Wilton Windmill and Wilton Water

It can be frustrating when on a narrowboat to learn of a nearby historical site, stately home or stunning view, and then realize that on foot it’s really not nearby. Of course you can bring a bike on the boat to access these, but there’s a practical limit of two you can store on the roof of the boat, making it impractical for larger crews. You could call a taxi or use a ride share service, but that also becomes impractical considering the number of attractions along the route of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Fortunately Wilton Windmill truly is nearby, just 1 mi/1.6 km, from Lock 61/Bridge 100 on the canal. And you have the added benefit of knowing that the gravel road leading southwest from the bridge is actually an old Roman Road connecting Winchester and Swindon.

As the video above mentions, the windmill is a Georgian creation, necessitated by the canalization of the River Kennet and the resultant loss of a water wheel to mill grain. The windmill is fully restored now and, of course, is operated and maintained by volunteers. You can visit the site at anytime, but is open for guided tours from Easter to September on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2 pm to 5 pm.

You’ll find the windmill just southwest of Great Bedwyn and very near the Crofton Beam Engines mentioned in a previous post. Also very nearby is Wilton Water, a reservoir fed by springs that provides water to the canal. The reservoir is also a nature habitat with a number of trails and footpaths to explore the area. If you’ve exhausted yourself visiting the reservoir, you can walk just a little further to the village of Wilton and refresh yourself at The Swan Inn.

You could, in fact, make a 3.2 mi/5.15 km loop, leaving the canal at bridge 100, walking to the windmill, then to the village of Wilton, then to Wilton Water and the beam engines and returning to bridge 100. Admittedly this could be a whole day outing if you were to take tours of the windmill and the beam engines. You will also need to cross the canal via the lock gates, otherwise this is a much longer walk.