Enjoy views of the Pewsey White Horse figure located on the steep slope of Pewsey Hill, a mile south of the village. This linear canal route passes through lovely countryside and small villages, and finishes a few miles before the highest point of the Kennet and Avon Canal, which crosses from Reading to Bristol. The route takes you through some rural chalk down land and past the village of Pewsey.
Pewsey is a large village, at the centre of the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire about 80 miles (130 km) west of London. Pewsey White Horse was cut in 1937 and is one of the smaller Wiltshire white horses. It replaces an earlier one which was possibly cut in 1785.
The famous international Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race all started with a group of men in “The Greyhound” pub in Pewsey. It was 1920 and a national rail and bus strike was looming. Alternative means of transport were discussed in the bar, and the outcome, as with all good bar-room talk, was a wager: whether or not it was possible to get down the River Avon from Pewsey to the sea at Christchurch in under three days, a distance of some 70 miles. Four intrepid souls took up the challenge in a 20-foot sculling skiff and duly won the bet with 10 hours to spare.
The Barge Inn is located right on the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and you can see it as you come to it from the water. The pub is a magnificent Georgian building constructed from Bath stone and was purpose-built at the same time as the canal in 1810, to act as the ‘motorway services’ of its time. Visit The Barge Inn website.
There is a campsite here too so you can make this a longer trip. Do call to check out spaces for parking and events.
Wootton Rivers is 5 miles south of Marlborough. Take the A346 southeast from Marlborough for about three miles (passing through Cadley). Turn right where signposted to Wootton Rivers and pass through the village, parking on the right as you approach the canal bridge. There is a small parking area here, so do park neatly.
This is a one-way trail, so a car shuttle is needed, unless you choose to do an out and back as you can turn anywhere easily.
