Melksham to Trowbridge guided walks - July and August 2016

[whole diary]

[grahame]

For your diary ...
- Saturday 23rd July 2016
- Wednesday 10th August 2016

Guided walks / rambles being organised for us from Melksham to Trowbridge - starting from Melksham Station soon after the arrival of the train from Trowbridge at about 10 a.m.,  3 hour or so walk through the historic town that dates back to the Domesday Book, across meadows and farmland to the Pack Horse Bridge that used to be my avatar, then on across the trackbed of the old line through Devizes (closed 18th April 1966) and up the hill to the village church at Whaddon, which we hope to have open for us.   The the Kennet and Avon canal past Staverton, with a slight diversion to take a look at "Bradford Junction" from the aqueduct (did you know the canal passes over the railway here?) and through footpaths alongside the railway and under the old bridge that lead to Trowbridge goods yard.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting details of those events, grahame.

I've taken the opportunity to add them to our calendar on the Coffee Shop forum. 

I'm probably not going to be able to join you for the July event, but I've written the August one in my diary 'in ink', not just in pencil. 

Would a well-behaved labrador also be welcome on such a walk?  (Poppy - you have met her!) 

[grahame]

We're being helped / lead by the WessexWanderer folks - http://www.wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk - using their experience and techniques learned over the years. Regrettably,

http://www.wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

Q - Am I able to bring my dog?
A - Sorry only Registered Assisted Dogs are allowed on walks.

Sorry - Chris    ... Gypsy and Billy were rather keen on the idea too.    We did try to organise a walk ourselves using the train last year, and failed to really get it off the ground.   I plan to go on the walks planned / noted in this thread if I can - and also take G & B down to the bridge at another date.  Perhaps you and Poppy would like to join me and Gypsy and Billy on that (to be mutually agreed) date?

[grahame]

Information now online via http://atrebatia.info/walkspage.pdf  .   All welcome.

[grahame]

A big "Thank You" to Ann Light of Wessex Wanderer Railway Walks for researching and leading our walk last Saturday - 23rd July 2016. I took some pictures along the way showing you some of the variety.   Pictured:
* The walker's train arrives in Melksham
* Path through the field of oats
* Ann and John take an overgrown path through a hedgerow between fields
* Apppraoching Trowbridge, the old railway bridge to the good yard
* Melksham Pack Horse Bridge
* Journey's end - the Rose and Crown in Trowbridge
* The trackbed of the Devizes branch railway
* Whaddon Church
* The Kennet and Avon Canal
And would you believe I've had to leave lots of pictures out!



For you diary ... next guided walk from Trowbridge Station to Melksham Station
A date and time: 10th August 2016, at 09:45
A place: Trowbridge Station
A price: No charge for the walk; you will need to pay your train fare
Coming?   Please comment, email me or send me a message to give me a rough idea of numbers

Stout shoes recommended, and bring some water and perhaps a snack - the section between Staverton and Melksham is remote, and some of the paths are ill defined. The styles on this walk are not suitable for dogs or pushchairs, and we pass through several fields of farm animals.  Full walk 'rules' at http://twcrp.info/walksfaq and walk 'flyer' is on the second page of http://twcrp.info/walks.

Getting to the walk on 10th August: 08:49 from Swindon, 09:06 from Chippenham, 09:15 from Melksham.   09:07 from Bristol Temple Meads, 09:24 from Bath Spa, 09:35 from Bradford-on-Avon. 09:03 from Salisbury, 09:25 from Warminster, 09:38 from Westbury.   Getting home - there are plenty of coffee shops, cafes and pubs in Melksham near the end of the walk and you'll be in good time to leave on the 15:39 or 16:37 train(s).

[grahame]

Weather Forecast for Wednesday morning - cool and dry.    Yay - just right!   Your connections:

08:49 from Swindon
09:06 from Chippenham
09:15 from Melksham

09:03 from Salisbury (connection at 08:22 from Tisbury)
09:25 from Warminster
09:29 from Dilton Marsh
09:38 from Westbury (connection at 08:08 from Pewsey)

09:07 from Bristol (Temple Meads)
09:23 from Bath Spa
09:35 from Bradford-on-Avon

We will await these trains at Trowbridge prior to setting out

[grahame]

Good show, nice weather, report and picture to follow.   Tired and grabbing some quick shuteye first

First picture:

[grahame]

Slideshow video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp3w6R8j1rk

Some truly wonderful scenery and a great bunch of walkers.

[grahame]

Further pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHskBwtqWX

Next walk - Saturday 15th October, off the 10:36 from Swindon / 10:53 from Chippenham / 11:02 from Melksham, Trowbridge to Melksham, varied route and dogs welcome - in fact it's a "Longdog and Lurcher Walk".  https://www.facebook.com/events/1640781436235989/