STOURHEAD ESTATE

Distance and difficulty: Moderate – 5.5 mile circular route, takes around 2 hours walking at an easy pace. View walk here.

Good for: Walkers who enjoy a bit of history, and don’t mind the odd hill!

Why we love it: This stunning circular walk takes in pretty woodland, an iron age hillfort and King Alfred’s Tower. Fun fact: this triangular folly was built in 1772, and it’s believed to mark the site where King Alfred the Great rallied his troops back in 878. The tower opens on select days in spring – you can clamber all 205 steps and admire views over Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. Afterwards, head to Stourhead gardens, where the lakeside is carpeted in daffodils. The nearby Spread Eagle I nn makes a great pitstop.

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL TO OLD SARUM

Distance and difficulty: Moderately easy 5 mile route with some hilly bits. View walk h ere.

Good for: River lovers and energetic explorers.

Why we love it: This pretty adventure tracks the Avon out to Old Sarum, via a wildlife-packed nature reserve. With its mighty ramparts and fabulous views over the city, Old Sarum is a highlight. It’s also a great place for the kids to burn off energy while you stop for a picnic.

WESTBURY WHITE HORSE

Distance and difficulty:  Moderate-to-easy 3 3/4 miles. Find info and directions here.

Good for:  Anyone who wants to ogle stunning vistas over Wiltshire.

Why we love it:  This walk is a great leg-stretcher, with fantastic views and the chance to check out Westbury’s white horse. Fun fact: it was created in its current incarnation in 1774, making it the oldest of Wiltshire’s eight remaining white horses.

EDINGTON LOOP

Distance and difficulty:  A relatively easy 5 miles. Find info and directions here.

Good for:  Everyone, especially if you’re into pubs or churches.

Why we love it:  The views from Edington are pretty fabulous, and this walk takes in some ancient history too. Did you know this is the site where
KingAlfred gained a decisive win over Danish invaders in 878? The victory ensured the continuing existence ofWessex as an independent kingdom. If you fancy quenching your thirst, stop off at the Three Daggers, where you’ll find excellent food and an onsite brewery.

BOWOOD ESTATE & WOODLAND GARDENS

Bowood Woodland Gardens Walk — Image credit: Andrea Jones

Distance and difficulty:  Easy – 2 miles of pathways to explore. Find info here and a map here.

Good for:  Everyone, from the young to the young at heart. Largely accessible to buggies and wheelchairs.

Why we love it:  Bowood’s spectacular displays of magnolias and rhododendrons are pretty incredible, and it’s open season come 12 April. Entry to the Woodland Gardens costs from £8.40 and it’s only open until June, so get down there quick! Don’t want to wait? The main estate opens on Easter weekend – you’ll find blooming lovely daffodil displays around the lake.

TISBURY TO OLD WARDOUR CASTLE

Wardour Castle — Image credit: Nick Fewings

Distance and difficulty: Moderately challenging – 5.5-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Movie fans and families.

Why we love it: Stunning landscapes and a chance to explore the incredible Old Wardour Castle. With its grotto, winding steps and ancient hall it makes a great picnic stop. Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves was filmed here too.

WEST WOODS CIRCULAR

Distance and difficulty: Easy – 2.9-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Wild daffodil and bluebell fans.

Why we love it: Come April and May, West Woods is one of the best places in Wiltshire to spot bluebells. It’s also where Stonehenge’s gigantic sarsen stones came from.

WEST KENNET LONGBARROW TRAIL

Distance and difficulty: Moderately challenging terrain – 2-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Anyone wanting to explore inside an ancient tomb.

Why we love it: This short walk is ideal for the kids. It takes in West Kennet Longbarrow, a late Stone Age communal tomb that was used as a ‘house’ for the dead. If you’re feeling brave enough, you can even venture inside – just bring your torch. You can park in the nearby layby, just watch out for cars on the fast road. Oh and wear your wellies, the start of the walk is likely to be wet underfoot.

AVONCLIFF AQUEDUCT CIRCULAR

Avoncliff walk — Image credit: Sophie Barton

Distance and difficulty: Easy – 3.5-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Anyone keen on riverside and canal views.

Why we love it: This easy walk, mostly on towpaths, makes for a fab family adventure (it’s an easy one for buggies and bikes too). Stop to explore the ancient tithe barn in Bradford-on-Avon, and soak up the sight of the pretty canal boats. The aqueduct at Avoncliff is also pretty impressive, with amazing views up and downstream. If it’s warm enough, grab a glass of wine in the riverside garden at the Cross Guns pub.

GREAT BEDWYN AND WILTON WINDMILL

Distance and difficulty: Moderate – mostly flat. 5-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Anyone who loves water and windmills.

Why we love it: This is a fairly easy walk, which takes in five canal locks – it’s always fun to watch the boats navigate their way through. You’ll enjoy epic views of Great Bedwyn and the Kennet and Avon Canal, plus the chance to round off your stomp with a meal at The Three Tuns pub.

BECKFORD ARMS WALK

Distance and difficulty: Gentle. There are lengths to suit both big and little legs – stick with sub 3 miles or go up to 10 miles. View walk here.

Good for: Film buffs – the stunning lake here featured in the film Chocolat.

Why we love it: Idyllic views of the Fonthill Estate – think glassy waters and sweeping parkland. Plus, the nearby Beckford Arms (above) makes an excellent pitstop. If you venture over this way on 28 April, there’s also the chance to peek inside the gardens at Fonthill House, when they open to the public for the day.

PEPPERBOX HILL TRAIL

Distance and difficulty: Moderate. 6.5-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Bird and butterfly fans – the chalk downland here is brimming with both, including bullfinches, green woodpeckers, kestrels and yellowhammers. When the time is right, you’ll find plenty of bluebells too.

Why we love it: This makes for a wonderful walk, starting at the 17^th Century folly on Pepperbox Hill and taking you across to Dean Hill, with epic views over the open countryside southeast of Salisbury. Carry on through Mean Wood, which in springtime is thickly carpeted with bluebells, and on down into the village of Whiteparish, before heading back across fields and a gentle climb back up to Pepperbox Hill. This is a great stomp for dogs, but access is limited due to rough terrain and kissing gates.

LONGLEAT LOOP

Distance and difficulty: Moderate – 6.3-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Sure-footed walkers with a base level of fitness. (If you have ankle-biters in tow, they might prefer the safari park down the road…)

Why we love it: For a long, brisk walk with stunning views of Longleat House, this is the one for you.

GROVELY WOOD

Distance and difficulty: Moderate – 3.2-mile route. View walk here.

Good for: Families.

Why we love it: The woodland makes a fab place to ogle wildflowers and explore, plus it’s a relatively easy trail. If you need to bribe little legs, nearby Bird and Carter farm shop & cafe do some pretty epic cakes and bakes.

Walks in Wiltshire! 14 fabulous spring stomps to stretch your legs

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