The Railway section takes you to Swindon’s first Tiny Forest, through Wichelstowe, up though West Leaze and along the disused railway path.
CAUTION: This is particularly steep, and there are steps at the top to gain access the old Railway line – it can be icy in cold weather.
Railway path
The railway path follows the route of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway (MSWJR), formed in 1884 by a merger of Swindon & Cheltenham Extension Railway and the Swindon, Marlborough & Andover Railway (founded 1881) that connected Andover with GWR’s London to Bristol line.
The original plan to join the tracks was to tunnel 830 yd / 760m through Old Town hill; when this proved too technically difficult and expensive the project was abandoned in what is now Queens Park. The final route, wound its way around the southern edge of Old Town hill to connect the railway lines close to the current railway bridge on Wootton Bassett Road.
The MSWJR was closed for passenger traffic in 1961 but continued in use to bring in materials for the construction of the M4 motorway. The track was lifted in the early 1970s and the current recreational trail developed in the early 1980s.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
Turn east on the railway path.
Jurassic geology
The path passes through a ¾ mile / 1.2 km long cutting, blasted through solid rock to allow the track to reach Swindon Town Station in Old Town (now Signal Way Industrial Estate). It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geological interest dating from the Jurassic period.
- Leave the railway path at Springfield Road bridge to visit the Town Gardens.
Town Gardens
Opened in 1894 on the site of a disused quarry, the Town Gardens is a formal Victorian Park with a café kiosk, aviary and public toilets. For more information please visit our Town Garden page.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
Walk to the very top of the concrete road to the junction and walk westwards, out of town, on Mill Lane.
Medieval village
Just before Mill Lane turns sharply towards Wroughton, and opposite West Leaze farmhouse is the site of medieval settlement, designated as a Scheduled Monument. Enclosed by a boundary ditch, and the River Ray on the north side, the village’s main street ran north-south with buildings on either side – now bumps in the field. There is evidence of ridge-and-furrow cultivation. Archaeologists have also found Roman remains here, suggesting settlement over 2,000 years ago.
At the right-angled turn in the road you can walk straight ahead to join the Wilts & Berks Canal towpath and continue the Green Trail along the canal).
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
Walk back under Skew Bridge on the towpath.
Aqueduct
Just beyond the Skew Bridge look down to the right of the tow-path to see a stone aqueduct that has carried the canal, and its tow-path, over the River Ray since around 1810.