Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn/Winter 2022 i Great West Way® Travel Magazine

There are over 30 National Trust properties alone along the Great West Way route, such as Cliveden, Mompesson House, Montacute House and Runnymede, the site of the sealing of the Magna Carta, to name but a few. Almost before you leave London, you pass the royal palaces at Kew, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle, the oldest occupied castle in the World. Then further west as the countryside opens up, and the landscape is scattered with an array of stately homes, two further castles, Highclere and Berkeley, and with many of these properties still owned by the aristocratic families who first built them. Wander Great Halls hung with tapestries, feel the heat of a Tudor kitchen, admire the craftsmanship of an elaborately carved 4-poster bed… or plan your visit during the…

BY BIKE AND FOOT Hiring a bike and cycling along the canal, countryside paths and trails, taking a walk through picturesque villages and visiting our three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and three UNESCO World Heritage sites by foot is a beautifully scenic experience. Whether you’re up for a lengthy hike in the Cotswolds, a cycle ride racing down the 13.7km (8.5 miles) steeply twisting Swinley Red trail with its berms, drops and white-knuckle descents, or just fancy a potter around some village antique shops, walking and cycling is a wonderful way to explore. You can cycle the entire length of the Great West Way via National Cycle Route 4, which links up regional cycle routes such as the Thames Valley Cycle Route and the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route.…

BATH Abbey Hotel, Bath Abbey Hotel is located perfectly central in the city of Bath, making it an ideal place to stay to when exploring the city. Independantly owned, this unique hotel offers an intriguing blend of stylish comfort, vibrant and eccentric contemporary art, and historic character. → abbeyhotelbath.co.uk Dukes Hotel One of Bath’s most prestigious streets, this beautiful, boutique, guest house stands on Great Pulteney Street. Whether it is the high ceilings, sash windows or hand crafted Sanitan bathroom suites, each room uniquely reflects an era of Georgian elegance and charm. → dukesbath.co.uk The Apartment Bath From Nespresso to Nintendo, The Apartment, Bath is a two-bedroom apartment in central Bath on Widcombe Parade, and the perfect home from home for guests exploring the Great West Way. → apartmentbath.com The…

What do you love most about your job and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust? Sending out a press release about an important project the Trust is undertaking, which then gets picked up by local or national media is an incredible feeling. How did you get started in your career? I started my marketing career in the English language teaching sector and then the book publishing sector. However, my passion has always been for wildlife conservation and environmental causes, and so I made the decision last year to make a change. What’s a typical day like for you? I keep up-to-date on any projects my colleagues are working on and look for opportunities to get media coverage wherever possible. Most weeks, I’ll be writing press releases, arranging radio interviews, but no two days…

1 ENJOY A HEARTY SUNDAY LUNCH Lined with grand stately homes, gentle green countryside, cute stone cottages and pretty thatched pubs, the Great West Way is the perfect place to discover the real England. And what could be more traditionally English than a roast dinner on a Sunday lunchtime? A classic English roast dinner has succulent meat, crispy roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, lashings of gravy, lots of fresh seasonal veg, and a side of cauliflower cheese if you’re lucky. You’ll find this traditional Sunday lunchtime meal at many of the pubs and restaurants along the Great West Way route – often accompanied by more modern takes on the classic roast dinner, such as Coq au vin with mash & bourguignon garnish. Enjoy a tasty Sunday lunch while admiring the…

The Kennet & Avon Canal runs all the way from the River Thames to the River Avon, connecting the town of Reading with the World Heritage Site of Bath and Bristol. It is 87-miles (140km) long and is made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a 57-mile (92km) canal section. It passes through some of the loveliest scenery you could hope to see. When you travel down the Kennet & Avon Canal you are hitting the rewind button on life. Wonderful views, tranquil waters, charming villages, quaint canal side pubs, impressive locks – all of them looking much the same as they always did. Not forgetting Bath’s Georgian architecture of golden stone and the rich maritime history of Bristol. Started in 1794, the canal was completed in…

North Wessex Downs Marvel at the prehistoric stones of Stonehenge and Avebury, the Wiltshire White Horses and the White Horse at Uffington. Take time to visit Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed, and get lost in the mysterious hillforts, neolithic burial mounds and genteel country houses. The Chilterns Characterised by neat farmland, ancient woodland and chalk downland. The Chilterns is a haven for wildlife including red kites. Explore the fabulous trails of The Ridgeway and the Chiltern Way Circular passing sparkling-clear chalk streams. The Cotswolds The Cotswolds Way starts in Bath and follows north for 102 miles, to the well-to-do market town of Chipping Campden. Explore Corsham, Castle Combe and Dyrham Park, or just take in the views: gentle hills, sweeping valleys and summer wildflower meadows dotted with warm…

Underground 18th century Vault rooms are unveiled at Hotel Indigo Bath Hotel Indigo Bath, set in a beautiful honey coloured Georgian Terrace, has recently opened its 18th century underground Vault rooms completing the final stage of its multi-million-pound major restoration project. The 18th century, Grade 1 listed building is the first global boutique hotel in Bath. The 12 Vault rooms are an amazing example of historical architecture and are both spacious and stunning in design. They feature exposed brickwork with soft lighting, timber finishing, vaulted bath stone ceilings, underfloor heating, and high-end crafted furniture. The rooms are equipped with a King-size Hypnos bed with luxury Egyptian cotton linen, a spa-inspired bathroom with roll-top bath and separate walk-in rainfall shower, a Nespresso coffee machine, high speed Wi-Fi and a variety of…

OCTOBER Pumpkin picking patches Bristol has a wide range of pumpkin patches where you can pick your own pumpkin this Halloween. Try the Pumpkin Fest at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm where you can pick your own, there are talks about creepy crawlies, and the Owl of the World Trail. Head east of the city to Avon Valley Wildlife and Adventure Park for the Pumpkin Patch Nights where there are fair rides, or south of the city is Pumpkins at Farrington’s 28 OCT Wake The Tiger: Danse Macabre Visit Bristol’s newest attraction this Halloween for a special event with live bands, DJs, and performances 2-5 OCT Terrifying Turnip Trail at Brunel’s SS Great Britain Reveal truths about ‘All Hallows Eve’ customs and traditions from Victorian times as Gothic characters and horror…

Michelin Starred and Fine Dining Sit down to a meal of gastronomical delights at one of the award-winning fine-dining establishments along the Great West Way. Sample sumptuous tasting menus created by Michelin-starred chefs, innovative dishes featuring local produce, and traditional English delicacies cooked to perfection. The Vineyard, Stockcross, Berkshire Not only is The Vineyard a luxury five-star hotel and spa, it also has a fine dining restaurant and 30,000-bottle wine cellar. Head chef Robby Jenks is at the helm of this 3AA Rosette restaurant. Diners can choose from an à la carte or tasting menu where they can enjoy dishes such as veal sweetbread ravioli with pumpkin seeds in a pumpkin and brown butter sauce or roast brill, brassicas, caper berries and almond. → Stockcross, Newbury Bulrush, Bristol One of…