Explore Wiltshire

Beautiful Wiltshire is characterised by chalk hills and valleys and the mainly rural location offers some stunning views.

The Marlborough Downs are in fact part of the North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

The great wild expanse of Salisbury Plain is well known for the ancient monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury but also as the training ground for the British Army and the home of the county bird, the Great Bustard.

The county has one city – Salisbury – and 21 towns including Swindon (the largest) and Royal Wooton Bassett.

Landlocked Wiltshire neighbours the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Berkshire. Its highest point at 295m is Milk Hill ridge in the Pewsey Vale and Tan Hill near Allington is only slightly lower at 294m. The 2001 Census recorded over 610,000 inhabitants in industries from the military to farming.

The ancient county town used to be Wilton where the county court sat and parliamentary elections of county members were held until 1832. The county town is now  Trowbridge and Wiltshire Council which was formed in 1889 has its base there.

Wiltshire has plenty to see and do, from sightseeing and easy strolls at one end of the spectrum to paramotoring and go-karting at the more extreme end. With plenty of archaeological sites, beautiful chalk downland, National Trust and English Heritage properties plus high adrenaline sporting activities, there’s something for everyone.

A few ideas of things to do:

  • See the sun rise at Stonehenge on the summer or winter solstice
  • Learn to fly with old Sarum Flying School
  • A day out at Wilton House and Gardens
  • Walk around Silbury Hill
  • See the animals at Longleat Safari Park
  • Walk around the beautiful gardens at Stourhead
  • Paramotoring in Mere
  • Drive an F1 car at Castle Combe Circuit
  • See Great Bustards on Salisbury Plain
  • Stroll around the picturesque village of Castle Combe
  • Climb the spire at Salisbury Cathedral
  • Visit Avebury stone circle
  • See the ruins of Wardour Castle
  • Dog racing at Swindon Greyhounds
  • Paintballing at Purton House
  • A day at Salisbury Races
  • Climbing at the Swindon Link Centre
  • Riding through Grovely Woods with Grovely Riding Centre
  • Visit the ghost town of Imber
  • Mountain biking on Pewsey Downs
  • Walking through Savernake Forest
  • Street luging on Gurston Down
  • A day in Lacock
  • Ice skating in Swindon