Visit Pewsey Vale

14/06/2026

Alan has so much knowledge about nature and history - if you book a guided walk with him, you will be amazed at what is around you! Info on our website - www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk

Spotted this fella on a wall. Its MASSIVE!

A remarkable encounter with one of Britain's most iconic insects – a stag beetle. With its impressive antler-like jaws and glossy armour, this male stag beetle is instantly recognisable. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is harmless to people and spends most of its life underground as a larva, helping to recycle decaying wood.
This individual appears to have wandered into a spider's web, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already fascinating wildlife photograph. Stag beetles are a nationally scarce species in many parts of the UK, making any sighting a special moment for nature lovers.
🪲 One of nature's true giants, and a reminder that extraordinary wildlife can often be found right on our doorstep.

12/06/2026

It’s going to be a wonderful sunny weekend so come on over!

11/06/2026

Jude and Martin have finished the charity challenge of walking the Pewsey Vale Circular Way and were on the Graham Rogers show on BBC Wiltshire today having a chat about the charity - go and have a listen on BBC iPlayer at about 15:45 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_wiltshire

You can still donate to Ambitious about Autism if you would like to - this is the donation page https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3

Listen live to Radio Wiltshire on BBC Sounds

10/06/2026

Beautiful! And Merlin Glass Studio will be at the Makers’ Market this weekend at Honeystreet Mill Café & Farm Shop. Don’t miss it!

I'm in the middle of making another Pheasant for the Makers Market this weekend! ❤️
We often see or hear them running in the field by our house, such beautiful birds... if a little lacking in the brain department! 🤣🤣🤣❤️
I haven't made a new bird for a while.... I have made Crows and Red Kites... maybe a Great Bustard next? What would you suggest? ❤️

10/06/2026

Day 7 – and what a finish for Jude and Martin’s Pewsey Vale Circular Way challenge in support of Ambitious about Autism!

They’ve done it. Seven stages, miles and miles of countryside and over £2,000 raised for an incredible cause - a huge congratulations to them both. And to everyone who supported along the way with donations, encouragement and messages - thank you. Your generosity has meant so much.

You can hear Jude and Martin tomorrow afternoon on BBC Wiltshire talking about their fund-raising adventure and the charity, so do tune in and have a listen.

Their journey ended perfectly at The Shears Inn Collingbourne ducis with hosts Becks and Nigel and some well-earned refreshments before heading home.

Here’s their final update from today’s stage - and enjoy the images:

"And it’s a wrap! Our final day threatened rain, but somehow it held off and we stayed dry. We were treated to long open tracks and those endless, iconic Wiltshire skies.

We passed hardy golfers (and even helped track down a couple of lost balls!) and had a memorable moment at a pig farm where a group of adventurous piglets attempted a great escape!

Along the way, we spotted hares darting across the fields and the beehives at Milton Hill looked stunning against the lush green backdrop.

It’s been a truly fantastic 7-day adventure - one that’s made us pause, take it all in and appreciate the incredible countryside and history we’re so lucky to have around us.

Thank you to everyone who has followed and supported our journey. The kindness we’ve experienced, often from complete strangers, has been incredibly moving.

And finally, a huge shout out to Susie Brew who has been an amazing cheerleader and support all week. It was so lovely to see her at The Shears as we completed our adventure."

To donate, just head over to JustGiving to make any donation you can - large or small, every pound helps - https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3 Thank you.

If Jude and Martin's adventure has inspired you to walk the Pewsey Vale Circular Way, or any of our short or long-distance walks, then have a look at our website - www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk - where you'll find lots of information, route maps and detailed walking notes.

VisitWiltshire BBC Wiltshire

10/06/2026

It's Day 7 - the final day of the Pewsey Vale Circular Way - and Jude and Martin set off earlier this morning from Upavon, destination The Shears Inn Collingbourne ducis by about 2pm this afternoon.

They are raising money for Ambitious about Autism and their fundraising page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3 - please donate if you can, they are just under the £2000 mark, so it would be great to get them there and beyond if possible!

If you have been inspired by Jude and Martin's challenge on the Pewsey Vale Circular Way, then all the information is on our website - www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/discover-pewsey-vale

We'll be back later with an update - from the finishing line!

BBC Wiltshire VisitWiltshire

09/06/2026

Today Jude and Martin were walking from Bishops Cannings to the vibrant village of Upavon, raising money for Ambitious about Autism. When I was uploading the images today, there was one moment when I thought they may have included a holiday snap - have a look through and see if you spot it! It's the final day tomorrow from Upavon to Collingbourne Ducis - we wish you both lots of luck! Here's Jude's update from today:

What a glorious day! After a delayed start, to allow the torrential rain to pass, we set off not entirely sure if we would get wet again. We didn’t!
A fabulous day full of wide Wiltshire skies, amazing cloud formations and another lovely stretch on the canal.
We made a quick pit stop at the excellent Millstream pub in Marden before heading off again, gradually climbing up onto Salisbury Plain. With red flags flying and the distant sound of artillery echoing across the landscape, it made for a rather dramatic walk.
We caught glimpses of the Alton Barnes White Horse all along the route and as always the Wansdyke looked magnificent.
Looking forward to the final stage tomorrow - thanks to everyone for supporting us along the way!

If you would like to donate to Jude and Martin's JustGiving page, then this is the link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3 - it would be great to get them over the £2000 mark!

If you feel inspired to walk all or part of the Pewsey Vale Circular Way, then all you need to know is on our website - www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/discover-pewsey-vale

BBC Wiltshire VisitWiltshire

09/06/2026

Today Jude and Martin are setting off from Bishops Cannings and are heading to Upavon. This stage of the Pewsey Vale Circular Way visits lots of little Pewsey Vale villages, with marvellous views back towards the Pewsey Downs.

Please help Jude and Martin raise lots of money for Ambitious about Autism - a national autism charity in the UK offering education, support and advocacy for autistic children and young people. Autism affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them - it is a lifelong developmental disability which affects more than 1 in 100 people in the UK.

Their fundraising page is here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3

We'll be back later today with the latest news from Jude and Martin - it's a showery, blustery day so we are sure they will get wet! Follow our page to make sure you find out what happens today.

08/06/2026

Day 5 - it was very wet indeed today, but Jude and Martin battled through on their mission to raise money for Ambitious about Autism. This stage started in Great Bedwyn and ended in Wootton Rivers and here's Jude's update about today's wet walk - there are some lovely images:

The shortest (and wettest) section today. Irrespective of the rain, we enjoyed a relatively sheltered walk along forest tracks and the canal.
There’s always something interesting to see, be it the beautiful St Katherine’s church, coppicing in the forest, narrow boats on the canal or even a GWR train storming past us as we headed under the railway bridge.
Back to Bishops Cannings tomorrow for the start of day 6.

If you are able to donate, then please do - go to Jude and Martin's JustGiving page - https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-tidworth-3

If you'd like to try all or part of the Pewsey Vale Circular Way, then all the information you'll need is on our website at www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/discover-pewsey-vale as well as two other long-distance routes for you to enjoy!

Follow our page to keep up to date with Jude and Martin's progress - just two more days to go!