North Wessex Downs - Wander Women Walking Weekender

Join us for a Wander Women walking adventure, exploring the beautiful North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Spend a summer weekend with wonderful women, walking in stunning scenery through chalk hills rich in archaeology, dramatic scarp slopes, and picture postcard villages.

Starting with a group hike across Pewsey Downs to Milk Hill, the highest point in Wiltshire, and the Alton Barnes white horse, enjoying epic, breath-taking, high-level views, walking across wild chalk downland, past ancient long barrows and Neolithic remains, and through picturesque villages. Spending the night in a beautiful country house hotel near Beanacre, followed by a Sunday morning walk starting from the nearby pretty, medieval village of Lacock.

You will need to have a good level of fitness and have experience of walking hilly terrain at a moderate pace.

If you would like to join this weekend trip but have not attended any of the regular group day walks, please contact us prior to booking.

Itinerary

Saturday 12th July

Drive to the walk meet point at Pewsey Downs car park to meet at 9.30am, then heading out on a group hike together. We will eat lunch on the walk route – please bring a packed lunch, snacks, and drinks.

Take a short drive to Avebury, a World Heritage-listed Neolithic site, to explore the stone circles and prehistoric monuments circling the village.

Drive to Beanacre and check in to our hotel, Beechfield House. Free time to go for a swim/ relax by the pool, explore the hotel and grounds, shower and get ready for our evening meal together.

Optional group evening meal booked at the Beechfield House restaurant – feel free to make your own arrangements for evening food if you would prefer to do so.

Sunday 13th July

After fuelling up on breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to the pretty medieval village of Lacock, and then head out on our second walk across the surrounding countryside. Option to stay for lunch/ coffee/ cake at the end of the walk, before saying our goodbyes and heading home.

Walk Routes Information

Saturday Pewsey Downs - Milk Hill – Alton Barnes White Horse Distance: 7.4 miles (12km). Grade: Moderate. Total ascent 260m descent 280m. Terrain: Varied including tarmac roads, footpaths waterside trails, and bridleways. Sections of steep ascent/ descent.

Sunday Lacock – Bowden Hill Distance: 5.9 miles (9.5km). Grade: Moderate. Total ascent 167m descent 168m. Terrain: Footpaths, bridleways and tarmac road. Sections of steep ascent/ descent. Paths can be muddy in wet weather.

Cost

£150

Price includes:

1 night accommodation at Beechfield House, Beanacre sharing a twin room

Breakfast on Sunday morning

2 group walks

The price doesn't include:

Dinner on Saturday night

Coffee, cake/ lunch on Sunday

Transport to and from the venue and during the trip

Alcoholic drinks or other personal expenses

Car parking charges: Saturday - Pewsey Downs car park free. Avebury National Trust car park £7 free for National Trust members. Sunday – Lacock National Trust Village car park free for members £5 per day for non-members.

Acknowledgement of Risk

By taking part in any walking events that Wander Women North Devon offer, you acknowledge and understand that there is a risk element that you accept. You assume all risks of injuries associated with participation including, but not limited to, trips and falls, the effects of the weather, including high heat or cold, and all other such risks being known and appreciated by you.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you participate within your own physical capability, and account for any medical conditions you may have. You acknowledge that you are physically fit and mentally capable of performing the physical activity you choose to participate in.

If you are unsure or concerned about health conditions and/ or your fitness and capability to participate, please consult with your GP or another medical professional for advice.

We advise taking out personal insurance to cover your participation in walks and trips, as you may do for any sporting event or activity holiday. The British Mountaineering Council offer suitable policies at reasonable rates:

BMC Insurance (thebmc.co.uk)

Cancellation Policy

Refunds

No refunds. Refunds will only be given if the event is cancelled. If you can no longer attend, you are more than welcome to sell your ticket to someone else, but please let us know if you do, so that the attendees list can be updated. If the trip is fully booked and we can offer your place to someone on the waiting list, we can arrange this.

We recommend you have your own appropriate travel insurance for cancellation due to illness, changes in personal circumstances and Covid-19. You can find lots of information about travel insurance here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/uk-travel-insurance/

Cancellation by us

Wander Women North Devon reserves the right in any circumstances to cancel any event due to force majeure, unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, unusual or unforeseen events outside our control, such as, but not limited to, terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, political instability, or other external factors. If we cancel or postpone your event for one of these reasons where you are not in breach of these booking conditions, you can either move your payment to an event on an alternative date, or we can provide you with a refund. We are not responsible for any non-refundable incidental expenses, eg transport, accommodation etc that you may have incurred as a result of your booking. We recommend that you book flexible travel options and have appropriate travel insurance.

Weather

Walks and trips will go ahead in all weather conditions, including if it is raining, so be prepared to embrace the joys of our British weather! Walks and trips may be cancelled in instances of extreme weather where it is assessed that the safety of participants completing the activity or travelling to the meet point/ venue may be compromised.

Wander Women North Devon reserves the right to alter a planned trip agenda, or cancel an activity, due to adverse weather conditions. Changes may be necessary in a variety of areas – the accommodation used, the trip leaders or the itinerary. Such changes are rare, but necessary at times, and we will endeavour to stick as closely as possible to the original planned details.

Personal Property

We recommend not bringing valuables on walks and trips. All baggage and personal items you bring with you are done at your own risk. We will not be responsible for any loss, damage, or accident to any personal property.

Photography

You consent to us using images of you or taken by you on The Wander Women North Devon website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram pages and Meetup group, for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose.

If you do not wish this to happen, please advise us verbally on the day, or in writing by email or message.

Countryside Code

Please familiarise yourself with, and adhere to, the Countryside Code in order to respect local communities and protect the environment so that everyone is able to enjoy it – more information is here The Countryside Code - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

General

You must be 18 years old to participate in Wander Women North Devon trips. Under 18s can attend day walks by prior agreement, if the walk is suitable for their physical capability and they are accompanied by an adult who is responsible for them at all times.

Unless stated otherwise, all events are run by Wander Women North Devon and by booking or participating in a walk or trip with us you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions.

We also use third party providers for events, in which case the third party will have their own Terms and Conditions, which you will need to agree to before participation.

If you make a booking on behalf of another person, you guarantee that you have the authority and legal capacity to accept and do accept these Terms on behalf of the other person/s, and you become the “lead name”. As the lead name for a booking, we can only communicate with you regarding all correspondence, changes, amendments, and cancellations.

Dogs

We are unable to accommodate dogs on walking weekender events.

First Aid

The walk leader is a qualified level 3 Outdoor First Aider and will be on hand to respond to any medical incidents.

Clothing and equipment

What you wear and bring with you will be very much down to the season and weather conditions on the day.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are suitably clothed and equipped for the walk you have chosen to participate in.

Essential items

•Walking boots or shoes

•Rucksack

•Water or bladder bottles

•Lunch (or snacks on shorter walks)

•Layered clothing

•Waterproofs

•Gloves and hat (in colder weather)

•Spare socks

• Swimming costume

•Personal medication

•Sunscreen

Recommended items

•Walking poles

•Clear plastic sealable bag (to keep phone/ tech dry in wet weather)

•Hot flask (for colder weather)