Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 08

6 WILTON WINDMILL, WILTSHIRE Set high above the village of Wilton, Wilton Windmill has the most fantastic views. The grounds are open all year round and there are picnic tables you can use or of course you can have a picnic blanket on the grass. Plenty of space for playing games! It's ideal for families with children or those with dogs as the site is very secure with a fence all the way round. And the views are just breathtaking. IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK 7 SILCHESTER ROMAN CITY, HAMPSHIRE <strong>West</strong> of London, beyond the belt of satellite towns that orbit the capital, lies the relatively unknown remains of Silchester. This walled Roman city flourished during the Roman occupation of Britain from the 1st century on, but was abandoned in the 5th or 6th centuries, once the Romans left. Unlike other Roman cities, it was never reoccupied, and much of the Roman walls, along with an evocative amphitheatre remain. Walk along the walls to find your ideal picnic spot, then sit down to enjoy the tranquil ambiance as sheep or cattle gently graze in within the grounds of the once great city. 38 <strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk

8 DYRHAM PARK, NEAR BATH The grand country house of Dyrham Park sits nestled in a valley just north of Bath. Built in the Baroque style in the late 18th century, the house is managed by the National Trust and preserved as it would have looked in the 19th century. The grounds are just as alluring as the house however, and its deer park spreads along the edge of the escarpment that defines the western boundary of the Cotswolds, providing views down to the city of Bristol sprawled out in the distance, and across the Severn Estuary to the hills of Wales beyond. The view alone would be worth a picnic stop, but sitting amongst the well tended, undulating estate grounds make it utterly irresistible. 9 AVEBURY STONE CIRCLE AND ITS SURROUNDS The World Heritage site of Avebury is one of the most remarkable prehistoric wonders of ancient Britain. Set just off the King’s Road linking Bristol to London (the modern A4), Avebury and adjacent prehistoric remnants combine to provide some of the most fascinating and inspiring prehistoric remains anywhere in northern Europe. Climb atop the giant earthen banks carved out using deer antlers 5000 years ago and set your picnic down overlooking the stones and picturesque village that has encroached into the circle over the centuries. Or, make your way to Kennett Long Barrow, a large, prehistoric burial chamber that rests on a nearby hill overlooking the prehistoric, pyramid-like, Silbury Hill, in the valley below, to commune with the ancients over pimms and sausage rolls. 10 CLIFTON DOWN, BRISTOL Ending our list at the western end of the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong>, in Bristol, is this gem of a spot. Sitting atop the eastern edge of the Avon gorge, this stunning park was established in the 1800s to provide the well-to-do of nearby Clifton with a space to ‘take the airs’. Clifton, a suburb of the the city of Bristol below, became the residential district of choice for merchants and slave traders in the 18th century as Britain’s trade empire and its wealth exploded. The suburb, set atop a hill close to town, but not in it, allowed its occupants the space and elegance to enjoy the good life without becoming caught up in the squalor and unpleasantness of the port below. Today, Clifton Down affords views of the river and gorge, as well as Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, the first suspension bridge in the world, and is framed by stunning Georgian architecture along its other sides making it a remarkable spot for a picnic in a remarkable city. <strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk 39