Swindon’s Hinterland

Be dazzled by Swindon’s hinterland

Picture postcard villages, forests, lakes and ancient monuments are all a short hop away. It is no exaggeration to say that you can drive ten minutes out of Swindon in any direction and find yourself in beautiful countryside, thriving market towns, chocolate box villages and bucolic landscapes.

To the north lie the Cotswolds where you can explore quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone like Bourton-on-the-Water and take in splendid market towns like Cirencester - Corinium Dobunnorum in Roman times when it was the second largest town in Britain after London.

Cirencester is just 13 miles from Swindon and roughly half way there is the Cotswold Water Park, an area of over 40 square miles and 170 lakes with a host of leisure activities and an ideal destination for watching wildlife all year round. There’s even a beach at the Cotswold Country Park! Halfway between Swindon and Cirencester lies Cricklade, a small historic 9th century Saxon town, lying just outside the Cotswolds ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

Another small market town that is definitely worth a visit is Malmesbury, just 16 miles to the west of Swindon. The town is famous for its association with King Alfred the Great, for its wonderful medieval Malmesbury Abbey and its beautiful market cross. A little further to the west is Castle Combe, a filmmaker’s paradise! This picturesque village has starred on the big screen in films like War Horse and Stardust. Look out for the cottages selling homemade cake outside their doors and the nearby hamlet of Tiddleywink too!

To the north west of Swindon you will find pretty little villages like Lechlade-on-Thames and the National Trust estates of Buscot and Coleshill.

These two very English villages and their surrounding patchwork quilt of fields, woodland spinney, water meadow and parkland, are just perfect for relaxing and exploring. Almost touching distance from Swindon to the east are the pretty villages of Liddington, Wanborough, Aldbourne and Bishopstone, the latter home to Helen Browning’s organic operations and foodie favourite the Royal Oak pub. From there, it’s a short hop to White Horse Hill, ancient rolling downland and home to an enigmatic chalk hill figure.

To the south west of Swindon are the first stretches of Britain’s oldest road, the Ridgeway. For at least 5,000 years people, including drovers, traders and invaders, have walked or ridden this road which passes through ancient landscapes, secluded valleys and woodland.

Adjoining the Ridgeway is the stately market town of Marlborough. There’s countryside within 10 minutes’ walk of the High Street in almost any direction, and downland, stone circles and ancient Savernake Forest are literally on the doorstep.

The River Kennet chalk stream flows through the town centre. Six miles from Marlborough is the Avebury World Heritage Site with its ancient stone circle, a marvel to behold - yet more proof that Swindon’s hinterland is almost unequalled for history and beauty anywhere in the UK.

It is no surprise that Swindon’s quintessentially English surroundings have been used as film locations so many times.

Swindon has a range of beautiful green spaces to rival any town in the UK

Not to mention stately home gardens, wildlife reserves and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Lydiard Park is a beautiful historic estate on the western edge of Swindon. A Palladian House, church and walled garden are set in 260 acres of parkland which surrounds a wonderful lake. Broadcaster and gardener Alan Titchmarsh is on the record as one of its celebrity fans.

Coate Water Country Park is a fantastic community resource providing a perfect setting and with a children’s playground, summer splash pool, all year café and space to run around, it makes for an enjoyable family day out. A Nature Reserve and a Site of Specific Scientific Interest means that the park is bursting with interesting bird and wildlife species and offers both fishing and birdwatching.

Stanton Country Park is a hidden gem and the holder of a Green Flag award. It has 36 hectares of parkland that includes the lake, woodland and grassland. Home to an exceptionally wide range of habitats, such as hedgerows, wildflower meadows, wetlands, and over 900 species of fungi. The park is also home to a large variety of life including: birds of prey, wildfowl, amphibians, invertebrates and even bats.

Barbury Castle is an Iron Age hill fort, one of several such forts found along the ancient Ridgeway route. The Ridgeway has been in use since prehistoric times and its 87 mile long route passes through ancient landscapes, secluded valleys and woodland and is reputed to be Europe’s oldest road.

Town Gardens is one of Swindon’s most popular green spaces. These beautiful Victorian gardens with a café, aviary and rose garden, even has its own Grade II listed bandstand and an Art Deco Concert Bowl, both hosting events in the summer months from brass bands and local art to festivals and live music.

Close to the centre of town, Queen’s Park features a lake of around 2 acres. It is home to many species of wildfowl and contains a diverse range of ornamental trees and shrubs. The park has a Garden of Remembrance, officially opened by Princess Elizabeth on 15 November 1950 and commemorates those who died in WWII. It also has the Mesothelioma Memorial Garden opened in 2003, designed as a place for quiet contemplation.

GWR/Faringdon Road Park is a simple large expanse of green close to the centre of the town, with ornamental gardens and a children’s play park. The park dates from the 1840s when it was a popular venue for the railway workers’ community and sporting events and later, holding fetes and rallies.

The Lawns is an expanse of parkland with woods, meadows and lakes and features the remains of an Italian sunken garden and the site of Swindon’s original parish church – Holy Rood. This was once the estate of the Goddards, a prominent Swindon family. The beautiful walks offer fantastic views across the town and the park also hosts many summer events including the Old Town Festival.