Weekend walks in Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a large county in South-West England with a variety of historic sights and beautiful rolling hills. With multiple Covid-19 lockdowns in the UK, more people than ever are looking for new walks to explore in their local area. There are so many weekend walks in Wiltshire to choose from, so here are some of my favourites.

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1. Stonehenge

One of the most famous historic sights in the UK, Stonehenge lies in the south of Wiltshire and is one of the top weekend walks in Wiltshire. The stone circle dates back around 2500 years, but some of the first stones were laid at the sight around 5000 years ago, meaning it dates back to around 3000BC. It’s amazing to think about people laying the stones so long ago, and how different their lives must have been from ours. There’s a great visitor centre here now, where you can learn about the history before your visit – check out the opening times here. Stonehenge is also an important site for the summer solstice and winter solstice, where people come from all over the country, and even all over the world, the celebrate the sunrise and sunset on these days.

2. Salisbury Cathedral and the Magna Carta

Not too far from Stonehenge lies the town of Salisbury and even more fascinating history. Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Britain, and the interior of the cathedral is stunning. The Cathedral is also home to one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta, dating back to 1215. This important historical document was issued by England’s King John and lays out the rights of British people and other important clauses detailing justice in the nation. Check out the opening times to plan your visit here.

3. Westonbirt Arboretum

One of my favourite places for a weekend walk in Wiltshire in the autumn is Westonbirt Arboretum, located in the far west of the country. The autumn colours here are stunning, and the vast expanse of parkland and trees make this a great place for a weekend walk.

4. Cotswold Water Park

In the far north of Wiltshire, just crossing over the border into Gloucestershire, lies Cotswold Water Park and the surrounding lakes. These lakes are home to a wide variety of wildlife, and many are nature reserves where you can go birdwatching. One of the larger lakes in this complex is also one of the top places in the county to try out watersports – there’s South Cerney Sailing Club where you can try out dingy sailing, plus kayaking, windsurfing, plus other activities like archery. There’s also a beach in the summer – there really is something for everyone here!

5. Stourhead

Stourhead House and Gardens are owned by the National Trust and make a great day out. I particularly love the gardens, with a large lake and also various buildings and monuments throughout. The grotto and obelisk are great, but my favourite is the Pantheon, which also gives great views over the lakes. It might look familiar as it was used as a filming location in the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. In the film, Elizabeth Bennet runs over the bridge in the rain, before the famous scene with Mr Darcy in the pantheon. Despite many visits here, I’ve never yet found Mr Darcy…but I’ll keep looking…

6. Avebury

Another famous historic site which is great for a walk, Avebury is another Neolithic stone circles monument. It dates back around 2500 years, making it a similar age to nearby Stonehenge. At Avebury, you can get close to the stones and walk around them, and enjoy the largest stone circle in the world. Check out my guide to the best walk around Avebury here.