Wiltshire Cycling Pilgrimage

Part Two of my cycle ride visiting Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) properties
Westbury to Salisbury

#cycletour #ancientchurches #romanroads

The Churches:
St. Mary at Old Dilton
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-mary-old-dilton.html

St. Leonards at Sutton Veny
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-leonard-sutton-veny.html

St. Nicholas’ at Fisherton Delamere
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-nicholas-fisherton-delamere.html

St. Leonard’s at Berwick St. Leonard
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-leonard-berwick.html

St. Mary at Wilton
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-mary-wilton.html

St Mary and St Lawrence at Stratford Tony
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-mary-and-st-lawrence-stratford-tony.html

It’s coming up to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday the 30th of January I’m starting the second phase of my Wilshire Church’s conservation trust Trail I’m visiting all the CCT churches in Wilshire today’s a train assisted Road here’s the fast one coming by before mine follows it shortly

I’m at my local railway station in bath Oldfield park I’m going that way about four or five stops to Westbury and then I’m riding about 49 miles down to Salsbury to avoid rush hour coming home between Sal and bath on the train I’m going to hop in weather spoons and have

My evening meal my train is at 7:40 p.m. tonight to Bath SP so hopefully I’ll avoid the rusher plus the fact I’ll have built in a meil stop after dark coming Up I’m on my trusty 26in wheel hybrid Caribou bike my Train’s already left Bristol I checked out on the train line app and it’s on time it should be here soon after 6 my first church will actually be in the dark I’m fairly confident I can get in and then the last

Church just before we get to SS this evening is quite isolated by all accounts and stunning also I’ve heard been wanting to go for a while normally these trains the bicycle policy is first come for a serve just walk on if the space is yours if not you

May have to negotiate but I actually had to book my bike on this train I did it via the train line app but what that does mean is you got to come to the station and print your tickets including the bicycle reservation which is there I don’t know whether that’s a new policy

Or not normally I just prefer the E ticket on my phone and the same coming home this evening as well just coming into bath B station there’s the bath bus station so this is where I’ll be getting the train back to this evening then it’s just a

Short ride from here back to my home in norfield park just a couple of things I wanted to mention before I start the ride and tell you what’s happening today on Saturday I rode the aax club Bristol 100 kilomet aax called the Jack and Grace and several of you came up to me

And introduced yourself to me and mention my videos so that’s really nice thank you very much I do want to say I try and read all the comments I normally put the heart sign up to recognize I’ve read them and if there’s any questions I do my best to respond them as promptly

As possible but I do know I’m not seeing all the messages actually because I think they’ve sort of changed the way they feed them to me so if I don’t appear to have read your message my apologies I don’t always see them straight away thank you to everybody who

Came up to me on Saturday sometimes just passing me on the road as well that was really nice it meant a lot to me also stick around to the end of the video because next Monday me and Linda have got a bit of a travel Challenge and

We’re going to go for something which is a bit different it could end up being a journey from hell but it could be a great adventure and she has said she’s okay for me to Vlog it so I’m going to try and film it whether it works or not

I will post it so today’s roide is 50 mil from here down to weather spoons at Salsbury and I’m visiting on Route 6 Wilshire Church’s conservation trust properties I’m starting here in the dark and I’ve got about another hour before it gets light and the first church is

Only 3 miles away so I’m going to be visiting an historic church and its Church shard in the pitch black I’m fairly confident I can get in so let’s get moving get there and I’ll explain more when we get there I got plenty of

HS on my bikes all lit up we even got my disco rim lights going s Mary’s Church Old dilton that Way well I’m two miles into the road from Westbury station 2/3 of the way to the church and I didn’t recognize any of that it’s another classic example of just follow the GPS track and it opens up a whole new route this is an area I’m

Familiar with if I come down from Bath heading in the Riley Valley I’ll come in this way up this hill I just assumed I was going to come that way but I didn’t I just came to all these residential streets and eventually follow the no through Road you get through on fo bike

Bottom of the hill got top of here over the BR of the Hill turn left and then we drop down towards the first church church is back there I’ve just overshot it I’ve gone to collect the key you can see it’s starting to get light it’s going to be quite atmospheric in the

Grounds I think right by the chur is the river B it’s not much more than a stream coming off the sorcy plane D rail embankment up there here’s St Mary’s Church Old dilon the first of today’s churches at 3 miles into the road here we are s Mary’s old

Dilton may get an idea of how isolated it is around here just a few res is R we Line Bank goes right across the church with its quirky Tower it’s being likened to an upside down ice cream cone now your natural assumption is when you get

The key it must be for the porch entrance there but it’s not that’s you the Chanel here I don’t think there’s going to be any light in here so this is all going to be by head torch wonderful old bleached box pews I have been here before done a video about

It there’s the raise P pit wonderful old box pews different sizes and as I came to understand it that families would actually either own them or rent them so the bigger better place box pews would be for wealthier families and then the ones over there on the North

W smaller ones would be less worthy people and they’ be passed down through generations there’s a font as often happens right by the entrance that people would come in to worship through the porch and there’s the raised balcony at the back wonderful Old Stone font lead lines

They’ve often got covers on to secure them everything all the wood in here just looks really bleach you may see if I shine the light up there the pulpit is very raised then above it is one of those wooden sand reflectors that was I believe an early

Version of a microphone really to Aid direction of the voice of the Vicor or the priest given the sermon so instead of dissipating in the roof It bouns Off and that raised balcony by the chancel used to be an old classroom and it even

Had a fire in there you can just see the remains of the fireplace up there the chimney stuck don’t think you can get there anymore there’s no I don’t think there’s any access up there anymore I think this is what we call the V there would have been

Access probably from here there’s a fireplace look course these days I wouldn’t pass with it with all the wood around it lot of mold in here this is the north facing wall so you can see there signs of damp everywhere gas firing here I suppose when people use it coffin shaped

Seat and then all the visitors information there and will be making donations at each church today and the visitor’s book which I’m going to sign the last visit was the 28th of the 1st and today is the 30th so they were from tro Bridge B the

Crit and the visit before that was quite a while the T of the first give you an idea of the Rarity of visitors that there’s my last visit the 11th of the 11th I’ll course it’s Remembrance Day ride I made a video about that and you see I’ve just put it

There look from Bath and just a bit about my journey Cy to Salsbury via six times CCT churches today add that on there otherwise it looks like L day wow this is very at Just Before Dawn right let’s go and get some money I’ll make a donation and then we’ll be on our

Way let’s see it’s getting light already really see how close the r is here so immediately we go out here we start going back up that hill you pass under Railway Bridge then after a couple of hundred yards you turn left the other side of the Railway I head down that way

Towards our second Church which is going to be sattin ven this is number three on the diagram which I’ll put on the screen now our next one is going to be number 20 St Leonard at Sutton V and that’s going to be 9.5 mils that’s down in the

Wy Valley the other side of Warminster many people will be familiar with that Village it’s on the Wy Valley route Which is popular with cyclist it’s part of the works of Cy away I made my donation just quick last minute check I’ve locked take the key back and then we’ll be heading

Off goodbye to St Marys at Old dilon then we start climbing back up underneath the railway which runs right alongside the churchard on this wonderful Bridge down this wooded Hill back the junction then we’ll head down into Warminster and then satin Vin our next stop it’s just wonderful isn’t it

Beautiful location for church in this sunken Lane uh just crossing the river Wy here first of several times today so many cyclists will be familiar with this route it runs down parallel in the railway heading down to Salsbury and the river while it crosses it many many times lovely little chalk

Stream we’re now on the Wy Valley Road still picking up a little bit of traffic coming into the village of Satan Vini as I said we’re following the river and the railway down and actually over there by about half a mile is the A36 later on

Our third church we actually have to go over on the A36 and do sort like a u Bend to get to it and then rejoin this and then actually climb out of the Wy Valley soon after been through here so many times I just cannot picture where

The church is I’ve just realized why there’s a bit of traffic down this road which is normally quite quite we’re just passing the church in the village which most people will be familiar with they have passed it the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist S V it’s got common

WTH WG grades in there but what he also got is a school next door which is why there’s so much traffic down it’s a school then but we’re turning off left shortly down to St lonard a few hundred yards along from there that’s where we’re heading down there

Duck street down the not two Road and then we come back and we retrace This Way High Street down the valley look there’s even a sign there considering our look churches so much I’m ashamed to say I’ve never really spotted that you think you known the

Area so well I’ve literally been up and down that W Valley Road so many times I I would say well over 100 cycling over the years and I probably clock this Lane down here but I’ve never been down here before and it’s AB wonderful Duff deals saw Duff deals on Saturday actually on

The odax road and crocus and snow drops look there’s a little stream running through coming off the Wy look how clear that water is that is so clean about 50 yards down the track here we are it’s a partial ruin I remember that now there’s a sign on the railings the church’s conservation

Trust asking you to respect it’s still a cemetery even though it’s not a worshiping church anymore I’ve got the page up so we go through that shortly I’m going to have to leave the bik there there’s a kissing gate let’s go and have a look at in Lenard’s Church Saturn V Wilshire

The overpowering sound is bird song the trees you can hear the roar which is probably the busy A36 about half a mile over there although you cannot see it wow let have a look around I’ll give you some Impressions then I’ll read out what it says

Here I think part of it is still available to go inside if I remember right got a don’t know what that is Con sealed a chalk gun surrounding it I had no idea this was here wow look at the big arch ah main entrance possibly so there’s some ruins that

Wonderful Arch there is add some medal St done here is the live part of the church right time to see if we get get in or hat off as usual yes it’s open fantastic hat off wow not expecting any lights in here I would want them either gosh look at that

H font Stone font no lead visit information table there that’s wonderful isn’t it seen a few top trolleys seen a few cofin trollies but I’ve never seen a covered one like that before I’m assuming that’s the drap ropes so this must be the Chanel then they step up to the alter wooden

Podium Bible prayer book hint of red stained glass in that window assuming that’s Facing East yeah would be wouldn’t it even in here you can hear the bird song see the Bell up there all these tablets around Co of arms above the arch I’m assuming this is the Chaw

Yeah and that would have been the Nave in there and the porch I’ll read up shortly just always like to give you my thoughts first of all wonderful stained glass windows very thin ones very atmospheric in here as I said you can just hear the bird song even in

Here right I’ll give you the overview what it says on the CCT website an atmospheric partial R Old St leard was abandoned in the 1860s when a new church was built that must be the one up the road it is now partially ruined and only the chancel previously used as a

Mory Chapel still has its roof the chancel contain some interesting artifacts including benefaction boards a beer I think that says I’m not sure what that is font Bell and many elegant memorials on the War there’s a free online audio guide there as I said I’ll drop all the links

To these churches in the description below if you want to visit them for more information and it’s got lots of photographs there sign the visitor’s book views it very atmospheric must have been the Nave just stonework like that keeping that arch up there just wonder how much that would have cost

I’m going to go back to my bik now and have a look and see where the next churches cuz although I know all these roads I don’t know where the churches are located which is why I’ve listed them all and I’ve also put the mileages

Down so my Gan will help lert me that we’re coming up to the next one so let’s have a look I’ve done a screen grab of my list so the first chur Old dilon St Mary’s was 3 miles this is St Leonard’s Saturn Vin 92 miles now our next church is St Nicholas

In fishon delir at 17 miles so about another 7 and a half miles to go as I remember it I’ll put the map of the route on screen there but we carry on down this Wy Valley Road just before we get to Wy we actually then zoom over to the main road

Road we do about a mile or so down the main road then there’s a little Loop off that that’s where the next church is and rather than we Trace we can carry on down the A36 and then cut back across right southwards on this Wy Valley route and

It bring us into the village of Wy and then we leave the Wy Valley and climb up over into the N Valley First up we need to retrace long here left back on that road that’s running that way can now see the Wy Valley Road has really opened up and

It’s very quiet this is why it’s so popular as cyclist just Avid that busy A36 over there see the Northern Hills in the distance then the southern slopes over there fact that’s margar 45b up there the Roman Road running from old sarum near Salsbury to CH on the mendips where

There were lead mines and and although I’ve ridden this road many many times before I’m sort of excited today cuz I know I’m exploring new places that church St Leonard at Satan Vini is a perfect example just never knew that was there I don’t think it’s going to be too

Long though before we leave this quiet Wy Valley Road head over to A36 certainly going to be busier than this but I’m hoping not too busy and even if it is we need to ride a bit of it to get to the next church I think we may be going

Left here actually yeah I think we’re leaving the road here codford it says right well this road is definitely busier than I was hoping it’ be wonder if there’s a pavement or a pass again crossing the river Wy here W that’s quite nice breaking the traffic thank

Goodness you can see this is not a road you would choose to ride on okay looks like I might have a bit of a shoulder to ride on no foot pass as I said luckily we’re not on this very long I’m not going to lie that M so was

Pretty horrible I pulled in a couple of times just to let the Builder traffic go by but it’s single carriageway very busy ironically there’s right hand turned down now we’re taking couple of hundred yards we got some pavement just for that section nice to get off that road just

For a bit Village only and super B for htvs is that the river we’re coming down to go yeah wow that’s a good view of it more daffodil the do house let’s just go and check this out cuz I’m wondering if there was a foot path I could have possibly taken along

This River the Wy does split quite a lot actually and this is clearly one of them well look like old water there put the flow of it there I’m wondering if there was some type of foot path I could have possibly rid along I would definitely investigate

That for future trips just that M saw on that road was just absolutely horrible River Wy ladies and gentlemen it’s not a bad little garden is it little afternoon oh there’s the Tower of the church in the village so the Road’s running up there we’ve just dropped down during this Loop

To the church then we’re going to be curving back around to getting on it but not for very long I hope got they got a chimney right there and everything wow what a wonderful spot well this is the payback that was not very nice at all this is

Lovely this is not even a metal Road it’s more of a track along here over powering Roar of that River where s cottages and then looking out to the entrance for the church W this is nice isn’t it sometimes you got to go through hard times to find the brilliant times of you

Look like the sloping edge of the churchard I can honestly say I’ve never been down here for cottage but F that pass the church yeah looks like it wow payback time this is actually quite nice feels almost like a back drive past these houses the Old Village Road and here’s the Old Village

Church oh this is what I’ve come to find today day just moments like this when you think just gosh I’m so looking forward to going through there and it looks like I’ll be able to get my bik through that simple little hasp tight lock bulbs everywhere D deals wow

Definitely a payback that horrible bit on the main Roe oh there’s a foot path down there see where that leads shortly wooden gates into the porch as usual hat off before going in the church there this wonderful lamp there by the porch oh there still plaque on the bell

Tower what’s that say this church was rebuilt in a Roman numeral year by John Davis Square but I was looking at this this lamp has an interesting backstory it says the porch lamp was given in memory of Lieutenant Colonel Norman Jeans by the staff of fisherton Del and depford Estates 6th of September

1972 so you got these wooden gates here let’s go inside and have a look oh wow look at that it’s quite a nice wow that is really nice isn’t it almost like a boomerang [Applause] wonderful never quite seen a lock like that before St Nicholas fishon deir oh you

Get a breeze straight way smell of wood but not that musty smell you sometimes get looks like there might be some lights in here not coming on possibly a master switch somewhere don’t really need it to be honest the visitor’s book some prayer books and bibles Christmas tree

Font with a cover on it’s pretty substantial that ring tea lights walk forward this is unusually got like a gallery and across over the Chanel as well as having that one at the back we go up there shortly let’s go forward first of all fairly basic ra Pulpit look wonderful old Oregon P your d p wow never seen a gallery like that up there before across I’ve seen them sideways sometimes perpendicular oh some steps up onto it oh is that some yeah some gates into the chancel not going go in oh yeah now there is access very dark in

Here straight away raised you can tell a different lighting allog together different floor as we walk towards the water some stained glass above the AL wonderful carved pews so that would be East South back through well I suppose you call this a screen would you locks

Back take this St is up there gosh look at that lovely ornamental carving okay let’s go up here very narrow and very steep it’s the cross wow screen look looking down into the Chanel and then much more light looking back into the Nave all the pews and the raised balcony at the far

End much lighter out here as it is often the case it’s much more normally subtle light in the Chanel but I would say that is very very dark even though this is a lovely place and I’m loving this I can just hear the war traffic up there a few hundred

Yards I will say here if you come here these steps are very narrow and very steep I really am being very cautious walking down here lower my head make sure I don’t bang it into the the screen I’m not going to go up into the pull

Pit I’m going to go back have a look at that gallery and then we’ll get the page up I’ll tell you a bit about this church tell myself a bit about it as well cuz I know nothing about it apart from It’s a Wonderful location it’s very atmospheric yeah

Locked the back balcony is much more user friendly this is actually designed for people isn’t it for worshipers much more basic pews back here all right V’s book again 1st of the 12th 6 of the 12th Christmas Carol service Friday the 22nd of December 23 happy Christmas to all and then the

Last V is that the 24th of the 1 from m NBC happy with that whatever that means I’m going to add my name there so yeah the last people to sign the book anyway were these people at the Christmas carol service 22nd and then this gentleman here just

Over a month later St Nicholas church fisherton delir Wilshire the overview medieval Marvel in wonderful walking country this Hillside Church stands in a pretty churchyard and is a convenient stopping point for Wy Valley Walkers with wonderful views that suggests there could well be a foot path I could use just from that last

Section to avoid the A36 that needs a bit of Investigation there has been a church here since Norman times and the font in the church today dates from that period wow however the current building was built in the 14th century and then largely rebuilt in the medieval star in the 19th

Century using original materials the outside is built in a checkerboard pattern of flint and stone typical of many churches in this area inside it’s light and Airy that’s interesting in there is an elegant screen which dates only from 1912 gosh I would have thought that was much much older the architect FC Eden

Was commissioned to design it as well as other Woodwork in the church he had intended the screen to be painted but this was never carried out mainly because the screen was tremendously unpopular with the people of the parish gosh one of the most touching monuments in

The church is a poignant Memorial to two babies of Thomas and Joan crockford showing one child in bed and the other rapon shred Thomas crockford was a Vicor in the 1600s right oh there it is okay it mentioned the outside being traditional flint and stone let’s go

Back and have a look and see if we can recognize that love that look that latch look at that the gates have look at that the Gates have really got to line up properly I’m trying to do it one hand while I film okay let’s walk back and just have

A look at the church that looks like it might have been the old entrance main entrance up the church from the village couple of U trees there by look it this was the Western door imine that probably led into the vory possibly then the main entrance for the

Public and the worshippers is into the porch oh yeah look Stone and Flint wonderful tower that big high ground up there that’s the southern slopes out of the Wy Valley across the NADA Valley and that’s where we’re heading shortly so we got to go back up the A36 go along and

There’s a big almost kind of Spaghetti Junction I’ll show you a diagram on the GPS rout and we got a weave through that then get back down on that road down there and as soon as we join it we come in the village of Wy and we almost

Instantly climb out of it over a level cross it right out there and that’s where the ran road goes along there margar 45 B let’s just have a look down entrance through this wonderful trees look at that coming down on someone’s gutter ah yeah it did say it set up on a

Hillside just hear the running water behind that Victorian post box there war box green track leading back up the main road by the F all these such Cottages this would have been Stairway to Heaven up to the church that’s this wonderful Ivy these wonderful Stone stairs it’s really the void of Discovery

Today when I think how many times I’ve ridden along that road just down there unaware that all of this was here wow quite imposing isn’t it oh look at that down there looking down on the river then the church suddenly reveals itself I do love this place I really do

Next time I come back I’m going to see if I can come along the Riverside the description of that church seems to suggest there may be a Rivero footpath It’s The Old Road in and out of the village Road’s got that sunken feel to it as it comes down cut into the

Hillside oh I can just see a l flashing by definitely rable with a lot of care but for me personally personal opinion I’d rather ride this slowly and cautiously to be a little bit faster but on that and as we come in to the Village of Wy we’re actually crossing the river

Wy and as I all also thought earlier there could well be a Wy foot paath so that might be an alternative you can see it flowing along quite quick here definitely needs a little bit more research here to make that leg to fiston delir safer more pleasant so we’re

Coming into the village of oy Once We join that Minor Road the one we were on earlier on the work Cy we’re going to turn off it right almost immediately and that’s cross the r and climb out of the valley then the church there right next

To the PB half 11 just a shade to early Mary the Virgin W once again I’ve never been done this way I’ve just stayed well away from the main Ro didn’t even know there was a Village stores here just to recap to make that detour to fisherton delir I have’ coming from

That direction carried on down this way by the wonderfully named teapot Street always wonder where that went now I know we’re going right where that car is about to turn climbing out of the valley so got the main road the A36 this W Valley Min Road River and the

Railway which we just back across the railway on Denton Road level crossing and then it’s a steep CL up under the great rdge now climbing out of the valley I can see so many land mark SE the traffic going along the A36 War ssby Road and over there in the closer distance

Probably better example of it there that’s the a303 a303 just cut across the A36 there that’s the northern Ridge heading out the Wy Valley that would be heading over to the work D and we’re near the summit and as this road starts to drop down to n we’re

Turning off right and it’s a section of farm track and Farm Road I think is a cut through from somebody told me it was for milk containers so they didn’t have do do u-turns on the b33 it allows them to cut across down to local farms and

That’s what we’re doing today and I’ve always considered that to be part of margar 45b maybe not geographically exact but it’s pretty much doing the same thing very close to where margar 45b would have been so Summit and then turn right that way over to our for stretch over that way

Somewhere before we eventually head back down into Wilton that way very atmospheric up here not sure if I’d want to be caught up bad weather actually and the road sort of Kinks around does a bit of a a z Bend here as it starts to cut into The Descent on the

Way down may see a sharp deviation sign there so heading to the left we’re going to be turning off to the right so it may look like I’m going done a muddy track but it will become metal be careful this is a blind Bend so I believe margar

45b emerged on that track along there and then came along here so we’re roughly on the course of an old Roman Road and then this will suddenly just turn in to a a metal Farm rad you’ll see what I meant almost like a runway on an Airfield can you see it suddenly goes

From muddy track to a metal f Road restricted byway so possibly that might be margar 45b coming in that way I’ve always assumed it’s more this way keeping a straight line this will open up in a minute when we leave the tree canopy get some cracking views up here on the summer

Days absolutely beautiful may get a few people parked up walking their dog maybe hikers once up here I saw what I seem to be an archaeology team looked like they were doing a dig and they were putting a drone up as well what they thought of me I didn’t

Put in my Roman eight I don’t know that was one of the occasions when I wrote the section just as Roman Centurion here we are it’s definitely got that feel of a farm mode but it also for me being a bit of a history geek it feels like I’m

Riding an old Roman Ro here just come along this section across this Minor Road go north to south can see all the a303 going along there we’re going to carry Straight on remaining on a byway but I think it might be a good idea to check the distance to the next

Church so it’s going to be St Leonard at Beric St Leonard at 26 miles and we’re on 23 and A4 so I believe we go along there and eventually we turn off down to the left I think see the woods up there and that big tower that’s basically

Where margar 45 B with head and I’ve tried going that way going this way and both are quite tricky and both of them eventually Force you on to the a303 and fortunately it’s single carriageway which very quickly turns into dual carriageway and when you get to near the areial where you want to

Start vearing off it westwards it’s actually Central reservation which means you can actually cut across the dra carriageway you got have to wait for a gap of the traffic and safely get back onto the course of what is actually well established as marget 45 lots of it even experts can’t

Agree exactly where it ran but there’s a section along there where I think most people agree that was it following the great L longer anyway I diverge along here then at some point we’re going to be heading down to our next Church okay that short section of restricted byway

Brings us this Minor Road here and we’re going to leave the byway here head down there into cranor Chase restricted byway heads that way to if you’re following margar 45b that’s one of the options to get over to those woods there okay dropping off this bridge and I can see

We’re coming up to T Junction this is probably a good place to describe what we’re doing so we’re coming down off the ridge that’s that road running right to left there we’re going to turn right and that’s our dog leg down to the next church and this is the overview of the

Route so that’s the start that’s the big loop at the finish so we’re coming down maybe not as clear on here we go along to do that dog leg then when we come back we carry on in that direction When we dropped off that Ridge we came down joined this road we’re

Coming this way we just passed through font Hill bishop and we’re at this Junction here SS is that way as you can see we’ll be heading back that way front Hill Gord and T down that way biggest state part you go through there through there a few times we’re heading this way

To our next Village on the road to wincanton but it’s quite um a nasty tricky headwind along here so presumably after lunch when we turn around it’ll be beneficial going back that way I hope so anyway but I’m quite looking forward to getting there now can’t be more than

Another mile so we’re already on 27 miles well I’ve just checked the list and it says St Leonard baric at 26 miles and we’re on 27 so I may have added a little bit on but it can’t be much further along there but there is much long there there really is it’s quite

Bleak that Village almost came out of nowhere whenever the figures don’t Stack Up start having s out so I just wanted to make sure I was definitely heading west which I am I’m I kind of knew I was from the bearings on that but I just

Want to make sure I turn wrong at that Junction back there but I can also see there’s a band just sign up there so hopefully that’s a village because you know we’ve by looks of it we’re going to be over distance anyway just a little bit of reassurance there and hey ho we

Are coming into Barrack St Leonard it’s very Bleek long here okay just pass a bus yard to there in a post box and layby going down onto an estate by look it bar down here somewhere looks like it moves about a little bit get a better

Idea once we start moving okay as you come in this little farmer State some houses residences up there I think that’s a church in front of us it seems to sort of correspond with the GPS so we’re going to go weave up b along to it maybe along that foot path just just

Follow the track so it looks like you’re heading into that farm State you cross a little stream here along the sun metal track that must be the church there well I should have taken that little track up there to the houses and then come on the back but this also gets you there

Through this foot path here we are St Leonard’s Church I can tell that’s a faded CCT Church sign nothing left on it welcome the church is open please do come in and look there’s a porch gosh with the Bell ropes candle that or Church’s conservation TR definitely we are here micro

Volunteer s L’s Church I won’t eat my sandwiches in church I never do I just feel it’s a little bit disrespectful but I will come out and use the porch really nice at the cold here I’ve don’t think I’ve ever seen PS in the porch

Before okay time to get all my Garin off start charging everything charge me camera and everything that in [Applause] there that’s going to be my lunch spot so I bought at my day power pack it’s the bin 10,000 milliamp Hour Power Pack so I’m just topping me ging up that’s

The one I’m navigating and recording the r on it’s down to 40% so that definitely needs a charge that’s the USBC cable and I’ll be topping this action camera up when I come out the church but I want to actually go in there and film that all

Hopped off as usual right let’s go inside I’ve got the page up but I’ll discuss that when we come back up oh cold and musty smell not unpleasant but just it does h a little bit as you come in dropping temperature he the wind blowing through

These font at the back with the cover some candles the brass top W beam roof doesn’t look like there’s any electric lights here plent of candles quite a low Stone pull pit I bet this is really nice when it’s lit up with the candles why candles everywhere look that little

Sister the wind was through the r yeah that was quite hard work coming this way westwards so hopefully going eastwards it’ll be a lot easier towards W this afternoon okay as usual into the chancel upper step Mosaic floor as usual just the the tone in the atmosphere appears to change when com in

The Chanel up to the water stain glass window symbolizes rebirth North seem less favorably West seem less favorably East s more favor as I understand it be Hest I wasn’t going to eat my sandwiches in I just I just will not do that but I can’t feeling it’s actually

Probably going to be warmer outside in that porch it feels quite cold in here atmospher though we get the page up quickly tell you a little bit about it here we are St Lenard’s Church Beric Wilshire pretty good photograph of the outside stained glass there en Chantel oh those etchings outside I’m pretty

Sure they’re significant so maybe read up about those hopefully mosaics haven’t seen that yet go and look for that see what it says okay the overview poignant monuments to Lost Children the low Tower and pretty porch of this tiny church are seen through trees from the road of 12th century

Origin and 1859 restoration by the owner the local font Hill estate saved it from complete Decay the font and a sculptured belief of the Lamb of God on the SC doorway are Norman survivals a handsome 1647 Monument depicts George how and his wife caressing a skull and another poignant

Monument is to the six children of George how the oldest of whom was 3 years of age right let’s see if we can spot some of that the font and sculpture belief of the Lamb of God over the safe doorway on Norman Survivals maybe that means out cuz there oh no what’s that there one step ah yeah the L of God not etching there pretty sure that’s relevant just mention it though a handsome 1647 Monument depicts George how and his wife caressing a skull I want to said that was a skull but it’s

Quite dark in here on the wall there’s a stone set into the church and it’s inscribed St Leonard Beric St Leonard and I’ll try and explain what these couple of lines mean the best of my ability it says this church is maintained by the Redundant churches fund as I understand it that

Was the original charity or the fund set up to save these historic churches as they were transferred from the church across to the fund and I understand they changed the name from the Redundant churches fund which basically just not very inspiring really is it to the church’s conservation trust so that was the

Original charity and it says though no longer required for regular worship it remains consecrated to the service of God please respect it accordingly the key please see separate notice I think so it may occasionally be locked or possibly used to be locked go this leg work around here

Why gosh my hands are quite cold in this wind I’m hoping it’s going to be warmer and a bit easier cycling this afternoon anyway really is time for lunch now this is going to be my lunch stop so I bought a drink on my bike and also my

Sandwiches from Bath I’ve actually put on my waterproof thin Mac my showerproof Mac just to try and keep the warmth in shutting I don’t is going to make it any warmer but maybe psychologically it may feel a little bit more cozy in here go would it be nice to have candle

Going anyway time for lunch it’s going to be getting dark around about 5:00 I’d like to get to the last Church in the light the church after this is going to be in Wilton I honestly cannot place where it is it’s probably up a side street somewhere I’ve been through

Wilton so many times I know where the main modern Church is and then we head SL down into chalk Valley before coming back up into Salsbury from the safe and then WEA the spoons is very close to the railway station but the final church is

Quite off the Beaten Track by the C more so than this maybe I don’t know this is pretty off the beating track I’ve just fired up the garments I just want to do a progress check so that says we’ve done 27. 68 say 27.7 miles and this church should have been at 26

Or thereabouts That was supposed to been 28 and I’ve written it down wrong I don’t know but we could well be almost 2 miles out so the next one is Wilton at 39 miles so we’ve got another 13 miles so it’s 13 on top of

That going to be about 40th just to give me a rough idea that’s going to be St Mary old church in Wilton so unless anything happens I’m going to concentrate on getting the won that way appear to have climbed up on this ledge looking down on the another wonderful up here these lovely

Old Woods on my right hand side not car in sight heading towards our next church at Wilson what what we on now 324 miles I warmed up I’ll be taking a layer off shortly just keeping it on in case we do a sudden drop off this Ridge

Yeah this is wonderful looking back over towards the Ry the Direction we’ come so we running parallel really to that road just the other side of those trees but I keep hearing some booms I’m getting that shock wave you know on me the sand wave so I imagine it’s probably the Army up

On S we play possibly over by in you know artillery or or tanks firing and this is where we’re heading drop down onto this what appears to be like a b Road it’s not very busy making very good progress as I hope we would we’re running right alongside the

River Nader look at that flowing really fast this is barford St Mary assuming there must be a bridge here heading towards Wilton oh just spent hours here looking at that it’s wonderful that’s looking safe for Italian Crown porn Chase came in from the left on it was a

B Road and then we’ve joined the a30 Salsbury that way we just taken this little leg here crossing the river NAD as you can see then along there we’re going to take a left stand turn so then we’re basically crossing over the river we’re going to follow it parallel on the

Southern Bank of it along here about a mile or so is the village of Fant see that big chalk Ridge up there there’s a load of chalk barges carved into that there were many different nationalities and regiments stationed all in the this area during the first world war and they carved tro

Regimental badges into that Hillside up there I was hoping you might be able to see it from me but you can’t but it’s about another mile that way it’s well worth a view there’s even a lab by there and it’s got um an information board telling you which each badge represents

There’s even one there on for of Pal’s balion of the post office cuz I used to be a postman so that’s quite poignant for me anyway crossing the another couple of hundred yards more on this A3 which is not that busy and we’re going to be heading towards won that way well

As if from nowhere Wilton suddenly appeared I’ve been loving riding alongside the stream of the N but coming into Wilton the location of my fifth church and I’ve just checked my arery says it will be at 39 miles and I’m now on 38 so I could well have written that

Last one down wrong the one that confused me 26 28 Etc anyway Wilton there’s a much more interesting and inspiring boundary sign just a few hundred yard on historic Wilton ancient capital of Wessex we’re looking for St Mary’s old church again coming up to T Junction

There giveway sign and you can see we go left that dog leg that’s where the church should be then we Trace head that way to the final Church anyway left at this T Junction I’ve already put my load on not sure what time it is but cars are already starting to load up

It’s set in the Time Square all shops surounding it the bottom half is a room you can clearly see the footprint of the Nave as you come in through the door this would be the remains of the Nave and the chancel very light very warm feeling it says here St Mary’s old

Church in the medieval period of English History history there were said to be 12 churches in Wilton the site of St Mary’s old church this is thought to be the earliest of these looks a model of the complete Church in Wood gosh wonder what that’s all about oh it

Says Old St Mary’s Church model according to the church’s conservation trust records the model of Old St Mary’s church was thought to be made by a local clock maker somewhere in the second half of the 19th century the accurate detail of the Hidden interior suggests someone with an intimate knowledge of the

Church they don’t know who he was up the step is the chancel to the a they’re not real can they they’re electric flickering ones still very very vocative looking up at the stained glass crucifixion window I’m filming on my phone cuz my microphone for the action camera has

Just lost his charge so I’m just charging that so I’ll put the church’s conservation trust page for this church up now rather than try and read off it read off it that stained glass at the back it’s only about 3:30 but it’s feels like it’s lighting up time already so we’re fleeting

Visit see the traffic lights I’m going to be heading that way climbing out of this Valley the nther across to the chalk I’ll put a diagram on screen now what we’re doing but basically saw be just a couple of miles that way we’re literally on the

Outskirts of it but we’re going to go down there and do a big U below it and that’ll be the site of the last Church really looking forward to that cuz it sounds very remote and I saw someone put a Twitter post on about it last year sometime and it caught my

Imagination then so I’ve been wanting to come to it for ages there that’s not to take anything away from this one this is lovely it’s funniest not I know this place quite well been here many times but it just feels cuz I’ve come here

With a a theme I’m just seeing it in a completely different way just before we head off I’ve checked my tiny this was on 39 miles and it is you can see 39.4 2 and the next one is 43 so just 4 miles that way before we loop back around into

Salsbury Rush Hour darkness and weather spoons just done a grind up that hill which is quite hard work now I’ve just been sent down this P away uh looks like I got about 2 miles to go maybe a bit under and it’s coming up to 400 p.m. so

I don’t particularly want to be here in the dark so let’s get a crack on okay luckily that section was only about half a mile long and about half of it was quite soft and boggy muddy wouldn’t wanted to ride that in the dark cuz there sort of pool that filled with

Water I was able to avoid them in the light and then it’s got more firm I’ve come out here opposite the entrance to the race course and my garment sending me down there on tarmac thank goodness we’re now dropping down quite steeply I think we’re going down into

Chalk Valley you can sort of see a line along there cars coming along with their lights it looks like coming into a village that could well be our ours Stu for Tony I can certainly see the Tower of what looks like a church there so it

Could be that building right in front of us see if I can zoom in that Tower sort of about there as I thought we’re coming into statford Tony the village and if I show the Garmin track there you can see we’re here where the cursor is we’re about to go straight on

R to the right that dead end dog leg that’s the church then weet trace and head off the left towards Salsbury and weather spoons we’ve just dropped down off that Ridge and then we’ve come to this T Junction stroke Crossroads you can see the road I’ve come down sign

Posted back up to the race course and we’re going to be eventually heading left towards Salsbury but first up we’re heading down this s through road to our final church this is is the track the description talks about down a track this is the river chalk actually the light

For and then it’s isolated around here this Ward Garden here I can see a sign post down there by the bins turning around to right there you can see by this Junction on the green all these bins historic church sign down there but I came straight through this noer road

Which just fizzled out into a track across the chalk River and here is the location and that is the church up there St Michael and another Saint I can’t remember which two I can’t wait to get in there I was hoping to get here before dark today’s been absolutely

Fantastic but gosh what up setting so glad to we’ve got here in the light see the car lights coming down the hill there plenty of electric lights here which is surprise me there’s the outer solid door there’s like a chicken C wiring door to keep birds out then solid in her

Outdoor you can see there’s plenty of light in here Stone font with a wooden top by look at it yeah Bell Tower with some stair but you’re not allowed up there as I thought no one was was access it’s very steep isn’t it up through the ceiling into the

Bel back through the S wreath of poppies there that’s where all the lights I’ll make sure I switch everything out before I go St Mary and St Lawrence red tiled floor fairly low pews in there actually all these wonderful lights very atmospheric and quite a high

Pulpit and as we step up into the Chanel it’s almost like box pews here was up for the choir I’m not too sure the real subtle lighting looking at the Al I put stained glass for the crucifixion wow this this book somebody’s been here today the 30th I think that says but

Before that it was the 19th so I’ll be the second visitor today oh group of two so I’ll be the third the the third that I’ve recorded that visit anyway there signed the book and you see B samet visit in six wils CCT churches by B SCH today oh

Yeah 20 to6 I’m in SSB this is SSB Cathedral you may just see the Spire up there tallest in the UK it was a nice fast and smooth riding for statford Tony which felt like a be Road few cars but not too bad and then I turn

Left and there was a long grind you know out of the chalk Valley and I suddenly realized I was going up by the hospital before you Dro down into Salsbury and on the right hand side there’s a really smooth cycopath I’d used it before so I

Stayed on that came down to a really busy Junction on the outskirts had to put me light on follow gar it took me through a gap in the Hedge and I’m on this cycle path and literally where the spoons is about less than a mile from

Here so I’m well happy I should be sat down by 6:00 I Hope it’s now coming up to 7:30 p.m. in the evening and my train is at 7:42 it’s on time I’ve been monitoring it on the train line app I got to WEA the spoons bang on 6:00 locked up and had lasagna and chips couple of

Pints and also had a apple crumb some I cream that went down really well really enjoyed that and basically just getting the train home now to Bath as you can see there nobody else appears to be waiting for it my bike is brooked on so I mean

Hopefully there’s plenty of space for it I’m hoping it’s going to be really quiet train I did say at the beginning of the video I’ll tell you a little bit about me and Linda’s little Adventure next week so let me just tell you a brief

Summary cuz I hope to make a video about it it’s my birthday next week and we’ve booked the Travel Lodge at D for the week we don’t just go down there for the week you know walks shopping days out uh plenty of options I like the history

There’s plenty of things for me to do that I just don’t ever get bored there anyway cut long story short we booked the we booked the premier in for Christmas we booked our train ticket it’s got an AB bargain we thought of course next Monday’s train strike and

It’s our train company that’s not running that day so I’m hoping there may be one or two trains running but you know can’t guarantee it we won’t know until the day so I said to Linda let’s look into get the bus then so we looked into it and it’s not

Straightforward there’s no point to point it’s like um Hub and spoks service and believe me it’s going to be if it all goes to plan it be 5 hours and 12 minutes because none of the buses coordinate with each other you know they get in five minutes after the one you

Want left and they stop at every single stop on the way down to the small villages so it could either be a brilliant experience Journey from H anyway we’ve we’ve said that we quite often watch Race Around the World in bed at night on the I player and it’s easy

To say oh you know I want have done that oh that’s a d decision well this is something saris there so it’ll how it pans out we just don’t know as I said it’ll either be bit of an adventure or complete disaster so the default fallback option which may pan out is we

Just go down the following day so we we lose a night’s accommodation we’ve already paid for but our train ticket will be valid for the following day but trying to work out the fairs or it’s beyond me in theory it should be 2 pound for the whole journey because it says

When you get on your first bus just tell what your final destination is it should be two plan for a single but I can’t see that some I can you where we live into bath bus station bath bus station to Wells bus station hours wa there Wells

Bus station to Yo bus station yo bus station to georger bus station and those are every 90 minutes so can you see all that for can you see all that for 2 pound so that’s what the next video will be not going to do a holiday video I’ll

Just do a quick blog about how that Dr goes anyway thanks so much for watching next so for me Hope’s bath see you soon the next station is waron this is a Great Western Railway service to cage Central just quick footnote we’ve just passed dilton Mar

Station so we must be very close to Old dilton you can see it’s pitch black out there we must be going along that embankment right across St Mary’s Church the first one we went to this morning that lovely wooded Valley quite excited about that somehow see you next Time