West Wiltshire Downs
Set in and around an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of Salisbury Plain the rolling chalk hills of the West Wiltshire Downs and Cranborne Chase are a very special place to walk.
Your walks will take you across high downland ridges with far reaching views, through verdant broadleaf woodland and along the beautiful Wylye Valley, visiting attractive villages such as Heytesbury, Corton, Sherrington, Knook, Ashmore, Tollard Royal and Bratton with their thatched cottages, historic churches and fine manor houses.
There is a tremendous amount of visible prehistory on the Wiltshire Downs, and you will see numerous burial mounds, ancient field systems and flint workings. You will walk around the battlements of two of Britain's finest iron-age hillforts and visit the Westbury White Horse below Bratton Camp, close to the site where King Alfred defeated the Danes in AD878.
The airy downland ridges provide a hunting ground for numerous birds of prey and the chalk soil supports a stunning quantity and variety of wild flowers - many comparatively rare - which in their turn attract a great variety of butterflies. There are flowers throughout the spring and summer, but for the best chance of seeing a mass of orchids visit in early June.
Bed & Breakfast option
Your holiday in the West Wiltshire Downs will be based at a comfortable family-run guest house in the attractive village of Stourton on the National Trust' Stourhead Estate. Your room will have ensuite bathroom facilities and you will have a choice of continental or full English breakfast served in the adjacent inn. Stourton has an excellent inn serving meals in the evening, whilst surrounding towns and villages, also have a number of quality restaurants and inns.
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast option
Your holiday in the West Wiltshire Downs will be based at the historic Spread Eagle Inn in the estate village of Stourton. The attractive bedrooms are furnished with items from the National Trust's antique collection which combine seamlessly with modern comforts. The food at the Spread Eagle is excellent, with the vast majority sourced from the Stourhead estate itself, other local producers and other National Trust estates. In summer you can round off dinner by joining the resident peacocks for a walk around the lake, and in winter enjoy the warmth of a roaring log fire in the comfortable and welcoming bar. All bedrooms have ensuite bathroom facilities.
Bed & Breakfast
Holiday Options
- All of the above prices are per person, and based upon two guests sharing a double or twin-bedded room.
- Single traveller supplement; £65 per night (more about solo traveller supplements and single room supplements).
- Discounts available for parties of three or more guests.
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Holiday Options
- All of the above prices are per person, and based upon two guests sharing a double or twin-bedded room.
- Single traveller supplement; £65 per night (more about solo traveller supplements and single room supplements).
- Discounts available for parties of three or more guests.
Currency Converter: All of our prices are in British pounds. To estimate the cost in another currency use the currency converter here.
Travel information
Rail: Warminster
Onward travel: Public bus or taxi