Chill out in town and country
THE development of Swindon has been linked with the ability to travel and enjoy a quick getaway.
In 1840 the Great Western Railway arrived, bringing with it a new town area, sitting alongside the old market town.
Today, on a weekend break, this ethos is still apparent as countryside and town proved equally within easy reach of our base for the weekend – the Holiday Inn, Swindon.
It is about a five-minute drive from junction 15 of the M4, and proved the ideal spot to access the diverse parts of north-east Wiltshire.
I and my travelling companion Nikki, my mate from university days, decided to use our getaway to take in some countryside, fresh air and a spot of pampering.
The relaxation element got off to a good start. Our twin room was spacious, modern and comfortable. And you can request soft or firm pillows, to aid a good night’s sleep. A threecourse meal in the hotel’s Traders Restaurant came in at a very reasonable price.
Saturday started well, with a good 20 lengths of a decent-sized pool in the Spirit Leisure Club.
A fully equipped gym is available for hotel members to use, but we both decided to go for what I consider to be the goldstandard of any pampering weekend – a full body massage. This was expertly delivered by Angie Smith, a beauty therapist, who runs her salon from the hotel.
Roughly half an hour away is Marlborough, a delightful market town. Imagine a larger West Malling, and you get the picture.
The middle of the street was given over to a thriving Saturday market, and historic buildings are home to boutique shops and the odd small chain store.
It is the sort of place that will gently and pleasantly relieve you of cash, but you’ll come away feeling positive, not harassed by a busy town centre.
We headed back towards Swindon, stopping off to walk parts of The Ridgeway National Trail.
It is Britain’s oldest road, and the trail follows an ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric man.
The entire route is 87 miles, stretching from parts of The Thames and the Chilterns. That distance was perhaps a bit much for two chattering uni mates, but a gentle walk from the outskirts of Marlborough took us along footpaths, hills and fields.
There was just time as evening drew in to take a short drive to Barbury Castle, an Iron Age hill fort. There is not much left of the fort to see, apart from defensive ditches and ramparts, but in its day, it commanded a view over the Ridgeway. In recognition of this, it now