Guided exploration of Jones Mill, luncheon, and afternoon Walk

A quality day out with a botanical tour, luncheon, refreshments and afternoon exploration 

A high-quality day out. A fully guided morning talk, followed by luncheon and afternoon walk in the beautiful vale of Pewsey. 

Morning – Exploration of the multitude of plants bursting into life. The tour is similar to Wandering by Water by Walking Wiltshire and is led by Walking Wiltshire.

Afternoon – Exploration of the local countryside subjects include the importance of transport and the canal, villages, geology, history, the local area and an assortment of facts led by Roaming the Paths.

Refreshments and Briefing

We will serve complimentary teas, coffee and other refreshments while gathering. **(Dietary Requirements). There will be a briefing on the days’ activities, and an equipment check (please remember to bring suitable attire for the weather, snacks and a drink. The drink is essential).

Morning Tour

Distance – 2.3 Miles. Terrain – gentle gradients, some steps, boardwalks, and possible mud. Starting at 10:10 and lasting about 2 hours 45.

From there Mike from Walking Wiltshire will take you on a guided tour looking at the wonder of plants. Setting off immediately into the countryside and onward to Jones’s Mill Nature Reserve, the journey of discovery starts. The morning is spent exploring the plants and their uses. Medicinal, culinary and otherwise. Their history, folk law and legends. Their environment, and numerous other aspects of the plants seen on the day.

A thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to discover the power of some of our most common, and often unseen, companions.

Mike will hand over to another guide who will take you to the venue for lunch.

Lunch

Time to relax and enjoy lunch. ** (Dietary Requirements). 13:00 – 14:30

On this tour, the luncheon will be a feast of local and seasonal, in the form of a ploughman’s buffet. A showcase of the best foods of Pewsey Vale, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.  Based around the traditional ploughman’s lunch of Cheese, Ham, Bread, fruit and pickles where you can have as much or as little as you choose. Tea, coffee and other light refreshments are included, or you may opt to add a refreshing pint of Cider or Ale.

Introduction to the afternoon’s proceedings By Alan from Roaming the Paths.  Starting with a brief after-dinner talk we will explore the geology of the Vale of Pewsey, and look at how transport has had such an effect on the area.

Afternoon Tour

Distance – 3 Miles. Terrain – gentle gradients.

The environment

At intervals along the walk, the environment and ecosystems will be explored. The countryside is varied, as are the farms and farming techniques employed.  Because of this we will only touch on these subjects. For more in-depth tours relating to the environment, ecology or farming, see the Meet the…… tours.

Tea

We return to Pewsey and finish with a well-deserved sit-down, with a cuppa and a cake – or perhaps a cream tea. Stronger options are available behind the bar with an opportunity to sample many local ales, some produced onsite.

Conclusion

Those arriving by train will be guided towards the station to greet the penultimate train of the day towards the Capital. A later train is an option, and some may choose to linger.  If arriving by service bus please make us aware at the start of the day or beforehand so we can ensure that you are at the bus stop in a timely fashion.

Information about the day

Useful stuff to know.

Arrival by Train

Starts at 9.40.  Meet at Pewsey Railway Station forecourt – this is timed to meet the first train from London Paddington and Bristol.  A quick head count and then proceed to the Royal Oak for refreshments and brief induction.  We will wait if the train(s) are delayed and amend the schedule if required.

Arrival by Car

Park at North Street Car Park.  Free all day, usually spaces available. Proceed to the Royal Oak by 9.40 for refreshments.

Arrival by Bus

Pewsey is served by the Salisbury Reds X5 which runs between Salisbury and Swindon. 07:55 from Salisbury, 08:16 From Amesbury timed to arrive at Pewsey 09:00. 08:45 from Swindon 09:17 from Marlborough timed to arrive at 09:36 at Pewsey. Proceed to the Royal Oak for refreshments. We will have contingency arrangements if the bus is delayed. PLEASE NOTE if travelling by bus, please make us aware to ensure that you are back in good time as the last service to Swindon is 17:30 and the last service to Salisbury is 18:37.

Health and Safety

All tours will have at least 2 members of staff on hand, and we always strive to have a mix of male and female staff. One will be leading, or running a talk, and there will be a second member of staff at hand. Please feel at ease approaching with any questions, or issues or present any difficulties that may arise.  You may want clarification on a point, or develop a blister, or maybe something more serious.  Whilst we run a full risk assessment there is always an element of risk in all aspects of life and people can fall ill at any time with little warning. There should always be a member of staff qualified in outdoor first aid either on the walk or a short distance away. Please make us aware of any potential requirements (like the use of an Epipen in the event of a sting) before the day’s events commence.

*Diversity and equality

We are fully compliant with the legislation regarding Protected Characteristics. However, the terrain that some of the walks and tours take may exclude certain physical conditions. This is unfortunate as we have no direct control over this, be it permanent physical obstacles like styles, steps or gates, or temporary ones like mud or long grass. We will only state when a walk or tour is fully accessible. If you would like to know more about any potential limiting factors on any of the walks please feel free to contact us and we will provide you with as much information as possible to help you assess what might be required to assist overcome any potential access issues. We would strive to provide solutions. We do aim to run fully accessible tours in the near future, and are keen to work with people to achieve this goal.

** (Dietary Requirements)

We will strive to cater for all dietary requirements. We request that you contact us if we have not asked for any dietary requirements. Whilst we are confident that we can cater for most, we cannot guarantee a nut-free environment as some of the establishments (especially Public Houses) will have nuts on sale and in the premises.  Similarly, it should be noted that Alcohol will be on sale at some of the establishments as they are Public Houses.

You have questions

You may still have questions or want to know more. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.