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Things To See & Do
The Area
The Stables at Manor Farm are located in the pretty village of East Grafton in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We are only a mile from the Kennet and Avon Canal, the famous Crofton Beam Engines and under two miles from Wilton Windmill and Savernake Forest. The Canal and Forest offer fantastic traffic free walking and fabulous scenery all year round.
The market town of Marlborough is just 10 minutes by car (or a bit longer through the Forest by bike) and the ancient sites of Avebury, Stonehenge, Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill and the Ridgeway are all within easy reach.
Walking and Cycling
From the farm there is access to miles and miles of byways and bridleways across beautiful Wiltshire downland and local woodland. The walking in this part of Wiltshire ire is fabulous from big open downland to pretty villages and stunning woodland and forests. We are a haven for wild life and there is always something to see - hares, deer and a a wide variety of bird life including lapwing, kites, kestrel (who nest in the barn opposite the cottages) barn owls and the very occasional Great Bustard! Visit Pewsey Vale has lots of walking routes and maps on their website https://www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/list/things-to-do/walking/
We have access to some of the best mountain bike routes around with stunning scenery and great off road tracks – we can give you some maps and tell you the best places to explore. For less extreme bike riding head towards Savernake Forest, along the Canal and the quite country lanes, visit Wilton Windmill on the way or stop for lunch at a local pub. https://www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/list/things-to-do/cycling/
Activities and days out
The Stables provides a brilliant base for visiting lots of well known places as well as plenty of less well known days out and activities. Lacock Abbey, Stonehenge, Avebury, Bowood House, The Hawk Conservancy, Longleat and Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) are all nearby. Explore the lovely market towns of Marlborough and Hungerford or visit Devizes and see the famous Caen Hill Locks, Wadsworth Brewery and The Wiltshire Museum. The beautiful cities of Salisbury, Bath, Oxford and Winchester are all under an hour.
If you fancy organising some outdoor activities there is plenty on offer - from boat trips on the canal to fly fishing (Manningford Fishery), golf (Marlborough and Tidworth), clay pigeon shooting (Lains Shooting School or Barbury Shooting School) and outdoor karting and racing car experiences (Thruxton).
Eating Out
There's a great choice of places to eat out locally with plenty of picturesque pubs - The Swan at Wilton (1 mile) now with great take away menu too, The Three Tuns at Great Bedwyn (3miles), The George at Vernahm Dean, The Crown and Anchor at Ham and The Bell at Ramsbury are all well worth a visit and can be combined with a walk as well! For a treat try The Woodspeen just outside Newbury and now there's Rick Stein's new place in Marlborough.
Marlborough offers plenty of restaurants and cafes including the famous Polly Tearooms as well as ASK, Prezzo and Pizza Express and in Hungerford we recommend Eliane's for lunch or coffee with their super salads and homemade cakes or if you fancy a curry The Palm is within easy distance.
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BOOKING AND AVAILABILITY
- All rooms are in both cottages are en suite
- Both cottages rated by 'Visit England' as 4 Star Gold