Early morning fog on Sunday 12th October gave way to hazy sunshine in time for the start of an eight mile walk for 17 members of Westbury Walkers led by John Parker, setting off from the church in Sherston, near Malmesbury.
Having crossed a couple of fields on the outskirts of the village they followed the road for half a mile before joining a bridleway to the pretty village of Willesley with its impressive manor house.
From there they crossed fields to the village of Westonbirt and then passed through the grounds of Westonbirt School to cross the Tetbury Road by the Hare and Hounds hotel.
A short distance from here the group joined the Macmillan way footpath which took them along the back of the Westonbirt Old Arboretum to a gate into the grounds of the arboretum and then into Silk Wood. They took the Broad Drive walk through the centre of the wood where they were able to enjoy the start of the autumn colours.
On leaving the arboretum the walkers crossed a field to the road and then took a track which was followed by a bridleway back to the edge of Sherston which they skirted via a footpath to the south of the village before making their way back to the church.
Report by John Parker
