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Queen's Park - Old Walcot Surroundings

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 46 minutes

Length 2.6km / 1.6mi

Route developer: Clifford Evans

Route checker: Ron Evans

Start location Queen's Park Cafe, York Road, Swindon
Route Summary Starting at the Cafe in Queens Park this walk explores the area of Old Walcot, through residential streets, a woodland at the edge of Lawns Country Park and later a children's play area.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

The start point can be reached by the number 17 bus, which stops adjacent to Way Point [8] (bus stop York Road).

Description

Note: This route is generally on level ground, with only a few gentle gradients.  Surfaces are generally paved or are of tarmac, but there is a loose stone surface section between way points [3] and [4].

[1] From the Queen's Park Cafe, with your back to the York Road park entrance, cross the small bridge immediately in front and then follow the path to the left.  Continue alongside the end of the water pond on your left and follow the path which turns left and then immediately curves right to the Drove Road entrance.  On reaching Drove Road turn right.

[2] Cross Drove Road at the pedestrian crossing and turn right, crossing Upham Road to continue up hill along Drove Road.

(A) Having crossed at the pedestrian crossing you will see on the opposite side of the road three unequally decorated houses.  These are known locally as the "sample" houses, as the highly decorative tiles and bricks were made in the brick works that was originally located in Queens Park.

[3] As you continue up hill you will see a large block of yellow and red brick flats on your left (Cirencester Court).  Keep these flats on your left and turn left onto the footpath leading in front of these flats - continue on this path in the direction of the woods.  You will see a rough path leading into the woods (you should see a red dog bin just inside the woods on the left) - follow this path, crossing a wooden bridge, where you emerge into a grassed area.

[4] Go straight ahead, continue on the rough narrow path until you reach the first house and pavement.  You have now reached the start of Parklands Road.

(B) To your right you will notice that the grassed area slopes upwards with trees at the top of the hill. This area is the edge af the Lawns Country Park and was originally part of the Goddard Estate.  The Goddard family lived in a large house at the top of the hill until the 1930's.  During the Second World War the house was occupied by the military, but post-war the house fell into disrepair and was finally demolished in the 1950s. 

Continue along Parklands Road as it turns 90 degrees left, until you reach the T junction with Upham Road. Turn right and continue along Upham Road until you reach the bus shelter.

[5] From the bus shelter you will see the start of South View Avenue on the left - cross the road (taking care when crossing this often busy road) to enter South View Avenue. As you proceed along this road you will pass the entrance to Lainesmead Primary School and then pass along the side of an open grassed play area.

(C) In the corner of this playing field is a special area for small children with swings, climbing frames etc.

[6] At the junction of South View Avenue and Cumberland Road, turn left into Cumberland Road keeping to the lefthand pavement, and follow this road (taking care when crossing Burford Road as this can be busy at times) to the traffic lights in Drove Road. 

[7] Turn left into Drove Road (you will notice the Merlin Public House diagonally across the junction). Continue along Drove Road until you reach the pedestrian crossing opposite the newsagents.  Cross here and follow the alley way in front of you, continuing straight ahead until you reach Westmoreland Road.  At Westmoreland Road turn right for a short distance until you reach the junction with Groundwell Road.  Here you turn left and continue (staying on the left hand side of the road) until you reach the crossing with York Road.

[8] At the junction with York Road, turn left and continue into the Park, from where you started this walk.

 

POI information No details available.
Notes

It is suggested that due to the unlit path through the woods, this walk should not be attempted at night or alone.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Queens Park - looking along the route towards the Drove Road entrance
    Queens Park - looking along the route towards the Drove Road entrance
    By - Clifford Evans
  • Start location: Queens Park looking at the York Road entrance
    Start location: Queens Park looking at the York Road entrance
    By - Clifford Evans
  • Way point 3 -looking towards the entrance to the wooded area.
    Way point 3 -looking towards the entrance to the wooded area.
    By - Clifford Evans
  • Near Way point 6 - looking back along South View Avenue towards Lainsmead School
    Near Way point 6 - looking back along South View Avenue towards Lainsmead School
    By - Clifford Evans
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