Urchfont Manor
Wiltshire County Councils adult education centre at Urchfont Manor has, over the past 50 years, developed a reputation for offering an excellent choice of study programmes from day courses, weekend and mid week breaks to summer schools and study tours.
Jim has been a regular contributor to their programme for the past 5 years and his recent courses include :-
- 5,000 years on the Plain – a weekend study of the history of Salisbury Plain
- A walk through time – Avebury’s magic rediscovered – a circular 7 mile exploration of Britain’s finest collection of prehistoric monuments
- Stonehenge and Old Sarum – discover the landscape and history of both sites
- White Horses of Wessex – full day minibus tour of the Wessex hill figures
- Mendip Hills, Cheddar and Wells – full day minibus tour with visits to prehistoric caves, a cheese factory and Wells Cathedral
- Salisbury Plain and Cranborne Chase – a weekend walking study of two of the county’s most interesting areas
- Caen Hill Locks and Roundway Down – full day
walk of one of the engineering wonders of our canal system followed by
exploration of a
battle ground where 4000 Parliamentary troops are said to have died
Wylie Valley – a 9 mile linear walk through the beautiful villages of the Wylie Valley culminating with a climb up to a hill fort on Salisbury Plain. - Downton to East Grimstead – a 10 mile linear walk exploring an ancient borough, industrial archaeology, the 18c Trafalgar Estate, Pepperbox Hill, the site of a cold war nuclear weapons depot and a beautiful family chapel.
- Chute Forest – an 8 mile circular exploration of the remote Wiltshire
/ Hampshire border area.
2010
Walks
Continuing the theme of ‘Where Wiltshire Meets adjoining counties’ this years walks cover the border area with Gloucestershire and Berkshire.
Cricklade and the Infant Thames - Wild Flowers and Waterways – Saturday 24 April.
The Infant Thames and North Meadow, a 108 acre meadow internationally important for its extensive collection of wild flowers including the rare Snakes Head Fritillary combine to produce a fascinating walk. We also link up with former important rail and canal links which contributed to our industrial heritage.
Kennet Country – Saturday 18 September.
A 10 mile linear walk from the idyllic village of Chilton Foliat to Cunetio
( Mildenhall ) the settlement at the junction of two important Roman Roads.
We follow the banks of the River Kennet past Littlecote House with its
Orpheus Mosaic discovered in 1727, the Bishopric of Ramsbury together with
its Manor House and Park, and the village of Axford.
To book these walks contact Urchfont Manor or telephone 01380 840495.