The cycle ride takes in the North Wessex Downs in Wiltshire. I was really hoping I could do this ride this year on a decent summers day and that day was even better than I could imagine.
Starting in Swindon we quickly navigate through the town while having a go through the notorious Magic Roundabout "The right-wrong way around" and then getting straight into the countryside through Coate Water nature reserve and onto The Ridgeway cycle trail along National Cycle Network routes NCN 45 and NCN 482.
With around 13 miles to get to the market town of Marlborough the trail consists of mostly hard-packed gravel that makes the perfect way to coast through some of Wiltshires most scenic fields and hillsides. Being an old railway trail the route is mostly devoid of hills and troughs that the adjacent road is littered with.
A quick look around Marlborough and then we head along Grand Avenue through Savernake Forest. In my planning I felt this was a good traffic free way to get through a chunk of countryside towards Great Bedwyn though I found the hilly nature of the path coupled with large chunky gravel quite gruelling and longer than I imagined it would be. It can also be quite dusty, especially when cars are trickling through the forest driveway to leave.
Finally visiting Great Bedwyn, a small idyllic village and taking in two preserved features, Crofton Beam Engines, an old spring water steam powered pumping station and then a little further on my goal, The Wilton Windmill.
When you approach the windmill along the country roads and it appears over the top of the hedges, you really get that feeling you're about to see something special. The area being so quiet and tranquil it really is something I don't think I'll ever forget.
I hope you enjoy this idyllic English countryside cycle ride.