Top 10 Spectacular Views

From ancient mounds to cathedral towers, there are many opportunities to enjoy a fine view along the Great West Way...

Castle Combe 
For the best view of what is often referred to as ‘the prettiest village in England’, take your camera and stand near its old stone bridge crossing the Bybrook River. You might assume its untouched architecture is something that’s only been appreciated in modern times. However since the early 1900s tourists have been arriving for a brief glimpse of this English idyll. They’ve always been sure to stop for a cup of tea and a cake, and you should to! 

Bath Skyline 
It’s not easy to pick a best view of this photogenic city, but start with a stroll up Bathwick Hill and enjoy big views over it. The Bath Skyline walking trail is 6km, but thanks to various viewpoints along the route you don’t need to plod the entire thing to be richly rewarded by the golden glow of Georgian buildings below. If you don’t fancy the short hike up, another spectacular view can be enjoyed from Thermae Bath Spa’s rooftop pool - best enjoyed in the twinkling quiet of twilight. 

Hackpen Hill
Just a short detour from the Great West Way is Hackpen Hill - the site of one of Wiltshire’s famous white horses. From here you can settle your eyes on generous views of the North Wessex Downs. It’s so invigorating, in fact, that you may be moved to continue along The Ridgeway to Barbury Castle. The Iron Age Hill Fort is made up of deep defences and ditches that leave a lasting impression. 

Brandon Hill 
Bristol boasts some fabulous views - from the Clifton Observatory over Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge to the heady heights of a hot air balloon ride over Ashton Court, where deer have grazed since medieval times. If you’d like to experience a slightly less well-known one, walk up Brandon Hill. The oldest park in the city is found just off Park Street, near the University of Bristol. At the top, there’s one last climb up Cabot Tower’s spiral staircase, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. 

King Henry’s Mound 
This hill in Pembroke Lodge Gardens offers a Thames Valley vista that even takes in the domes of St Paul’s Cathedral. The tree-lined view has been so artfully arranged it has been officially protected, so no new constructions are allowed to obstruct it. Over the years one tall tale in particular has persisted about the hill. It’s said that King Henry VIII stood upon it to observe the signal that his wife Anne Boleyn had been executed - a rocket launching from the Tower of London. As absorbing as the story is, the King is known to have been away in Wiltshire that evening.

Salisbury Cathedral 
A little off the Great West Way, you’ll find this medieval cathedral. As well as having the tallest spire in England, and the best preserved copy of the Magna Carta, it also boasts one of the most spectacular views in Wiltshire. Take the Tower Tour to see for yourself. The 332-step climb will be worth it once you emerge to the sight of Salisbury below and a green quilt of West Country life beyond. 

Cookham 
This beautiful Berkshire village was home to celebrated painter Stanley Spencer. He was so enamoured by its charms, he felt it had a heavenly quality and was imbued with a unique spiritual significance. You can get a sense for how strongly he felt about it at the Stanley Spencer Gallery. To paint your own picture, head down to the River Thames for an enchanting scene of pastoral calm. If it reminds you of Wind in the Willows, that’s because the book’s author, Kenneth Grahame, who lived for a time at Cookham Deane, was said to have found inspiration for the book here. 

Coombe Gibbet
If you hike up here on a clear day you’ll be greeted with a verdant view of four counties all at once: Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire. The ‘gibbet’, you reach at the top is a replica of the gallows used to hang murderers George Broomham and Dorothy Newman in 1676, to set an example to any passing criminals. Today, however, its gruesome history remains firmly in the past. The view is so spectacular that this Berkshire beauty spot has become one of the most popular paragliding destinations in the south of England. 

Avebury Henge and Stone Circles 
For a surreal experience while you tuck into your cheese and pickle sandwiches, lay your picnic rug on the grass in view of Avebury Henge, which consists of the largest stone circle in the world. Its not-entirely-understood neolithic origins are enough to make any curious soul sit down and ponder. For an atmospheric view of this extraordinary site, stroll through first thing on a winter’s morning when the sacred stones are cloaked in mist.

Hartslock Nature Reserve 
This chalk grassland is full of rare wildflowers in early summer. Hundreds of orchids appear in perky pinks and reds across the dreamy Instagram-ready landscape, enjoyed very much by the gently-fluttering chalkhill blue butterflies. But visit any time of year and you can enjoy epic views of the River Thames and the Berkshire Downs, as red kites fly hypnotically overhead. There are also several walking trails that can be picked up on or near the nature reserve. If you’d like to step right into the view, consider the Views of the Thames Walks.

For some other ideas of things to do on your Great West Way journey, visit our See & Do and Explore pages.