Days Out
Chippenham is surrounded by some of the most beautiful villages in the UK, including picture-perfect Castle Combe, known as ‘the prettiest village in England’. A delight to stroll around, the village has a museum worth a visit and a spectacular manor house, open as a hotel and restaurant.
The gardens at Bowood are famous for their spectacular displays of rhododendrons – catch them in May or June if you can.
Nearby is the archetypal English village of Lacock, kept in beautiful condition by the National Trust. Just exploring the perfect cottages and lanes is a pleasure, and there are countless opportunities to relax with a cream tea (or maybe something a little stronger).
And you will find many less famous but equally delightful villages to search out and explore; most have lovely old churches, and traditional pubs offering gardens for the summer and log fires in winter.
Travel along Maud Heath’s Causeway to Foxham and up the hill for wonderful views.
To the west of Chippenham, for example, lie the picturesque villages of Nettleton, Biddestone, Slaughterford, Ford and North Wraxall. Here you will find old mills in Cotswold stone, village greens complete with duck ponds and tranquil walks along the Bybrook Valley. By contrast, the centre piece of Grittleton to the north is the 19th century Grittleton House, built in a palatial Victorian-gothic revival style by J Neeld MP for Chippenham, and now a school.
Glorious Lacock Abbey and, within its grounds, the Fox Talbot Museum with its fascinating exhibition about the birth of photography.
Stop off at Kington Langley with its attractive open common next to the church; seek out the church and ancient tithe barn in Lower Seagry; explore Sutton Benger with its history of herbing; or visit Christian Malford, a lively village with a 13th century church. Sheldon Manor in Chippenham is Wiltshire’s oldest inhabited manor house, with records dating back to 803AD, a 13th century porch and beautiful rose gardens. Elsewhere, explore the Bowood estate with its house and stunning gardens; or discover the ancient town of Malmesbury, a few miles up-stream on the River Avon, with its Abbey and the well-known Abbey House Gardens.
Castle Combe has been used for many period films, including Dr Dolittle (where the Bybrook was dressed up to look like a port!), while Lacock is famous as the setting for the Harry Potter films, as well as many period costume dramas.
