On the hottest day of the year so far, 14 brave members of the Westbury Walkers set out on a 9-mile walk led by Jim Day.
Starting from Ashley Rd, Bradford-on-Avon, the group walked down through the town and out towards the golf course. The route then took them through Widbrook Woods and on to the Kennet and Avon Canal. They continued to Lady Down, Trowbridge where one member left the group, and then followed a route through the new housing estate of Staverton coming out on School Lane. They then continued on to the B3105 which they followed down to the River Avon.
Once over the river, the walkers followed footpaths through fields skirting around Holt and on to Great Chalfield where they had a welcome lunch stop. They then followed a bridleway and lanes to Lower Wraxall where they joined the Macmillan Way through Cumberwell Park Golf Club and back to Ashley Rd.
It was a varied and interesting walk and the majority of the walkers coped very well with the heat. Three, however, found the heat just too much and decided not to continue after the lunch stop at the 6-mile point. Fortunately, the partner of one member, who lived nearby, gave them a lift back to the start where they took one car to a very nice cafe and enjoyed several cups of tea whilst sitting in a shady spot as they waited for the return of the rest of the group!
Report by Jim Day
