Cricklade Country Way

The Cricklade Country Way is a multi transport route linking Swindon, Cricklade and the Cotswold Water Park. It comprises the restoration of the North Wilts Canal (a branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal), National Cycle Route 45, the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, connecting footpaths and cycleways, and nature and landscape restoration.  The aim of the project is to develop a multi transport route from Swindon to Cricklade linking to the Cotswold Water Park and communities in that area.

Click here to read about the latest update on the project (March 2008)

What is The Cricklade Country Way?
The Cricklade Country Way is an exciting and imaginative project which involves the restoration of an historic canal and a railway, and provides footpaths, bridlepaths and cycleways. By linking these, the Cricklade Country Way will provide a network of different types of routes which links towns and villages; provides routes to facilities and amenities; offers alternatives to car travel; or simply gives people the opportunity to enjoy the countryside.  The Cricklade Country Way starts at Mouldon Hill, Swindon and will create a green sustainable corridor to Cricklade, the Cotswold Water Park and the River Thames.

The Cricklade Country Way Trust
A Trust was originally set up to represent the interests of many stakeholders in the scheme.  Practical implementation of the project is being delivered by a partnership of Wiltshire County Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Swindon Borough Council, Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, Cricklade Town Council and Sustrans.

The Cricklade Country Way project is also working with organisations like the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Great Western Community Forest, English Nature, Woodland Trust and local experts in archaeology and history. Therefore, the Cricklade Country Way will not just be a network of paths, but will take into account wildlife and heritage. This will provide tremendous educational opportunities as well as recreation and leisure.

Since August 1998, the Cricklade Country Way has been an inspiration of the Trust and recent funding from Big Lottery Fund has now developed a Business Plan for the scheme.  Implementation of the project will be over 10 years and starts in 2008.


The project has a number of components, as follows:

The North Wilts Canal

This canal used to link 2 of the East- West running canals: the Wilts & Berks (from the Kennet & Avon canal South of Melksham to Abbingdon on the Thames), and the Thames & Severn (from Gloucester to Lechlade on the Thames). The North Wilts was 11 miles long and linked the former in Swindon to the latter just North of Cricklade. Disused for around 100 years, much of the canal has disappeared and in some places built over. However enthusiastic and hard work by volunteers has seen some notable structures and stretches of the canal restored in recent years.

In 2004 a study was carried out to select a route around Cricklade to replace that built over in the 1960’s. This resulted in an innovative design for a route to the East of Cricklade, which will bring moorings close to the heart of the town, combined with landscape and River Thames restoration of great benefit to the local Community.

National Cycle Route 45

NCR 45 runs from Gloucester to Salisbury, and passes through Stroud, Cirencester, Cricklade, Swindon, Marlborough and Amesbury. From Cirencester it passes through the Cotswold Water Park along a disused railway line to Cricklade. Then through the town centre and adjacent to the line of the Swindon and Cricklade Railway and minor roads to Moulden Hill Country Park on the edge of Swindon. The route is entirely available for use, although improvements and further links to it are planned as part of the ‘Living Landmarks’ Lottery bid.

Swindon and Cricklade Railway

This was part of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway which used to run from Cheltenham through Cirencester, Cricklade, Swindon and Marlborough to Andover. Currently a stretch of this Heritage Railway is in use on selected days from the Railway Centre at Blunsdon. The vision of the Railway Society is the extension of the railway South up to a new station at Moulden Hill on the edge of Swindon, and North to the edge of Cricklade. Work of restoration is constantly underway by volunteers. Completion of the whole of the planned railway is part of the ‘Living Landmarks’ bid.

Mouldon Hill

This is a planned facility for residents of the newly created areas of North Swindon and will be the gateway to the Cricklade Country Way.

Project Planning

A report on the species survey work carried out throughout the year will now enable the project team to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment required for Planning Approval.

A number of issues are being addressed following comments of the original application for the part of the project in North Wiltshire District.  It is anticipated that these issues can be resolved by early 2008 to allow the Planning Application to be amended and re-submitted.

Two areas of capital funding are being investigated from Europe and Defra and if appropriate new applications will be made in 2008.

The ‘Living Landmarks’ Lottery bid

During 2006 an application was made to the Big Lottery Fund for the Cricklade Country Way to be awarded funding as a Living Landmarks scheme.  In September 2006 the project was awarded a £250,000 development grant which has allowed the project to produce a fully costed Business Plan.  Only 3 of the original 23 Living Landmarks projects were awarded capital grants from Big Lottery Fund and the Cricklade Country Way Partners are now starting to implement the scheme while seeking other sources of capital funding.

For further information click on the links belows

Cricklade Country Way - Video available to watch on this website.

British Waterways

The Cotswold Water Park

The Countryside Agency

Cotswold Canals Trust

CTC

Greenways

Inland Waterways Association

The Ramblers Association

Sustrans

Swindon Borough Council

Swindon & Cricklade Railway

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Wiltshire County Council

How to have your say
It is very important that everyone has a chance to get involved in the Cricklade Country Way project.  The results of the most recent consultation are downloadable here:

Cricklade Country Way Consultation (PDF 346kB)

If you want to comment about the scheme you can do so:

By email to: info@crickladecountryway.org.uk

By telephone: 01249 706494

By post: Cricklade Country Way, Monkton Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1ER