This season, embark on a green journey, through picturesque countryside, exploring hidden gems off the beaten track as you discover everything the Great West Way has to offer! Reduce your carbon footprint by travelling by train with our Great West Way Discoverer pass, or make the most of the many foot and cycling paths! Your Green Travel experience starts here…
From Bristol to London and everywhere in between, the Great West Way offers a range of eco-friendly things to do. Venture through royal gardens, filled with rich autumn colour, or step back in time as you discover world famous prehistoric landmarks along the route…
Did you know the World Heritage City of Bath is home to Britain’s only hot spring? Still flowing today, see the natural hot water inside the Roman Baths, a historic bathing complex built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago! Here, you can walk around the steaming Great Bath, see the ruins of the Temple of Sulius Minerva, and explore the fascinating museum.
This winter, the historic site will be dressed for the season with Saturnalia-inspired greenery. Listen in as costumed Roman characters share stories of their seasonal celebrations, follow the festive family trail, and try a Saturnalia-themed drink beside the Great Bath!
On the opposite end of the Great West Way route, is the royal Savill Gardens. Commissioned by King George V and created by Eric Savill in 1932, The Savill Garden bursts with colourful seasonal displays all year round. Located in the heart of Windsor Great Park, this garden is steeped in royal history, a 35-acre natural space that all can enjoy!
Visit from October to experience the Autumn Wood come to live in a blaze of rich colour, shortly followed by the arrived of the garden’s National Plant Collection of Mahonias in November. Winter welcomes a mass planting of dogwood willows, before sight of snowdrops, hellebores, and the sweet scent of daphnes in the New Year.
Within easy reach of the Great West Way and another World Heritage Site is Blenheim Palace. Home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, there is plenty to discover when roaming the Palace grounds and surrounding 2,000-acres of Capability Brown landscape.
Marvel at the 18th Century Baroque architecture, which boasts some of the finest antique collections in Europe. Take an audio tour of the State Rooms and admire the portraits, tapestries, and exquisite furniture all around. The landscape that encompasses the great palace features Grand Cascades, stunning lakes, and historic monuments; all can be appreciated whilst admiring breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside.
One of the most famous World Heritage Sites along the Great West Way, Stonehenge provides an incredible journey through time this season. This prehistoric monument is surrounded by ancient ceremonial and domestic structures, some even older than the monument itself! The stone circle, with its orientation towards the sun, is a remarkable feature set in the stunning Wiltshire landscape. Discover more during your visit by heading inside the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, where you will find museum-quality exhibitions, a 360-degree stone circle experience, and in-depth interpretations of Stonehenge’s significance!
If sustainable travel is important to you, the Great West Way is the perfect option for planning your next eco-friendly holiday. Not only can you travel the whole route using public transport, there are also a range of footpaths, cycling routes, canals and rivers to endure slow travel along the Great West Way…
If you are visiting Stonehenge this season, be sure to hop on board The Stonehenge Tour. Operated by Salisbury Reds, The Stonehenge Tour creates an insightful journey back in time, discovering the iconic Wiltshire landmark, as well as others along the way. This hop-on hop-off tour picks up from the centre of Medieval Salisbury, passing beautiful Wiltshire countryside before reaching the magnificent henge.
During your journey, you will also pass Old Sarum, another English Heritage property and one of the South’s most significant historic sites. Here you will discover the original Salisbury as you stand amongst a collection of spectacular ruins including Salisbury’s first cathedral!
Credit David White
Forming the western extent of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, the Vale of Pewsey offers breath-taking views of Wiltshire countryside with a multitude of foot paths and cycling routes. With mainline railway stations at Pewsey and Great Bedwyn offering services to and from London and the West Country, the Vale of Pewsey provides the perfect sustainable getaway from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Wiltshire Connect operates flexible and responsive bus services around Pewsey, revolutionising sustainable travel for locals and visitors to the stunning landscape. From one-way to return trips, Wiltshire Connect allows you to book transport, visit villages and explore your favourite walking spots, all whilst discovering the true beauty of the Vale with ease!
The Great West Way offers a range of eco-friendly places to stay, each providing their own sustainable features, facilities, and practices. Extend your journey of discovery by staying in some of the luxury accommodation on route this season…
Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, surrounding by 12-acres of stunning gardens is Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, the ideal location for a couple’s retreat. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch at their two-rosette restaurant, Greys, or an incredible dinner at The Dining Room, their Michelin star restaurant! Each offers a range of incredible dishes featuring locally sourced or home-grown ingredients.
Unwind at The Aquarias Spa and enjoy a range of calming treatments including their Floatation Pods! Set in its own purpose-built suite, experience the true floating sensation as you relax amongst Epson salts mixed with body temperature water, giving you the perfect buoyant environment to allow your muscles to relax!
Enjoy a journey of discovery like no other when travelling Green along the Great West Way this season…
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