Where will you explore in the
Vale of Pewsey?

Heron at Bridge 123 on the Kennet & Avon Canal
Taken from the day-hire boat, Honey Days, on an evening Sundowner hire - available from Honeystreet Boats
The Vale of Pewsey is at the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Explore, explore, explore!
As everything opens up - and hopefully even more so from 21st June, we are returning to enjoying the Pewsey Vale at its best.  Country pubs, cafes, the Kennet & Avon Canal, walking, cycling and visiting our favourite independent shops are all vying for our time!  Most accommodation is now open and it is booking up fast, so don't delay booking your getaway in the Vale in 2021 - have a look at our video for ideas!
This month includes a great discount from Equilibrium Clinic at Woodborough Yard and information on our trip with Honeystreet Boats on the Kennet & Avon Canal.
We've also included news from the Crown & Anchor in Bishops Cannings and from the Crown & Anchor in Ham as well as the final part of Laurence's epic walk to Stonehenge.
Finishing at the end of June is the fabulous raffle raising money for the North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust charity, the prize for which includes a stay at the Crown & Anchor in Ham and tickets to Wilton Windmill and Crofton Beam Engines.
We hope you enjoy this month's news and views from the Vale of Pewsey!

The Crown Inn at Bishops Cannings
Bishops Cannings is in the western end of the Vale of Pewsey, not far from the Wansdyke and the Kennet & Avon Canal, so well-located for walking and cycling.  The friendly and energetic team at The Crown Inn has been busy during lockdown, refurbishing the pub as well as the B&B rooms and completely revamping their menu.
 

   
Changes to the menu include a new breakfast menu using local produce such as Lowerfield Farm sausages.  Breakfasts are available to guests, visitors and locals on Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 11am and on Sundays from 8am and 11am.  Booking is essential - just call 01380 860218.

The garden has also been updated with plenty of outdoor seating available as well as a marquee.  Available very soon (already in construction!) is an outside bar, a pizza oven and fire pits.
The Crown Inn is an ideal location for your stay with B&B rooms and camping available.

Visit Woodborough Yard's Foodie Outdoor Market - on the first Wednesday of every month from 10am to 2pm - and find those locally-produced products from the Pewsey Vale and surrounds.  The next market is on Wednesday 7th July.
Best of all you can speak to the people behind the products, get their expert advice and perhaps taste before you buy!
Whilst you are at Woodborough Yard, visit the shops and cafes in this lovely setting.  Free parking too!

Contemporary Artists at McNeill Gallery in Pewsey
These latest works can be viewed at McNeill Gallery.
Tuesday to Friday – 11am – 4pm
Saturday               – 11am – 2pm
Closed Sunday & Monday

Paul Stone. Still lIfe
Overview:
Often using simple dark backgrounds, I see the compositions of many of my works like small theatrical stages, the spotlight enhancing the beauty of the object.

My still life paintings hold a mirror to the objects that live with us, largely un-noticed, that wait quietly until needed, a staple of our interior lives. Alone in my studio, I rarely think about the why of my paintings – I’m immersed in the physical process of creating the works. Recently I’ve realised it’s in large part a celebration of natural design, the way each object (an apple, a lemon, etc..) just simply works, and my role is to represent the object in a way that hopefully allows the viewer to contemplate it afresh.


Tess Armitage – Coastal Scapes
Overview:
 I have spent much of my life living on the edge of Exmoor and it is this connection with wild and untouched places that inspires my work.

By exploring paint through mark making, scratching, splattering and palette knife work my paintings evolve spontaneously with an intuitive response to the landscape.
I hope to reach beyond visual representation and evoke the spirit of a place, so that the viewer may engage with the work and perhaps just for a moment be taken there. As my painting journey progresses I am continually exploring media and techniques to capture the beauty around us.

Join Ashley at WALX Wessex to learn to Nordic walk.  It's a great, fun way to keep fit and enjoy the glorious countryside.  Ashley organises fantastic walks over all sorts of terrain - and there's often a refreshment stop on the way!

News from the Crown & Anchor in Ham
The fabulous indoor restaurant has now re-opened and Head Chef Gert Pienaar has been busy selecting fresh seasonal ingredients to create a new appetising a la carte menu for you to enjoy at lunch or supper time.

Dates for your diary:
Fathers’ Day – Sunday June 20^th. Treat him to a special Sunday lunch with a free pint for every Dad! Please book early as Sunday lunch is always busy.
Fish Fridays - The very popular ‘Fish Fridays’ is being reinstated with a changing selection of freshly delivered fish each week.
 

Opening Times
Wednesday-Saturday: 12 noon - 11:00pm
(Food Served: 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm)
Sunday: 12 noon - 5:00pm
(Food Served: 12 noon - 3:00pm)

Reservations are highly recommended to avoid disappointment - call 01488 503040 or email info@crownandanchorham.co.uk
And if you are dining, why not stay as well?  The Crown & Anchor has five luxury en-suite rooms and two cottages available as well.
The Crown and Anchor is a good starting point for a walk. Whether you choose a gentle stroll or want a more challenging hike, the team has created a series of routes which can be viewed on our website. Or why not purchase a copy of the book. 'Walks from the Crown & Anchor' - more information here.

Find out more about how you could win a luxury stay
at this award-winning country pub.

Bruce Boats - making the canal accessible
This wonderful charitable organisation, run by volunteers, has a fleet of four boats on the Kennet & Avon Canal operating from Great Bedwyn, all of them specially designed to be fully accessible for either day-hire or holiday hire.
The boats are wheelchair-friendly and are fully-equipped with accessible showers and toilets.  Because they are wide-beamed, there is plenty of space as well.
You can find out more here or call 01380 721279 for more information.

A Fabulous Evening on the Kennet & Avon Canal
Honeystreet Boats has a day boat called Honey Days which you can hire for the day (from 9.30am to 4.30pm) or for the Sundowner (from 5pm to 7pm).
You are given instructions on how to operate the boat which is very straightforward (although we never did find out what the red button did!) and all the facilities you need are available on board.  The route is lock-free, so you can just pootle up to one of the turning areas, turn around and go back to Honeystreet Mill.
We had canape-type food from the Honeystreet Cafe, as well as a small picnic - plenty for our party of 4 adults and 3 dogs - it was perfect.  It was so peaceful, with lots of wildlife to watch as well as stunning views of the canal and the surrounding countryside.
This very enjoyable activity is highly recommended whether you are a local or a visitor.
Call 01672 851166 for more information and to book.  You can check the details here.

Cooking Mindfully with Mindful Bakes
For children and for adults, it's about taking time out from our busy lives and learning new skills in a relaxed atmosphere.
For more information on After School Clubs, bespoke courses and special events, call Laura on 01264 850918 or email her here.

The Vale of Pewsey is at the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The Landscape Trust - the charitable arm of the North Wessex Downs - is running an online raffle for one fabulous prize - a stay at the Crown and Anchor in Ham, a visit to Crofton Beam Engines and a tour of Wilton Windmill, plus a book of Walks from The Crown & Anchor by Ron Forbes and some Windmill goodies. 
The Landscape Trust does fabulous work across the North Wessex Downs, supporting community and conservation projects, including bat box installations, an infra-red camera for a local bird group, providing improvements to footpaths and village halls and installing barn owl boxes.