visit to the Stanley Spencer Gallery where guides offer walking tours around Cookham, the heart of the village and the river path. Or find your own way with the Gallery’s Walks Booklet.
The Ferry Cookham
Sir Stanley Spencer Gallery
Getting there:
Travel with Great Western Railway to Cookham railway station or take a cruise along the River Thames.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Cookham include Bel and the Dragon, Cliveden and the Thames Riviera.
PANGBOURNE
The pretty Berkshire village of Pangbourne, near Reading, boasts a selection of independent shops, pubs and cafes, and was once home to Kenneth Grahame, who wrote the beloved children's book The Wind in the Willows. The River Thames runs through the village, offering lovely riverside walks to visitors, as well as the chance for some wildlife-watching. Pangbourne railway station is on the Great Western main line between London Paddington and Bristol, making this an easy stopping-off point as you travel along the Great West Way. The large town of Reading - with its fascinating museums, bustling shops, and historic connections to the likes of Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde - is also near to Pangbourne and easy to reach by train.
Getting there:
Pangbourne is also on the Great Western main line, with the River Thames running through it, so travelling there is easy by both boat or train.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Pangbourne include Hilton Reading, The Roseate and Bird in Hand at Knowl Hill.
WOOLHAMPTON
A few miles East of the pretty market town of Newbury is the lesser-known Berkshire village of Woolhampton. This small village boasts a couple of country pubs, riverside walks along
the River Kennet, and its own railway station with direct links to nearby Newbury and Reading. Somewhat confusingly, the railway station at Woolhampton is not named after the village itself, but after Midgham - another village two miles down the road! Getting there: Woolhampton has its own station, Midgham. It was formerly known as Woolhampton railway station - travel with Great Western Railway. Travelling by boat? It is easy to find the canalside from the Kennet & Avon Canal, stop off at The Rowbarge, a truly characterful traditional pub on the canal. Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Woolhampton include The Rowbarge, Chestnuts B&B and Rowe's Farmhouse.
KINTBURY
The quiet Berkshire village of Kintbury is surrounded by the stunning countryside of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Kintbury has everything you could want in a village; pubs, a bakery, a shop and a post office. The village also offers direct access to the Kennet & Avon Canal, which can be explored by foot, bike or boat. Nearby are two bustling, historic market towns - Newbury and Hungerford - which can also be reached by train and are well worth a visit for a spot of shopping or something to eat.
North Wessex Down
Getting there:
Travel to Kintbury train station with Great Western Railway or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon Canal
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Kintbury include Manor Farm Courtyard Cottages, Hampstead Norreys, and Donnington Grove.
EASTBURY
This lesser-visited Berkshire village offers an authentic glimpse at rural English life. It is home to weeping willows, thatched houses and duck races. Pop into the local pub, The Eastbury Plough, for one of their ‘Proper English Roasts’. You’ll have your pick of local produce: roast Berkshire venison, the belly of Windsor Estate pork and rib of Marsh Farm beef have all been featured on the menu recently. Eastbury also makes a fine place to stop off if you’re in Lambourn for horse racing.
Getting there:
Take the train to Eastbury Plough station or a narrowboat along the River Lambourn.
Where to stay:
The Queens Arms at East Garston, Hungerford, an award-winning hotel, pub and restaurant with its own private lodge.
RAMSBURY
Historic Ramsbury is just a quick jaunt east of Marlborough. The Bell, a 300-year-old coaching inn, has a restaurant that’s as well-regarded as its comfortable rooms. If you enjoy a tipple, take one of the Ramsbury Estate’s guided distillery or brewery tours - they make their own gin, vodka and beer with chalk-filtered water. Try Honey Bee Nectar, a golden pale ale produced in cooperation with North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - except for the hops, all the beer's ingredients come from within the AONB. When you’ve had your fill of food and drink, explore the village’s rich heritage which goes all the way back to the Saxons. The magnificent mosaics at Littlecote Roman Villa are a must-see - and there is a lovely flat 1-mile walk from Littlecote to the Ramsbury Brewery.
The village of Ramsbury
Getting there:
Possibly the most difficult of our villages to reach by train or boat, as the nearest station is Hungerford, which takes around 10 minutes (from Hungerford Station) to Ramsbury in a taxi. The River Kennet runs through the village which makes for a beautifully picturesque scene. By boat stop at the nearby Hungerford Canal and from there make your way by bike or foot.
Where to stay:
The place to stay in Ramsbury is The Bell, or nearby in Hungerford you could try the Herongate Apartments, conveniently located just minutes' walk from Hungerford High Street.
GREAT BEDWYN
Located canalside in the stunning landscapes of the Vale of Pewsey, in the centre of the Great West Way, the Wiltshire village of Great Bedwyn is connected to the rest of the route by road, rail and canal. This pretty village offers lots of lovely hikes, including a walk to 200-year-old Wilton Windmill, with stunning views over the local countryside. Or you could explore the peaceful Kennet and Avon Canal on a narrowboat trip or towpath cycle ride. Of course, nothing completes a traditional English village like a traditional English pub, and in Great Bedwyn you will find an award-winning independent freehouse, The Three Tuns, serving high-quality food and drink.
Getting there:
Travel to Bedwyn station with Great Western Railway or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Where to stay:
You might have to make it a day trip to Great Bedwyn, or you could combine it with a visit and stay in the nearby village of Ramsbury (see previous entry).
PEWSEY
The Historic Wiltshire village of Pewsey is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the ancient landscape of the Great West Way. The characterful village even has its own chalky White Horse, just a mile or so south. It’s also a lovely launchpad for some great walks and bike rides along the Kennet & Avon Canal or through the surrounding countryside.
Just outside the village is Jones's Mill, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve where you can walk amongst woodlands, fens and wet grasslands, spotting rare plants and beautiful wildflowers. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all sleepy and rural here - the Pewsey Vale is known for its lively music festival and top pubs too. (In summer you can pitch your tent at The Woodbridge Inn.)
Burbage Wharf and Crane in Pewsey Vale
Getting there:
Travel to Pewsey train station with Great Western Railway or take a barge trip along the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Pewsey include Troutbeck Guest House and Totteridge Farm Camping Pods
STEEPLE ASHTON
Steeple Ashton is a quintessential West Country Village, offering visitors an opportunity to marvel at its variety of architectural styles, spanning 700 years, set amidst beautiful Wiltshire countryside. There is also a warm welcome and refreshment to be enjoyed at the Village Shop and at The Longs Arms public house. At the centre of the Village is the green with its lock-up gaol and market cross.
Getting there:
Nearest rail stations are at Trowbridge and Westbury
Where to stay:
Newhouse Farm Bed & Breakfast.
AVEBURY
Museums, 16th-century manor houses, megalithic stone circles, some villages have it all. As home to the largest stone circle in the world, some of Avebury village lies within the stones. Go on one of the National Trust’s regular guided tours to find out more about all the strange sarsens and burial mounds around you. Make sure you check out Avebury Manor, too, and the Alexander Keiller Museum, which shines a light on the many archaeological finds from the area. Follow up with a cream tea in one of the cafés, and maybe even stay the night in a cosy B&B so you can capture that misty, mysterious morning view on camera.
Pretty thatched cottages in the village of Avebury
Getting there:
The nearest rail station to Avebury is Pewsey (see previous entry) or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Avebury include Buttle Farm, Mill Farm Glamping and The Kingsbury @ No.7 & No.8.
LACOCK
You’ll find this National Trust village - a film set for Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - just a few miles south of Chippenham. It’s been so beautifully preserved that it feels like a living museum. Its medieval streets are lined with charming stone cottages, and there’s a Tithe Barn and traditional bakery too. Stop and peer in the windows at 2 High Street. If you thought the UK’s buzzing coffee culture was something new, think again! Although the old shop window now replicates a local store at the beginning of the 20th-century, it was previously a busy coffee tavern. Other attractions in the village include Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum - the birthplace of photography.
Lacock village
Getting there:
By train travel to Melksham or Chippenham station which are around three miles from Lacock Village. It is also easy to navigate there by bike (you will find bike racks in the village car park adjacent to the Red Lion pub) with a surrounding network of footpaths, including a route beside the Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Lacock include Cherry Tree Barn, Guyers House Hotel and Restaurant and Lorne House.
CASTLE COMBE
No list of villages along the Great West Way could miss out Castle Combe, often referred to as the prettiest village in England. The quaint limestone cottages that feature in many a travel snap, however, were not built for their aesthetics but to house the weavers who made the village's distinctive red and gold cloth, often used for military uniforms. They lived and worked close to the Bybrook River as the water was needed for ‘fulling’ or cleansing the wool. If you have your own wheels - bike, car or even chauffeur-driven classic car - don’t miss the chance to explore nearby Cotswolds villages such as Badminton, Bibury, Lower Slaughter and Bourton-on-the- Water.
Castle Combe
Getting there:
The nearest station to Castle Combe is Chippenham. The river Bybrook forms the heart of many communities in North Wiltshire as it carves its way through beautiful countryside and villages all the way from Burton down to Bathford and flows through the heart of Castle Combe.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Castle Combe include The Manor House and Golf Club, Best Western Angel Hotel, Guyers House Hotel and Restaurant and Lorne House
BATHAMPTON
Bathampton is a wonderful place for rest and contemplation, just an 11-minute drive from the high society of Bath. The almighty views from Bathampton Down offer perspective not just on the village but on the city, and the countryside beyond. With the Kennet & Avon Canal running through it, it’s also a great place to take a boat ride - aboard the Pulteney Princess perhaps - or just enjoy a stroll along the banks. Look out for herons and cormorants, both regular visitors to the waterways here. Fun Fact: Plasticine was invented here in 1897 by local art teacher William Harbutt.
Getting there:
Bathampton has its own train station however it has been disused since 1966. Instead, head to Bath’s Manvers Street and jump on a D1 discover bus towards Warminster to reach Bathampton (Hantone Hill) taking just ten minutes. Alternatively, located on the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal what better a way to travel to Bathampton than along the canal. (Pulteney Princess and Bath & Dundas Canal Co both offer boat trips).
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Bathampton include The Old Mill Hotel and Bailbrook House. Or head into Bath where there is a superabundance of wonderful accommodation options.
FRESHFORD
Picture-perfect and with a train station that will whisk you to either the Georgian city of Bath or the pretty market town of Bradford on Avon in around ten minutes, you might be surprised to discover just how rural the Somerset village of Freshford feels. This countryside idyll offers a breath of fresh air; here you will find narrow streets lined with higgledy-piggledy cottages, as well as fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. There are lovely walks heading out from the village in all directions, including a picturesque stroll through woodland and river meadow to Iford Manor Gardens where you can enjoy a walk through flower-filled terrace gardens followed by tea and cake in the cafe. Or, stop off for a brew at the beautiful 16th Century village inn ideally located on the banks of the River Frome.
Family go for a walk in Freshford
The Inn at Freshford
Getting there:
Travel to Freshford train station with the Great Western Railway or by boat along the River Avon. From the station you can join the footpath along the River Avon. This will take you through Avoncliff Wood to the Avoncliff aqueduct. The significant structure carries the Kennet & Avon Canal and the Bath to Westbury railway line over the River Avon. It was built by John Rennie and chief engineer John Thomas between 1797 and 1801 and is a Grade II listed building. From its elevated position there are fine views over the river below.
Where to stay:
The closest place to stay is Homewood, an eclectic, luxurious and slightly eccentric hotel; think grand Georgian country house and grounds filled with creative artworks and ultra-modern indulgences including a spa and heated outdoor swimming pool.
BLAISE HAMLET
For something a bit different, head four miles north of Bristol to see this attractive hamlet - built to provide housing for workers of Blaise Castle Estate in their retirement. The nine comfortable cottages now seem almost ornamental, with their tall chimneys and attractive thatched roofs. They were commissioned in the 19th century by John Scandrett Harford, a Bristol banker and prominent Quaker. See if you can read the sundial on the village green.
Getting there:
It's simple to reach Blaise Hamlet by train. Hop on at Bristol Temple Meads to Sea Mills station taking around 20 minutes. You can also cycle along the National Cycle Network Route 4 via Henbury.
Where to stay:
Stay at Best Western Henbury Lodge Hotel or one of the many brilliant nearby accommodation options in Bristol.
TISBURY
A little south of the Great West Way you’ll find Tisbury, one of Wiltshire’s prettiest villages. It’s worth the trip for a view onto the Nadder Valley - and both the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s fantastic for walkers, but also caters to those who prefer to potter along a well-kept High Street, with its independent boutiques and tea rooms. Other highlights include a 4,000-year-old yew tree and possibly the largest Tithe Barn in existence in England. Oh, and it’s very close to Old Wardour Castle of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves fame.
Getting there:
Tisbury railway station is managed by South Western Railway and is on the West of England Main Line.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in and around Tisbury include Wingmore, The Benett Arms and the Grosvenor Arms.
Sally Narrowboats
With Sally Narrowboats you can plan your own journey to see these picturesque villages by boat? Located on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bradford on Avon, Sally Narrowboats offers Canal Boat Holidays for accommodation that goes wherever you go…
