Melksham Dog Walks

Right, I will kick off with a dog walk route at the weekend; anyone else feel free to join in!

These are fabulous photos. Really really good. They are only serving to remind me though... Speaking as someone who is fairly new to dog ownership I could definitely benefit from a guide to dog walks in and around Melksham, from half hour strolls to 5 mile stomps.

With turn by turn details. And instructions about where to leave the car! (e.g. what road in Bowerhill to park in to best reach the Canal via Freddie's Woods)

Far too often I find myself coming to a stile at the edge of a field (the West Wilts Ramblers have I believe been laudably active in installing smart new gates here and there as funds allow) and having no real idea whether then to walk straight on or turn left to find the next stile (which might not exist at all, or could be a broken old wooden one still lost in a hedge!)

Someone mentioned on here I think a while back for instance that there's a good dog-walk to be enjoyed along the old railway line from Seend to Fish Bridge, and I've somehow managed to completely lose myself trying to find that on several occasions now! Can we have directions on where to and how to join it?

Graham Ellis I know often mentions walking over towards Whaddon and the pack horse bridge. With photos. Again, I'd love to do that but haven't a clue where to start! Turn by turn directions would be SO much appreciated.

I'm sure every dog walker has a favourite walk or two. Isn't there some way we could record them all for us to share?

I discovered at least three new routes when the snow was on the ground earlier in the year just by following people's tracks! In an around Beanacre has become a firm favourite for instance, although I have yet to establish a route beyond the power station.

And I have yet to find a way of walking all the way along the river from Melksham to Lacock, though I'm reliably informed it's possible. Apparently the walk takes in the route of the old canal as well, including the site of Forest Lock. I've never found that either.

There's also a routes that change on an almost daily basis as the works continue between Snowberry and Snarlton Lanes. Fences seem to go up and be dismantled again almost behind us as me and Molly-dog explore the fields there

Maybe it's just me, but I really do think there's an opportunity for shared information being missed here.