Local Activities

We would of course prefer it if you never left us during your stay, but despite being in a relatively unheralded part of England, and 6 miles from the M4 and 8 miles from Swindon town centre, there is plenty to get your teeth into, on foot, by bike, on horseback, or by car.

Local national treasures include:

Explore the Farm

Our own farm! Beautiful and easy waymarked walks, crossing or using the Ridgeway; some extremely varied landscape and topography; at the right time of year, a vast array of common and rare chalk land flora and fauna, especially in the Eastbrook valley, formed during the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago; organic livestock, mostly dairy cows and pigs; old and new woodland, with nuts and fruit being produced for the pub kitchen; and of course our famous no dig veg patches, an extraordinary spread of veg for the pub tables and the farm shop.

Uffington White Horse

A stunning piece of southern England landscape, with the chalk horse watching over it since about 950AD. 10 minutes by car, 90 minutes on foot, along the Ridgeway.

Clarkson’s Farm & The Farmers Dog

This is the new national treasure that we’ve all heard about! 32 minutes by car to the pub, 40 minutes to the farm and farm shop. Highly recommended for those who enjoy spending their day in a queue for bee juice and being disappointed that Jeremy’s not serving beer today.

The Ridgeway

Possibly the UK’s first recognised ‘motorway’ dating back to c3000BC, originally from the south west near Plymouth to the north end of East Anglia, about 400 miles. Used to be for nomadic livestock graziers, but they don’t use it any more for some reason. Now it’s the preserve of walkers and cyclists and the occasional horse rider, and the best bit runs through our farm, 15 minutes’ walk from the pub. Head twenty miles east or west, and earn yourself a decent supper, here or elsewhere

King Alfred’s Way

A relatively modern creation using ancient tracks to offer cyclists a challenge and a sore bum over 250 miles of varied terrain. Taking in parts of The Ridgeway (including the bit through our farm) and other mostly off road tracks between Guildford, Winchester, Salisbury etc. We have rescued several cyclists over the past few years and offered effective remedial attention in various forms

Waylands Smithy

We think that’s where they buried the exhausted nomadic graziers! It’s possibly the best known burial chamber in the south of England, tended carefully by the National Trust and occasionally abused by naughty boys and urgent lovers with macabre tastes. A lovely one hour walk from the pub, along the Ridgeway into Oxfordshire, on the way to the White Horse

Lambourn and the Valley of the Race Horse

The farm borders Oxfordshire AND Berkshire—be careful if you’re driving through or near Lambourn, you’re bound to encounter one of these twitchy creatures rearing on its hind legs. It’s five miles SE of us, the hub of the UK’s training for horses that jump over things! Think of a jump race trainer and he’s/she’s probably based in Lambourn. The trainers have their own open days, and the whole town opens its doors usually over the Easter weekend every year. If you like this sport, the horses and yards are a must. The town itself is a bit lacklustre…but the early morning gallops on Jockey Club land are a sight to behold.

The Science Museum, Wroughton

If we said that there are possibly one million items in this extraordinary offshoot of the Science Museum, from aeroplanes to concrete mixers to sowing machines, we would not be exaggerating. It would take a month to see everything—but beware, this genuine National Treasure is only open certain days of the year, and you need to be on their email list for inside info. Strongly recommend! About 6 miles from this pub and farm, by car.

Explore the Cotswolds

And just to give you a general and easy to understand picture of where we are in a bigger picture, the Cotswolds officially seem to begin about 10 miles north of here, around the Lechlade area, where you’ll also find an early version of the Thames; and that river is best enjoyed at Buscot Weir, 9 miles from here, part of a National Trust network in these parts that also includes Ashdown House, a 45 minute beautiful walk from the pub.

Other Local Activities

Mention of Buscot reminds us that wild swimming is available there; and you can also wild swim at some of The Lakes, the re-developed and huge watery/lakey leisure zone covering about 5000 acres 10 miles north of here towards Cirencester, although you might need to be a day member or similar. For shooting enthusiasts, Barbury Shooting School is a must—hugely recommended, 8 miles from here, a stunning location. For any other sporting pursuits just ask us, we might be able to help.