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Why you will want to stay in the
Vale of Pewsey!

Explore - Stay - Eat - Drink - Shop

Walkers at Milk Hill on the Pewsey Downs
Image courtesy of WALX Wessex
The Vale of Pewsey is at the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This picture says it all - space, freedom, friends, views - all reasons for visiting the Pewsey Vale in Wiltshire.
As we enjoy restrictions being lifted and our freedoms are regained, it's the simple pleasures in life that we are most enjoying - walking with friends and family, going to country pubs (albeit currently outside) and visiting independent shops which had to close their doors for so long.  
With self-catering accommodation and camp sites also opening up, you can come and stay in the Vale of Pewsey and enjoy the green, open spaces in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This month, we are looking forward to the Woodborough Yard Outdoor Foodie Market and sharing our short video on where to stay and things to see and do.  We've also included a feature on Marlborough College Summer Schoolan exciting offer from The Stables at Manor Farm as well as a special discount at Equilibrium Clinic!
You might also enjoy raising money for charity with a super-duper raffle the prize for which includes a stay at the Crown & Anchor in Ham and tickets to Wilton Windmill and Crofton Beam Engines.
In fact, we have so much for you this month, just keep scrolling through to make sure you don't miss a thing!

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. 
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!


Our latest video invites you to Imagine a place with spectacular views, heritage to visit, footpaths to explore, unique places to stay and lots more!  For anyone planning their 2021 break in the Vale of Pewsey, this will give you ideas on what to do and where to stay.  We hope you enjoy it!
Fun with Cooking
Gretchen at The Farm Cookery School in Netherstreet is delighted (that is an understatement!) to welcome people back to her covid-compliant kitchen.
Lots of courses are planned over the next three months and you'll be glad to see Date Nights are back too!



If you really want to get away from it all, then The Stables at Manor Farm in East Grafton is an ideal choice.  Located on a working farm, the accommodation has been updated for 2021 and offers high quality, self-catering accommodation for 6 people in The Stables and 4 people in The Hen House.
Even better, if you mention Visit Pewsey Vale when you book,
you can get a 5% discount on any breaks booked for 2021.
It's a perfect location for walkers and cyclists - anyone who wants to get out and enjoy the wonderful Wiltshire countryside!
Bikes, walking boots, dogs and horses are all welcome.  
Check availability here

A Big Day at The Little Lunchbox Cafe
The Little Lunchbox Cafe in the centre of Pewsey village is serving takeaways and there is also limited outdoor seating at the moment, but from 17th May, you will be able to sit indoors as well!
This family-run cafe offers 'build-your-own' baguettes, sandwiches and salads, as well as home-cooked meals, locally made cakes and exclusive ground coffee.  Eat in or takeaway.
The Cafe now also has a licence, so that you can enjoy a glass of wine with your lunch!



Spoilt for Choice at Summer School

Marlborough’s much-loved Summer School will return from 11 July to 7 August 2021 with more than 500 courses and a wealth of entertainment suitable for all ages and interests. Enjoy a stress-free staycation with family and friends, develop a skill or an interest you discovered during Lockdown or relax while the children are amused for a week, this unique event truly offers something for everyone. 
 
In usual eclectic style, courses range from topical titles such as Sustainability in Daily Life and State of Emergency to practical courses on Basic Bike Maintenance. You can discover the History of the Motor Car, enjoy Painting in Acrylics or even explore Inside the Mind of a Murderer! 
Courses for young people are equally diverse encompassing everything from Calligraphy to Horse Riding and Cricket to African Drumming.
 
Marilyn McGee from Corsham who has been enjoying courses at Marlborough College for 23 years says, “I have learned so many new skills and acquired much more knowledge of various subjects. I can thoroughly recommend Summer School to anyone who wishes to be part of a friendly learning environment.” Marilyn adds, “Why do I keep coming back? You are never too old to learn something new!!”
Summer School Director, John Blake explains, “Like Marilyn, many of our guests return year after year to renew friendships and enjoy the company of like-minded people. After we’ve all spent so much time at home over the past year, many in complete isolation, Summer School is going to be a wonderful opportunity to re-unite with others. Or perhaps, in the case of parents, a chance to enjoy some much needed me-time while we entertain and ‘school’ the children for you!”
 
You can rest assured that Marlborough College will operate in line with any Government guidelines in place at the time of Summer School to ensure the wellbeing of all guests and colleagues. Additionally, if Covid-19 means that your plans need to change between now and the summer you can request a refund at any time up to and including 30 June 2021 without losing your deposit.
“With many customers deciding to carry their booking over to 2021, and increased demand for UK staycations our courses are filling fast” says John.
 
To ensure you don't miss out, head to summerschool.co.uk where you can browse and book the full range of courses and Gala entertainments on offer. Alternatively, you can give the Summer School team a call on 01672 892388.
 
If you are planning to book a course and need accommodation, then head over to our website for lots of unique places to stay.
 
Totteridge Farm's adult-only, luxury camping pods, complete with underfloor heating and double-glazing, are now available for booking!  Totteridge Farm is a beautiful working farm in a very peaceful location with walking and cycling from the podstep - a perfect escape to the country!
Sunrise at Martinsell
Image courtesy of WALX Wessex Nordic Walking

 
Walking & Cycling in the Vale of Pewsey
We have a fabulous collection of walks and bike rides (on-road and off-road) for you to enjoy when you visit. 
Download them to your mobile or print them out - it's up to you.  

Emergency First Aid at Work or Basic Life Support course
at Devizes Town Hall
Tuesday 18th May at 9.30am

Louise Worsley from Worsley Training is a brilliant teacher.  Would you like to know basic first aid including the use of a defibrillator? Or are you a small business owner who needs the full 1 day accredited certificate to fulfil your service to your clients? 
Louise will be running the 4 hour emergency course concurrently with the full 6 hour accredited Emergency First Aid at Work.
Click here for full details, including how to book and how the course will be Covid-safe.
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.

 
It is lovely to see the Crown & Anchor in Ham back open and they have been busy!
Until mid-May they continue to be open for drinks and delicious tapas-style small plates on the outdoor covered terrace, Thursday to Saturday, lunch and dinner.  Their traditional Sunday roast will be available on the terrace on Sundays. 

Although the terrace is a designated eating area for which booking is recommended, tables to the front and in the garden area are always available without reservation for those who wish to enjoy a long-awaited drink – hopefully in the sunshine! There is plenty of seating on the bank, with more tables at the front for a spontaneous pint or glass of bubbly.

Opening Times outdoors until Sunday 16th May
Thursday-Saturday: 12 noon - 10:00pm  (Food Served: 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 8:30pm)
Sunday: 12 noon - 4:00pm  (Food served: 12 noon – 3:00pm)
Closed on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
 
From Wednesday 19th May, indoor service will be resumed (subject to Government guidance), introducing an exciting new A La Carte Menu.
Opening Times   from Wednesday 19th May
Wednesday-Saturday: 12 noon - 11:00pm (Food Served: 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 8:30pm)
Sunday: 12 noon – 5.30pm (Food served: 12 noon – 3:00pm)
 
Guest accommodation will also re-open on Wednesday May 19th.
Remember to keep an eye on their website and social media pages for updates, information and menus. 
Book through the website, or by emailing info@crownandanchorham.co.uk


They’re back! The Equilibrium Clinic’s doors have been open again since 12th April and they are delighted to be able to do what they love again.  Here are a few photos of what they've been up to since they reopened – Mina Henna Brows, a Shellac manicure and a Nouveau Lashes LVL lift and tint.
If you’d like to make an appointment for one of these, or something else from their extensive range of health, beauty and holistic treatments, call them now on 01672 851212.

Quote ‘We’re back’ to save 10% on your first treatment with Lorraine or Liz.

Happy Birthday to Wilton Windmill!
Wilton Windmill was built in 1821 and so this year is exactly 200 years old.  It was built because that they opened the Kennet and Avon canal nearby.  If this seems strange it’s because when the canal was created they stole almost all the water from the River Dun in order to make the canal deep enough and navigable.  Five working watermills around Great Bedwyn and Little Bedwyn were put out of action because the flow of water to them became too weak.  The locals who now didn't have any means to mill their grain weren't too happy about this so the Windmill was built.  

It worked for around 100 years before becoming derelict.  In the 1970s it was restored to full working order and since then has milled regularly.  There have been two short breaks, both times when the sails were removed for maintenance.

There were other local windmills at the time, the nearest recorded one being a post mill shown on an early map above Easton Royal.  Today the two working windmills nearest to Wilton are at Bursldon, near Southampton and at Wheatley, east of Oxford.  Wilton is the only working windmill in the whole of Wessex.

There were windmills at Aldbourne and Chiseldon, both of which were build at almost the same time and to a very similar design.  Possibly they were the work of the same millwright.  Chiseldon's was moved to be the centrepiece for the Windmill Hill Business Park in Swindon in the 1970s.  Aldbourne's was dismantled in 1900.  More about these in a later article.

Sadly the anniversary celebrations we had planned for this year have been cancelled.  We do however have a couple of major 200th anniversary improvement projects for the site still at the design and permission stages.

Wilton Windmill is run entirely by volunteers and, because social distancing cannot be maintained as the building is too narrow, they are adopting a flexible approach to the opening of the windmill to the public in 2021. 
The grounds of the windmill will continue to be open to the public to enjoy on any day of the week (Covid restrictions permitting) - the views are well worth a visit.
You are welcome to bring your own refreshments and picnics - there are tables in the grounds for you to use. 
During the summer, a number of volunteers will occasionally be on hand (on an un-booked, ad-hoc basis) to provide information and open the granary and mill for self-guided tours by individuals within the same household or bubble.  
As social distancing restrictions are removed, the mill will be opened more formally and details will be posted on the Wilton Windmill website
A Very Personal Pilgrimage - Part 2
In December 2020, Laurence of Oldbury Tours fulfilled an ambition by walking from his home in Calne to Stonehenge for the winter solstice.  Part 2 covers the walk between Marden to Durrington Walls. Find out more about his pilgrimage here.  Missed Part 1?  Have a look here.
Laurence provides bespoke guided tours of the Vale of Pewsey, Stonehenge, Avebury and beyond.  His expert guidance will ensure you don't miss a thing!  A perfect day out for locals and visitors alike - find out more.
               
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