| Saturday, 25th October 2025 - Marlborough and Savernake Forest Posted by grahame at 07:51, 20th October 2025 |     |
My research project next Saturday - Marlborough and Savernake ... not been there for many years and I don't expect the trains will ever come back. As I recall, on a previous visit I was able to find the old trackbed.
Savernake Forest, and Marlborough close by, make for a wonderful day out from Melksham - a riot of colour in spring and autumn, lovely walks in summer and on the better days in winter, and always a lovely town to look around. Or rather that's how I remember it - it is years since I visited even though it's not far from home.
This Saturday, 25th October 2025, I'll be visiting Marlborough by public transport from Melksham as part of my research and picture library update. The 08:02 train from Melksham to Swindon, changing at Swindon onto the 08:40 bus at stop L on the new bus boulevard (Fleming Way) - route X5 that runs to Marlborough, Pewsey, Amesbury and Salisbury. Gets to Marlborough at 09:17. I am going that early as the Melksham Amateur Photography Group is meeting about an hour later, about a mile out of the town, about an hour later.
Coming home ... buses on X5 at about 5 minutes to the hour up until 17:53; onward trains from Swindon timetabled at 15:14, 17:35, 19:44 and 21:10. Other buses and services available too in both directions.
Others welcome to join me for the journey and for the photo session if that's your thing. Normally I would illustrate this article with my recent pictures but - err - it's so long since I was there I don't have any. So please forgive a recent picture of the bus interchange in Swindon, and some from 2010 of Marlborough and some of the nearby woods and forest.
This Saturday, 25th October 2025, I'll be visiting Marlborough by public transport from Melksham as part of my research and picture library update. The 08:02 train from Melksham to Swindon, changing at Swindon onto the 08:40 bus at stop L on the new bus boulevard (Fleming Way) - route X5 that runs to Marlborough, Pewsey, Amesbury and Salisbury. Gets to Marlborough at 09:17. I am going that early as the Melksham Amateur Photography Group is meeting about an hour later, about a mile out of the town, about an hour later.
Coming home ... buses on X5 at about 5 minutes to the hour up until 17:53; onward trains from Swindon timetabled at 15:14, 17:35, 19:44 and 21:10. Other buses and services available too in both directions.
Others welcome to join me for the journey and for the photo session if that's your thing. Normally I would illustrate this article with my recent pictures but - err - it's so long since I was there I don't have any. So please forgive a recent picture of the bus interchange in Swindon, and some from 2010 of Marlborough and some of the nearby woods and forest.
| Re: Saturday, 25th October 2025 - Marlborough and Savernake Forest Posted by Marlburian at 08:56, 20th October 2025 | |
Good luck and a happy day, Grahame. I hope that the ground won't be too muddy after all the rain forecast for this week.
I was in the Chiseldon area a fortnight ago, exploring the site of the former army camp and forlornly looking for a concrete bridge said to have carried the short-lived camp railway over a brook. I found the brook, but the site of the bridge was covered by impenetrable trees.
It looks like the Saturday X5 services take the main road from Ogbourne to Chiseldon, though I think a few weekday services take the parallel minor road. I looked at a former zig-zag on it close to Sheppards Farm Dairy that was straightened out in the war to facilitate vehicle movements between Ogbourne and Chisledon camps. The zig was still evident and a right-of-way ,though the zag was completely overgrown; tarmac had worn off the "new" straight bit, exposing the original concrete.
Will you be visiting either of the two track-beds between Marlborough and Savernake? Ironically there's more to see of the curved MSWJR line that closed in the 1930s (IIRC) than the more direct GWR line that survived until 1961.
