White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
a circular walking holiday from Westbury
in Wiltshire, Southern England in 10 days
9 nights and 8 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
A 96 miles circular walking route visiting the 8 White Horses of Wiltshire.
This is one of our Wiltshire Walking Holidays.
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
in Wiltshire, Southern England
a circular walking holiday from Westbury
via Wiltshire’s eight White Horses, The Wiltshire Downs,
The Kennet and Avon Canal and Avebury Stone Ring and Standing Stones
Our White Horse Trail walking holiday is 96 miles long and is one of the lesser-known UK walking trails. Our suggested itinerary starts in Westbury and goes via the prehistoric site of Avebury and shares some of its route with the Ridgeway, one of Europe’s oldest rights of way. The Kennet and Avon Canal is also one of the trail’s highlights. You will also walk past the 8 White Horses in Wiltshire.
The White Horse Trail walking holiday is a great first walking holiday experience as it is easy walking and offers a wealth of interesting places to visit en-route.
The White Horse Trail walking holiday connects with:
- The Ridgeway at Avebury
- Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath near Pewsey and Devizes
- Great Stones Way between Broad Hinton and Compton Bassett
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates March to September and in either direction.
The daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of the UK or Ireland. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
circular from Westbury
Suggested Tour Duration:
9 nights, 8 days walking
Total Distance:
96 miles/154 kms
Min/max daily distance:
7.5/15 miles
Average Daily distance:
12 miles
Grading:
Easy/Moderate
Features:
8 White Horses
Avebury Stone Circle and Row
Kennet and Avon Canal
Caen Hill Flight of locks
This route connects with:
The Ridgeway
Kennet & Avon Canal Towpath
Great Stones Way
Please note there is no accommodation available in Bottlesford (day 7) on a Sunday, Monday or a Tuesday.
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
in Wiltshire, Southern England
a circular walking holiday from Westbury
9 nights and 8 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Westbury, Wiltshire
To start your UK walking holiday you make your own to Westbury in Wiltshire. We can assist with coach or train transfers if necessary. Car parking is available for the duration of your self-guided walking holiday.
Day 2: Westbury to Market Lavington 11 miles easy
Walking on from Westbury, the first and oldest white horse dating back to 1778 on the White Horse Trail soon comes into view. The trail shares a short distance with two other walking trails, The Imber Range Perimeter Path and The Wessex Ridgeway. The Westbury white horse you see today was preceded by a much earlier one. The legend say it was cut to mark one of King Alfred’s victories in 878AD. The trail follows the perimeter of the Army’s Salisbury Plain Ranges. The views are excellent over Somerset and Wiltshire.
Day 3: Market Lavington to Pewsey 12 miles moderate
Walking on from Market Lavington you continue along the edge of the military range. This area of the rolling grasslands of the Wiltshire downs is alive with wildlife, providing a great chance to relax and unwind taking in the stunning vistas. The White Horse at Pewsey was first cut in 1785 and may have had a rider, but the one you see today dates back to 1937. Pewsey is Wiltshire’s largest village and has the River Kennet flowing through it. There are also many fine shops and pubs.
Day 4: Pewsey to Marlborough 11 miles easy
As you leave Pewsey the trail crosses the railway line and goes through a nature reserve. Walking on you soon come to the Kennet & Avon Canal where the canal is at it highest point. The canal provides ideal habitat for all forms of wildlife and man alike. The trail passes Oare with its fine pub and skirts around the estate grounds of Rainscombe House. As you walk towards Marlborough its white horse appears in the foreground. The Marlborough white horse was cut by the boys of Marlborough School in 1804. Today’s walk ends in Marlborough with fine Tudor and Georgian Buildings; the town has a good selection of pubs and shops.
Day 5: Marlborough to Broad Hinton 7.5 miles easy
At Hackpen Hill the Broad Hinton white horse was cut in 1837 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Victoria. Hackpen Hill provides great views of the surrounding area. The Marlborough point to point course can clearly be seen below. The trail passes through Broad Hinton, with its fine old inn and on past the Iron Age Fort of Bincknoll Castle. Due to the lack of accommodation at Broad Hinton you will be transferred back to Marlborough for your overnight stay, and transferred back to Broad Hinton the following morning.
Day 6: Broad Hinton to Compton Bassett 12 miles easy
The white horse at Broad Town is one of the smallest, it was cut in 1863 but was lost until the 1990’s. Today with route connects with the Great Stones Way. The trail passes through quiet little hamlets, rolling farmland and wooded areas; England as it perhaps used to be. The Goddard Arms makes a great lunch time stop on this easy days walking. The trail passes many medieval earthworks and Townsknoll, a Norman Moat.
Day 7: Compton Bassett to Bottlesford, via Avebury 14 miles easy
The white horse at Cherhill was cut in 1780 under instruction from Dr Alsop “Mad Doctor” issued from the main road via megaphone. Walking from the white horse at Cherhill, the White Horse Trail joins with the Wessex Ridgeway for a short distance. The World Heritage Site of Avebury is most famous for the largest stone circle in Europe, Avebury Ring. West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill are the largest man made mound in Europe. The trail continues on to Milk Hill, the site of the Alton Barnes White Horse cut in 1812, although the first contractor fled with the fee and was hung for this and other crimes. Please note the inn where you may stay in Bottlesford is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, therefore please arrange your itinerary so as not to be in Bottlesford on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. At Avebury, the White Horse Trail walking holiday connects with The Ridgeway.
Day 8: Bottlesford to Devizes 14 miles easy
The route once again joins the Kennet and Avon Canal. This canal was built in the 19th century to link the River Thames with the River Avon and has become a haven for wildlife and boat lovers alike. The White Horse at Devizes is the youngest on this tour and dates back to 2000. Devizes is an attractive market town with many fine buildings, a 19th century castle, the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, plus a good selection of shops and pubs.
Day 9: Devizes to Westbury 15 miles easy
Walking on from Devizes the trail follows the Kennet and Avon Canal past the flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill, perhaps the most famous lock systems in the whole of England. By the canal path at Caen Hill there is a good café and information centre. The White Horse Trail leaves the canal near Poulshot and on through rolling countryside and small villages back to your start at Westbury.
Day 10: Depart after breakfast
Depart after Breakfast or extend your holiday walking and spend some time exploring the Westbury area
We can transfer you to your car or station.
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
a circular walking holiday from Westbury
10 day itinerary
8 days walking and 9 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Westbury
Day 2: Westbury to Market Lavington 11 miles
Day 3: Market Lavington to Pewsey 12 miles
Day 4: Pewsey to Marlborough 11 miles
Day 5: Marlborough to Broad Hinton 7.5 miles
Day 6: Broad Hinton to Compton Bassett 12 miles
Day 7: Compton Bassett to Bottlesford, via Avebury 14 miles
Day 8: Bottlesford to Devizes 14 miles
Day 9: Devizes to Westbury 15 miles
Day 10: Depart after breakfast
10 day itinerary 9 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,035 | £1,566 | £1,746 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Optional Accommodation Upgrades for
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday
Can be added when booking online
Subject to availability Supplement per person per night
Marlborough
Castle and Ball Hotel
double/twin
£28.50
Single
please ask
You stay in Marlborough for 2 nights,
therefore 2 nights upgrade required.
Devizes
The Peppermill
double/twin
£49.00
Single
please ask
Bear Hotel
£29.00
please ask
What’s included
in your White Horse Trail
Walking Holiday
in Wiltshire, Southern England
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
- OS 1:25,000 map
Optional Extras
for your White Horse Trail
Walking Holiday
in Wiltshire, Southern England
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your White Horse Trail
Walking Holiday
in Wiltshire, Southern England
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
White Horse Trail Walking Holiday:
How to get there:
- By Plane to Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol or London where we can arrange transfer to Westbury
- By Car to Westbury where parking is available
- By Train/Bus to Westbury
