Biddestone Heritage Trail

1 From the front of the Sports Pavilion take the path on the left adjacent to the road to the ramp down into Cuttle Lane. Turn left and follow the lane towards the junction of Church Road and The Green. Cross over the road to outside a large house set back behind a stone wall called The Close.

2 Continue past The Close to opposite theWhite Horse and Biddestone Pond.

3 Follow the path to theWar Memorial.

4 Carefully following the road ahead out of the village, turn left into Chippenham Lane to view the entrance of Biddestone Manor

5 Retrace your steps back towards the village taking care along the road.

6 This vantage point opens up the picturesque vista of the 18th century cottages that surround the several grassed areas that form The Green.

7 Willow House

8 Following the path past The Green to the pond.

9 Passing Elm Lodge on the left, and with a view of Elm Farmhouse and Home Place across the road (note the lancet window) you can see the gable wall of Turnpike Cottage with its blocked doorway.

10 Turnpike Cottage

11 Walk along Church Road past the K6 red telephone box and turn right to visit St. Nicholas’ Church.

12 Return and continuing past St. Nicholas’ Church take the left fork where a huge Wellington Pine stands. Passing  Mountjoy Farm on the left.

13 When you reach a junction with the cemetery extension lychgate turn right into The Tynings, then Little Challows and left into Challows Lane.

Follow Challows Lane, which becomes Ham Lane, for 890m until reaching the second footpath on the right. Go up the verge and cross the stile into the field. Go straight on diagonally across the field between the hedge line toward the corner of the field on the left. At the corner turn left and continue ahead to a stile in the fence line.

Cross the stile into the field and go ahead diagonally right on the footpath over the brow of the hill towards the far bottom of the field adjacent to Backpack Woods on the left. Cross the stile in the fence line and follow the tree line on the left taking the path through the trees to emerge into a pasture sloping downhill.

There are magnificent views of  Slaughterford village, St. Nicholas’ Church, the Brewery, By Brook valley and out towards Colerne Down.

14 Continue downhill through the tree line to reach a stile with steps leading down to Germains Lane. Turn left, continue along the lane passing two bungalows on the left and take the By Way through Slaughterford Mill on your right. Slaughterford Mill (Chapps Mill).

15 After passing through the mill site follow the By Way until reaching a track on the right back out to the Slaughterford to Thickwood lane. Turn right and go over the By Brook following the lane around to the left. Go past Brookside Cottage on your right onto the elevated footpath, passing an Edward VII post box set in the wall to the entrance of St. Nicholas’s Church. Enter the church grounds via the metal gate.

16 Follow the footpath to the right of the church wall to reach the stile in the hedge line on the far side of the field. Cross the stile, down some steps to the lane opposite. Go up the lane through Common Hill Plantation to reach a T junction, turn left over a bridge to theWhite Hart at Ford. There is an opportunity here to take refreshment and use toilets if  required.

17 From theWhite Hart turn left onto the main Ford to Colerne road. Take care as there are no footpaths on this road which can be busy at times. Pass by the houses on the right to cross over the By Brook at the entrance to Duncombe Mill on your right.

18 Go through the kissing gate opposite Doncombe Mill to enter the field and follow the meandering By Brook on your left to cross a weir footbridge. If time permits sit on the bench next to the weir and sluice and relax enjoying the tranquillity of the flood meadow.

19 With the By Brook now on your right continue on the lower path to cross two stiles before coming to a metal sluice with footbridge. Cross the footbridge remembering to close the two gates behind you.

Turn left, with the By Brook on your left continue to the two footbridges over the By Brook to enter the woods at the Rag Mill.

20 Continue down the track to emerge at Slaughterford Lane. Continue ahead and take Germains Lane to the left until reaching the bridleway on your left. Follow the bridleway up through three gates to emerge onto a track, go left to Slaughterford Lane.

Turn right and take care follow the lane for 250m to the first left bend. Go through a gate on your right into the field and follow the fence line on your left to a stile in the hedge line. Cross the stile and continue ahead to another stile in the hedge line. From here, the public footpath goes diagonally across the large field, but due to constant farming, you may have to turn left instead and skirt the eld to reach the Slaughterford Road and turn right.

Taking care follow the road for 530m until you reach a footpath on your right. Follow the footpath along the lefthand side of the field and go through a kissing gate. Follow the footpath until reaching a Cotswold type slabbed stile and step down into Challows Lane. Turn left going past Church Row towards The Green.

21 Continue along Cuttle Lane towards the traffic calming zone and take the ramp on the right up to the path that borders the cricket field to end the walk back at the Village Hall.

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