On a beautiful but very hot day, 15 ramblers set off on a walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal from Great Bedwyn. We were lucky enough to see the Steam Locomotive 4559 Bahamas alongside the canal on it’s journey from London to Salisbury.

We left the canal at the Crofton Pumping Station containing an operational Boulton and Watt steam engine dating from 1812 making it the oldest operational beam engine in the world. We continued our walk along side Wilton Water into the picturesque village of Wilton.

It was then a short walk uphill to the Wilton Windmill, built in 1921, and used until the 1930’s when it fell into disrepair. It was restored to working order in 1976 and is a Grade 11 listed building. We took a welcome break here in it’s shade.

The walk then returned to the canal side at Great Bedwyn through the woods of Bedwyn Brail. Bedwyn Brail was the site of a planned elaborate mansion for Edward Seymour in the 1540’s but there is little evidence that construction work took place and he was executed.

  Steam Locomotive 4559 Bahamas on its way to Salisbury

Wilton Pond

Wilton Windmill

Group at the Granary by Wilton Windmill

We pass an Emu enclosure near Wilton

Walking back through Bedwyn Brail