Pewsey Village

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Pewsey is a friendly, unspoilt village which can be found in the Vale of Pewsey on the Great West Way route. You can visit the village of Pewsey as a stopping-point as you travel the Great West Way, exploring this fascinating swathe of quintessential England between Bristol and London.

Pewsey is a quaint village with charming historic streets where you will find a selection of shops, cafes and pubs to visit. There are also many wonderful options for walking and cycling in the surrounding countryside. While you're here, go for a stroll along the canal or take a trip to nearby Wilton Windmill to discover the only working windmill in the Wessex region, with stunning views and a lovely picnic area.

 

Surrounding Countryside

Whether you prefer to explore by foot, bike, horseback or car the countryside surrounding Pewsey is well worth a visit! Located in the timeless county of Wiltshire - home to charming market towns, ancient sites like Stonehenge and grand stately homes like Bowood House - the village of Pewsey is surrounded by the stunning, rolling countryside of the wider Vale of Pewsey.

Sharing its name with the village, the Vale of Pewsey is a tranquil, spiritual and ancient landscape where you will find hillside white horses, industrial history, pretty villages and breath-taking vistas. The Vale of Pewsey also makes up a large section of the North Wessex Downs - a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Covering around 700 square miles, the North Wessex Downs is a unique landscape of ancient chalk grassland and chalk streams, rich in wildlife.

 

Industrial History

Two major transport links run through the village of Pewsey, highlighting the rich industrial history of the Great West Way; the Kennet & Avon Canal and the railway. Both date back to the 19th century - with Pewsey's railway station opening in the 1860s, and the canal opening in the 1810s. The Kennet and Avon Canal was once used for transporting goods like Bath Stone and coal through the landscapes of what is now the Great West Way.

Today, the canal is looked after by the Canal and River Trust and is mainly used for leisure; visitors can walk, cycle and picnic beside the water or hop aboard a narrowboat for a trip downstream. Take a look at our Great West Way guide to the Kennet & Avon Canal for inspiration on where to visit along the canal, or if you would like to find out more about the region's industrial history, plan a trip based on our Great West Way Industrial History itinerary.

 

Transport to Pewsey

You can travel the Great West Way however you like; drive, walk, cycle or travel by boat or train. Indeed, you might be surprised to find out that the village of Pewsey still supports a busy train station - making this a great stopping-off point if you are exploring the Great West Way by rail. And if you're planning to travel the Great West Way by train, remember our Great West Way Discoverer pass makes the journey easy and hassle free with unlimited bus and off-peak train travel along the route. If you are travelling by car, there is free parking available in the centre of the village.

 

Ready to take a trip to Pewsey as part of your Great West Way adventure? Take a look at all the things to see and do and places to stay along the route to start planning your visit.