•Walk 8 -The Swill Brook and Minety Moor

A 6 mile walk

From the White Hart go up to Church Walk and join the Thames Path heading west towards Somerford Keynes (with the river on your right) past the pumping station. About Vi mile after crossing the Cirencester/Wootton Bassett road the path runs along a small wood to the south. This stretch of the Thames is rich in songbirds, including goldcrests and long-tailed tits. As the wood ends there is a path to the south (left) and a signpost to Poole Keynes. This path leaves the Thames and runs with a lake on the west (right-hand side) and Freeth's wood on the left.

Follow the path along the ditch line and then follow the edge of the fence. This skirts a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so designated because of rare grass, at Pike Corner. The path goes west following the line of a small river called Swill Brook for almost a mile, then it skirts a lake on the right until it reaches Howclls Barn, with its resident stock doves. It is well worth a scan of the lakes on the right for gulls, tern and a variety of wildfowl before turning sharply left across a stream by the barn. Follow the path as it winds between some old gravel lakes until you reach a lane. The last lake on the left before the lane is now a nature reserve run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (although in Gloucestershire!). You may see hobbies in summertime catching dragonflies in their claws. Head left down the lane. After about Vi mile there is a farm lane to Swillbrook Farm on the left (heading east).

Follow the lane until it splits at the farm. There is a gate on the right hand side to the south. The bridle-path continues straight on but you should go through the gate and head across the field - there is a stile opposite. Go over the stile and up the slope in a fairly narrow field. At the top you will reach Rigsby's Lane - an old "Green Lane". Turn left into the lane - heading east You will have to cross some moveable stock barriers - just slide them out of their supports - and then replace them.

Follow the lane for about '/i mile as it bends left. You will come across 2 aluminium gates - one on either side. Take the right hand side (heading east again). As you enter the field you will see 2 trees straight ahead of you in the opposite hedge. Go through between the trees. Following the line to the opposite hedge and then follow the hedge to the left (north). You will come across a gate hidden in the angle of the hedge. Keep the hedge on your left and go straight down the field. You will then cross a stile in the corner. If you find that the ditches are severely flooded then backtrack to the earlier gate and go through a gate about 100 metres to the right (north). Cross the next field and you will see a "hunt barrier" that you can climb over - and rejoin the official path.

Having crossed the stile (or gone back to it from the hunt barrier) then cross the next field to a stile on the opposite side. Climbing the stile and crossing the bridge, you will cut across the remains of another Green Lane - go straight up the field (heading straight on). There is a patchy hedge to your left - go through and then keep it to your right. You will reach another fence - cross the stile into a large open field. Head diagonally left across the field (look for a sign in the distance). If you hit the Swill Brook on your left, you can follow it downstream to the stile. In the far corner is a stile and you join the Cirencester/Wootton Bassett road. Turn left and follow the road You will then come across the "Deny" leading to the right Follow this road back into the village, turning left along the High Road to return to the White Hart