River Route

The signed National Cycle Network Route 403 (an offshoot of NCN4) passes through Chippenham. The section between Calne and Lacock, known as the North Wiltshire Rivers Route, is maintained by Chippenham Town Council.

This is the shadow of the man many residents don't even know exists. His name is Alen and he is the River Warden who looks after the Rivers Route, the fact that the route maintains its natural look is all down to a lot of careful hard work to keen nature from running away with itself.

A day in the life of the River Warden begins with Alan leaving his base at London Road Cemetery. From there he cycles the route along the covered railway tracks to Chippenham, checking that the life preservers are all in good order and where they should be, and nothing any areas requiring attention to which he will return with the appropriate equipment. At Chippenham the route continues towards Lacock crossing the river at the weir and past the Millennium Wall, made up of tiles decorated by local children. Along the way he will try to pick up any litter he sees and make notes of areas requiring future attention, so he can return with the appropriate equipment. He cycles the whole of the 10.5 mile route between Calne and Lacock once a week.

The Rivers Route is maintained with an environmentally conscious mind. Any fallen trees are moved off the pathway but left to sustain natural wildlife. Alan also goes beyond the call of duty by planting seedlings and left over plants from town plantings to enhance the area. Trees will flourish for future generations because of the commendable approach to sustainability.

There is always something to see along the route, whatever the time of the year, it is equally as pretty with a frost on the ground in winter as it is with bluebells in May. Views from the route include pretty countryside, sheep, cows, birds and ducks and the occasional deep. There are an abundance of blackberry brambles free for picking in late summer and Alan tries to cut a path through to make it easier to reach bigger areas.

The job is by no means easy as he has been attacked and bitten by several dogs, so please spare a thought for him the next time you let your dog off its leash. He would also like to point out that there are no litter or dog bins along the route, so please eiter take your rubbish home or, if walking the dog he requests it much better to let your dog go off to the side of the path to take care of business and leave it there, where nature will take care of it, rather than to put it into plastic bags by the path side waiting for someone to pick it up.

The Rivers Route is used by walkers, cyclists, mobility scooters and educational school trips and Alan has even seen people heading back to Calne with loca shopping bags rather than take the bus. Maps and further information are available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Yelde Hall or the Information point in the Town Hall.

Further information on the Rivers Route and cycling in North Wiltshire can be found on the Sustrans website http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you/south-west/wiltshire

Update

A short section of the Lacock to Chippenham cyclepath, between  Wheelers Wood and Bewley Green at the base of Naish Hill, is currently closed to cyclists. A signed diversion is in place which uses main roads. There are plans to reinstate this section of the cyclepath in the future and updates will be provided on the Sustrans website. The closure does not affect pedestrians.

Please see the below maps for further details of the diverted route:

Chippenham - Lacock 403 diversion

Chippenham diversion (detail)