Wiltshire Off The Beaten Path

 
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  • From Old Sarum
      From Old Sarum
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  • Crowds at Stonehenge
      Crowds at Stonehenge
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

New Hall Hospital at Bodenham

by LouiseTopp

In 1939 New Hall at Bodenham was requisitioned by the Army & in 1944 General Dwight Eisenhower slept there prior to the Normandy Landings on D-day. After the war Lord Radnor purchased New Hall to save it from becoming a Lunatic Asylum. From 1947 New Hall was used as a training school for nurses. It is now a Private Hospital. Capio New Hall Hospital is the favored Hospital used by BUPA & PPP Healthcare for their members in the Salisbury area. They are also recognized by all other major health insurance companies. They have close relationships with the Ministry of Defense, the Police Force & the National Health Service. In 2004, Capio Healthcare was chosen as the chosen company to work with the National Health Service to help reduce their waiting lists. At Capio New Hall Hospital, it is their aim to deliver high quality, cost effective healthcare services to all of their patients.

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COWS LINING UP

by zuriga

It's fun to view the landscape while driving around. We spotted this unusual sight - at least for us. A lot of cows were all lined up in a row going to their barn for milking. They really looked funny that way instead of their usual lying in the field or standing up eating.

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SILBURY HILL

by zuriga

Silbury Hill is very close to Avebury and Stonehenge.. another reminder of how long man has inhabited this part of England. Originally, begun in 2400 B.C. - yes, it's that old - Silbury Hill sits quietly near a car park one can pull into. I advise reading the website below for interesting archeological and historical facts about this mound. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMSilbury.html

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Bowood House

by stevieUK

People visit Bowood House between Calne and Chippenham every year. While there is nothing wrong with stumping up the cash to look round the house there are great public footpaths around the surrounding lakes and woodlands. Very well sign posted and if you drift of the route a gamekeeper will no doubt put you right very quickly.I'd suggest either including either the Lansdown pub in Derry Hill or the George at Sandy Lane as a stopping point for lunch/a drink or two before the return journey.

Stonehenge & stories

by LouiseTopp

The last time I came here was in July, the whole place was packed with tourists. There is stories that Stonehenge was built by the druids for sacrificial ceremonies. It was in medival times that Stonehenge started to have an appeal on the people, & not just another pile of rocks. It's £5 for adults & £2 for children to get in. Then you go down a small subway like tunnal, the authorities are thinking of making a bigger tunnal; but the fire service people aren't very happy about this idea. Facilities available are:Parking (1hr)Tearooms or Restaurant Suitable for people with disabilties Male/Female Toilets ( made for wheelchairs in big toilet block at far end of carpark. Guidebooks (in all langauges)Audio tours

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Odstock & Nunton Village

by LouiseTopp

Just down the hill from Salisbury district hospital are two small villages called Odstock & Nunton. You can get to the village of Downton this way by bike by cycling through the village of Bodenham & along a cycle track which passes a river. It's quite pleasant, but please watch out as some cars come along this narrow streatch. There’s also a pub here in Odstock called the Yew Tree Inn, there used to be a peacock here which used to enjoy chips but I haven’t seen him lately; perhaps he became a specialty! The pub in Nunton is called The Radnor Arms, Lord Radnor lives in the area. There’s a bus service for Nunton & Odstock, but I have cycled up the hill to Salisbury, & it’s a KILLER!

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Barford St Martin

by LouiseTopp

Barford St.Martin is a little, village in South Wiltshire sited 2 miles from Wilton, the ancient capital of Wessex & some 13 miles from Shaftsbury. It is on the junction of the A30 & the B3089. The river Nadder runs through the village & Barford is known as one of the Nadder valley villages. Its history can be traced back to the 11th Century & there was mention to Barford in the Domesday Book compiled in 1085/1086. There’s 467 adult people & has a school, church, pub called The Barford Inn, & a petrol station. It also has a farm shop & a small landscape gardening company. Much of the adjacent farm land is owned by the Wilton Estate. Barford has an active Parish Council who is determined to improve services & the look of the village. The school is run by a Board of Governors & has 40 pupils. St Martin's Church is overseen by a Parochial Church Council & the vicar is responsible for three...

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Great Wishford village

by LouiseTopp

Most people connect the village with Oak Apple Day on May 29th, when the villagers get up in the early hours to gather oak boughs from nearby woods. The event marks an ancient decree that lets people to get wood from Grovely Woods; the day includes a trip to Salisbury, dancing in the Cathedral Close, & brass band music back in the village. Knights passed through the village many years ago to hunt in the forests close by, & a thousand years ago, Great Wishford was in the hands of the Abbess of Wilton. Apparently in the Doomsday Book, the village at that time was no more than a hamlet called Wicheford. Old maps of the area divulge even more about Great Wishford's past - with the location of the notorious Powten Stone, with its paranormal connections. What happened to the stone itself? Some villagers say they have remote memories of its location but its never been found. There’s a pub at...

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Grovely Woods

by LouiseTopp

Grovely Wood is a big region of woods that is now owned by the Forestry Commission ''Grovely Grovely & all Grovely" is the cry of local people from Great Wishford as they use their ancient right to collect firewood from the nearby woods. Festivities are held early on Oak Apple Day - May 29th - & the villagers restate the ancient law with celebrating & dancing at Salisbury Cathedral. The former Royal Forest is peppered with earthworks, ancient paths & a Roman road, which brough lead from the Mendips & formed part of the network of Roman roads that met at Old Sarum.There’s Grovely riding stables just under the bridge. Grovely isn’t very big it’s not far from the town of Wilton, there’s a post office & a few thatched cottages. Just up the road further along is Great Wishford, which I will explain later. Heading to wards Shaftsbury is the village of Barford St Martin which I will do...

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The Bustard Inn

by LouiseTopp

Sometimes called something else, & you can probably imagine what that is. The Bustard is in a remote location on Salisbury Plain, The Bustard Inn gives guests the best of numerous worlds - great walking & wide-open spaces, access to some of the most historic sights in the country, & a lovely escape from the bustle of city life. charmingly & modest, it is in the outstanding care of Roy Harris, who earlier ran it for seven years. When he left, the spirit of the place seemed to leave with him, but when he returned with Sharon Maton in September 2003 the old spark came alive again & it’s very special appeal was restored. Sharon, a skilled chef, is queen of the kitchen, making splendid dishes every session except Sunday evening. The inn takes its name from the bird which has just been reintroduced on the Plain after a long absence of about 175 years. An adult bird can weigh up to 44 pounds...

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Unique Places in Wiltshire

Top 3 Hotels in Wiltshire

Cricket Field House Hotel  Salisbury

 1 Review and 82 Opinions  The virtue of major hotel chains is their conistency. If you travel in business this simplifies... 

 Hotels in Salisbury

The New Inn Avebury  Avebury

 1 Review and 33 Opinions  The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton, a mile or so from the Village of Avebury, is a quaint country... 

 Hotels in Avebury

De Vere Swindon  Swindon

 1 Review and 178 Opinions  Very nice hotel situated on West Swindon, 10 minutes by taxi from Bus and train station. Very... 

 Hotels in Swindon

166 Hotels in Wiltshire
 
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Reviews and photos of Wiltshire attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Wiltshire sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Wiltshire
  1. Salisbury Off The Beaten Path
  2. Stonehenge Off The Beaten Path
  3. Swindon Off The Beaten Path
  4. Warminster Off The Beaten Path
  5. Avebury Off The Beaten Path

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Questions and Answers

amandajayne81 profile photo

Q:  I have been trying to find a route that shows some or all of the White Horses in the Wiltshire and surrounding areas. If anyone... 

ghosthunter profile photo

A: Hi Amanda, The following website provides pictures & maps of the area where the white horses are : www.whitehorsewalking.co.uk/whitehorsetrail.htm Have a nice time,... 

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