Devizes Xmas Walk and Lunch
19 people attending
1 place left
Join us for a brisk walk on the downland near the charming honey stone market town of Devizes. Our walk starts from the car park adjacent one of the 7 white horses of Wiltshire and nearby. These figures cut in the chalk hillsides often date back many hundreds of years but are maintained for the future. The walk is on exposed ground please review the 'what to bring tab' and be well kitted out for the winter weather.
Afterwards we will adjourn down the hill to The Bridge Inn at Horton and share a xmas meal together The pub is on the canal a short drive from our walk and a few miles outside Devizes. The meal is optional should you wish to head off but your meal place MUST be pre-booked by leaving a message below BEFORE XMAS DAY. well behaved dogs welcome in the pub. NB There are only 18 available places for lunch.
There's a lot of history about these hills with Oliver's castle Iron Age hill fort, various burial mounds and the site of The Battle of Roundway Down of 1643, during the First English Civil War. You can imagine the deafening sound of galloping horses and muskets. Roundway Down and Oliver's Castle are just north of Devizes and now form part of the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
What to bring
Water: bring at least one litre
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Food & drink
Bring an energy bar and a hot drink with you. We will be eating afterwards. (See event description)