Where the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) meets the Wiltshire Downs can best describe the charming area in which the Chippenham group regularly walk.

The town itself was founded over 1000 years ago and was the royal hunting lodge for Alfred the Great from where he pursued his fight against the invading Danes. In the Middle Ages corn mills made way for the prosperous wool trade and famous cheese market. The town flourished on the stagecoach route between Bristol and London and with the coming of the Great Western Railway.

West of Chippenham are the exquisite "picture postcard" villages of Castle Combe and Biddestone, complete with village green and duck pond. To the south is the National Trust-owned village of Lacock.

Our fortnightly Sunday walks typically range from 5 to 10 miles. We meet in Chippenham so that we can car share to the start of the walk and give members without cars a lift. This enables us to take as few cars as possible.

We extend a warm welcome to all new walkers, visitors and guests. Why not try us for a few weeks without any commitment. If you like what you see, then you are more than welcome to join us. The Ramblers annual membership fee amounts to just over 50p per week. As well as helping to protect the natural beauty of the British countryside, you will also be part of a nationwide walking club.

The Ramblers exists to facilitate, for the benefit of everyone, the enjoyment and discovery that walking outdoors can bring; and to promote respect for the life of the countryside. The association encourages walking; protects rights of way; defends the beauty of the countryside; and has campaigned for many years for the freedom to roam over uncultivated, open country.