Great Western Coffee Shop

We're putting together a web site (for the TransWilts) and one of the sections will be telling people what there is to see and do in the various towns along the route.  I have some ideas. So do others, and we're collecting them together.  But I'm looking for more, and hidden gems especially.  Things that will entice people to try the train - if not into a full journey, things they'll look out for.

Examples ...

Shop at the Outlet Centre in Swindon.
See some of Brunel's original buildings at Chippenham station.
Come to the Melksham Carnival Parade by train.
Eat lunch in the pub that Celebrates the inventor of shorthand in Trowbridge.
Walk up to the White Horse in Westbury, and return down to Dilton Marsh.
See the fossil collection at the Warminster Dewey Museum.
Step back in time at Mompessen House in Salisbury.

Please add your ideas ... or email or p.m. me;   I'll appreciate inputs within the next 5 days

There has to be an ale trail, especially after Milk Streets efforts with the Stallards just off Trowbridge.

STEAM at Swindon.

And then pop to Milford House? :P

Agree with Tramway there must be an Ale/Brewery trail. ATOC/ORR need it as they "couldn't organise a drinking session in a beer production facility" as Christinan Wolmar put it in a recent article.

Also what about a music and or general  cultural trail? Are there enough venues with live music, theatres, film clubs, poetry reading etc. in the area?

As well as the Whitehorse are there any other circular or station to station walks? Collaboration with the local ramblers.

The K&A comes to mind canal although you might have to use a bus east of Bradford.

Also restoration work on the Wilts and Berks canal, a joint promotion, definitely a link.

With the canals links to angling Societys (or ies?), a "Good Day's Fishing" (apostophe OK?)

Any stately homes, unique buildings, follies etc. The quirkier the better.

Links with National Trust and more topically the Forestry Commission, although I don't know if you've got any forests.

One thing you do need to consider which I've learnt with www.swrs.co.uk is that you must have people to keep it up to date and delete as well as add events. Nothing will put people off a website quicker than out of date information. You only have to see the criticism on this forum when the TOCs and Nationalrail websites aren't bang up to date.

Many thanks for the ideas so far ... some of them confirm what we're thinking, others provide a "hey, yes" trigger.

Tramway - I've sent you a separate (Trowbridge specific) p.m.

Quirky - yes.   I have the Pack Horse Bridge, the Roundhouse and Melksham Spa in Melksham.  that people may not have come across.  And I can come across Westbury Swimming pool there ...

Theatres - Arc Trowbridge.  And others in Warminster, Swindon (Wyvern) and Salisbury.   Riverside club, Melksham, and Assembly Hall events.


Yes ... when I write a web site, I have it insert date related data on the fly, and only do so for dates into the future.   I'm hoping that the web site designer (not me in this case) has provided that.

I can't find it right now but I'm sure the other day on one of the Transwilts sites I was looking at a couple of really comprehensive sketch diagrams detailing lots of places of interest that you could reach by bus from a Transwilts station, e.g. Lacock and many others. Although now I'm wondering if I imagined it...

Just been reading Waterways the IWA magazine.

There is mention of the Melksahm Link from the Wilts and Berks.

Something to include?

I'd quite like to see Melksham's Party in the Park featured - especially since it attracts around 10,000 people across the whole of the day it takes place (July 16th this year)

Oh and Trowbridge festival in the park, and how could I forget.......

http://www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk/

The Village Pump,  probably in the top 4 festivals in the uk.

Village pump club at the Lamb.

PeeWees etc etc.

Many thanks, folks ... almost all of the ideas are now incorporated into a web site, which will be launched once the survey on TransWilts Rail has been completed.

If you travel / might travel in Wiltshire and haven't yet filled in the survey at http://www.transwiltsrail.org.uk/ please do so now.