12 Ramblers met up at Pipers Way Roundabout, Swindon on a bright and sunny morning.
We walked down through the Signal Way Industrial estate and joined the Old Town Railway path which runs from Old Town right through to Mannington Retail Park in West Swindon providing a green corridor for walkers and cyclists.
Leaving the railway track, we walked down the hill into Wichelstowe and walked along the Wilts & Berkshire canal as far as we could to the lock gates. We then walked around Wichelstowe lakes and on towards Waitrose.
Had lunch sitting on the old GWR benches on the banks of the canal by the H & W pub where we could watch the Narrowboat ‘Dragonfly’ journey along this restored section of the canal.
Continuing along a different stretch of canal and then back onto railway track we turned off towards Westlecot Road and into gardens where the Cherry Trees are currently in full blossom.
Several of us took time to sit and have a coffee here amongst the beautiful spring flowers before returning to the start point.

Old railway line

A view of the countryside in between all the new housing development

Wilts and Berks canal

Disused lock on the Wilts and Berks canal. Restoration work ongoing beyond the lock

Group photo in the Town Gardens, Old Town

Splendid cherry blossom and spring flowers