Wiltshire

Chalk Downs, River Valleys, Woodlands, and Historic Routes

From the rolling chalk landscapes of Salisbury Plain to the valleys of the River Avon and the hills of the North Wessex Downs, Wiltshire contains a diverse network of routes, landscapes, and places shaped by geology, agriculture, and centuries of movement through the land. Trails such as the Ridgeway National Trail, Wessex Ridgeway, White Horse Trail, and sections of the Kennet & Avon Canal Walk reveal many of these environments, while landscapes including the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Cranborne Chase National Landscape, Salisbury Plain, and Savernake Forest showcase some of the county's most distinctive natural environments.

Long-distance routes pass through chalk downland, woodland, river valleys, farmland, and historic settlements, linking places that have shaped the character of Wiltshire for generations. Together, these routes and landscapes reveal the character of the county while providing opportunities to explore at a slower pace through self-guided travel and independent exploration.