On Sunday, 10th July, 16 members of Westbury Walkers met at Box for a 9 mile circular walk led by Philip Toop.
The walk started with a steep climb over the entrance to Box tunnel, leading to Hazlebury Manor and Chapel Plaister close to the small pilgrim chapel.
Crossing two fields they arrived at the memorial stone recording the death of John Hanning Speke, aged 37 years, after an explosion whilst on a shooting party. After service in the British Indian Army, John undertook three expeditions to Africa searching for the source of the Nile, and has a mountain named after him in Uganda.
After passing through Lower Wadswick, the group soon arrived in Neston and were joined by a group of very friendly young cattle, who followed them closely across the field.
They eventually arrived on the outskirts of Corsham and were able to view the Corsham entrance to Box tunnel, and lunch was taken close to an ornamental fishing lake. On the return journey, the walkers passed the new Wadswick retirement village and after visiting Hazlebury Manor again descended into Box, passing some commemorations to servicemen who lived in the houses who died in the first World War.
Report by Philip Toop.
