Nature Trail Trail Two
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NATURE TRAIL
Trail Two
Distance 1.5 miles/2.4 km: time about 45 minutes
Some rough, open ground in parts of the walk may be inaccessible to some people. Treacle Bolly is fine for pushchairs but may be difficult for wheelchair users, especially in wet weather.
In Coopers Meadow between 1 March and 31 July dogs must be kept on a short lead.
Follow the path towards the car park.
Turn left at the bridge and go through George Lane car park and along Figgins Lane to the junction with George Lane. Here, turn right and walk 300 yards to the roundabout. Cross safely over into Granham Close opposite (photo A).
A - after crossing Pewsey Road, walk along Granham Close to Treacle Bolly
B - at the crossroads, take the footpath leading to St George's Church
Granham Close ends in the footpath known as Treacle Bolly - reputedly because in past times a miller used to address his very fat pony here exclaiming "Git up, old Treacle Belly". College boys mistook the Wiltshire accent and interpreted belly as bolly. You'll see the Marlborough White Horse chalk figure on the hillside along this walk, which follows the river through a nature reserve with an extensive network of bird boxes and 70 plant species. This section of the walk is rough, stony, uneven and sometimes muddy.
Follow Granham Close to the end and join the footpath ahead which leads you through the nature reserve, passing the White Horse and tennis courts, until you reach a junction with Preshute Lane and a footpath.
Turn right here and follow the footpath into the churchyard (photo B).
St George's, Preshute has a very old font, reputed to be from the Norman castle which once stood on Marlborough Mound. There are some interesting gravestones here. Behind the church is a pretty stretch of the River Kennet.
Keeping the church (photo C) on your left follow the path round, over the bridge and then fork right, just before the A4, remaining in the College grounds until you reach the main entrance.
Exit here and turn right, following the line of the A4, under the bridge (photo D), round the bend and up to the traffic lights. Pause when you reach the gap between the Memorial Hall and the College chapel - if you look to your right there's a clear view of Marlborough Mound (not open to the public).
C - walk through the churchyard following the footpath
D - head back to town, under the bridge at Marlborough College
Cross here and follow this narrow section of the High Street, keeping St Peter’s church on your right (photo E).
E - walk back into the High Street passing St Peter & St Paul's church
F - cross the High Street and walk along Figgins Lane
Cross Hyde Lane to the Library, then walk up the High Street for 150 yards, cross the road opposite the turning into Figgins Lane (photo F).
Priory Gardens lead down to the River Kennet and provide a lovely blend of open lawn, formal gardens, mature trees and riverside wild areas. You might see birds, water fowl and squirrels, and can collect acorns in Autumn. There are garden and riverbank benches here.
Walk up Figgins Lane, all the way to the top where you can turn left into Priory Gardens (closed at 3.30 October to March) or go straight on over the footbridge, left into the car park and along the river path until you reach the bridge in the George Lane car park and the point where you started.
Finish Trail Two here or explore Trail One