Current Trails

Old Town Railway Path Trail

Enjoy this linear (one way) route from the Mannington Retail Park to Old Town.

Distance: 2.2 miles (with an additional mile to the Fleming Way bus stops to return to Mannington.)

Starting Point

The trail starts at Telford Way, at the back of the Mannington Retail Park.  You can get here by bus – plan your journey at https://www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/plan-a-journey/.

What Three Words: ///crowned.minds.grant

1. 1.  Walk down Scott Way, go under the railway bridge and then immediately turn left onto a path signposted “Old Town”.
   2. Follow this path as it becomes the Old Town Railway Path. Keep going straight ahead.

What to look out for:  There are several white stone wheels at the side of the path. They represent Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Conceive.

1. 1. As you approach Old Town, you will go under the road bridges at Springfield Road and Croft Road.  The path then ends and you’ll come out into the Signal Way Trading Estate.
   2. Turn left after Unit 17 and go up the steps.  Follow the path onto Station Approach, which will come out on Newport Street

If you are unable to use the steps, then continue through the industrial estate, turn left onto Marlborough Road and then left into Newport Street and continue to Station Approach.

1. 1. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross Newport Street, then head around the corner onto Croft Road.
   2.  After 200 metres, the Arts Centre / Old Town Library will be on your right hand side.  This is the end of the trail.  Between October 1st 2025 and December 31st 2025 you can collect your limited edition badge* from the library and post your prize draw entry.  (Library opening hours Mon – Fri 10.30am – 4pm, Sat 10am – 1pm)  If the library is closed, you can enter the prize draw by scrolling further down this webpage

*Badges are for the first 200 people to complete the trail.

Congratulations on finishing the walk and we hope you had fun exploring!

Getting back to the start

Buses head back to Mannington from Fleming Way at regular intervals.  Services include:

Services 1, 1a from Bus stop G

Stagecoach 7 from Bus stop K

Stagecoach 53 from Bus stop J2

Stagecoach 55 from Bus stop H

Coate Water Loop  (The Fish Trail)

Enjoy this circular route around Coate Water

Distance: 2 miles

Starting Point
The trail starts at the entrance gates to Coate, on Marlborough Road.  You can get here by bus – plan your journey at https://www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/plan-a-journey/.

What Three Words: ///mushroom.warblers.snappy

1. Walk along the path into Coate Water Country Park.  Keep going straight ahead.</li?
2. You will soon see the diving platform and toilet block ahead of you.  Continue towards the path at the lake.
3. Once at the lake, turn left and begin a clockwise route around the lake.Things to note:
   You can get to Richard Jefferies Museum from the lake – it is signposted from the northern corner.  There is also a model railway in this corner of the park, which is open on Sundays.
4. Continue on the path as it veers right around the eastern side of the lake.Things to see:
   The Garden of reflection is on the right.  It was created in 2022 as a pollinator and a place for people to immerse themselves in nature. A little further on is the Council Oak – why not read the plaque to find out more about it?
5. At the end of the lake, cross the bridge, and continue to follow the path signed “Lakeside Walk”.  Be sure to look up and see how many bird boxes you can spot on this stretch.
6. Cross the next wooden bridge and take care as the path is close to the road at this point.  Keep following the main path as it loops clockwise. The avenue of trees will help guide you back towards the start.
7.  Soon you will be back to the café by the diving platform, where the trail ends.

Between October 1st 2025 and December 31st 2025 you can collect your limited edition badge* from the cafe and post your entry.  (Café’s winter opening hours 10am – 3pm, daily)

If the cafe is closed, you can enter the prize draw by scrolling down this webpage

*Badges are for the first 200 people to complete the trail.
Congratulations on finishing the walk and we hope you had fun exploring!

North Swindon Fox Trail

Enjoy this circuit of Haydon Wick and Abbey Meads.
Distance: 2.3 miles

Starting Point

The trail starts at the Haydon Centre on Thames Avenue.  You can get here by bus – plan your journey at https://www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/plan-a-journey/.

What Three Words: ///clogging.renders.rigid

1.  Walk to the back of the Haydon Centre car park where you’ll see Rose Walk next to the Bowls club.
2. Head along Rose Walk passing the play park on the right.
3. At the end, continue straight ahead onto Pond Street.
4. At Haydon Wick Farmhouse, go through the barriers and continue walking along Pond Street
5. You’ll see a split in the path and a wooden bridge on the left going over the brook. Turn left here and follow the path, heading towards Abbey Meads.
6. Stay on the paved path and keep following it.  You’ll probably see lots of birds and squirrels on this stretch.
7. Eventually you will come to another footbridge.  Cross it and turn right.  If in doubt, follow the arrows on the blue stickers on the lamp posts.
8. The path emerges onto an open space and the path splits.  Follow the arrows to the left, then left again.  You’ll soon be walking underneath the power lines.  These are great for navigation.
9. Keep going straight and take care crossing the roads.
10. You’ll come to a split in the path.  Vere left towards the playpark, parting company with the power lines temporarily.
11. At the play park, the path splits again.  Take the path on the right back towards the power lines.
12. Keep following the path, staying under the power lines.
13. Just after Catherine Wayte School, carefully cross the road but DON’T head straight on.  Instead, turn right and take the next path on the left that heads you back towards Haydon Wick. Soon, the brook will be on your left and housing on the right.
14. At the end of the path, go through the barriers and turn left.  Watch out for bikes and cars as there’s no pavement on this stretch of lane.
15. Go through the barriers and past the allotments and you’ll see Rose Walk on your right.  Turn right and head back to the Haydon Centre where you began.Between October 1st 2025 and December 31st 2025 you can collect your limited edition badge* from the Haydon Centre reception, which is open Mon-Fri 7am – 10pm and Sat-Sun 7am – 2pm.If the centre is closed, you can enter the prize draw by scrolling further down this webpage.
    *Badges are for the first 200 people to complete the trail.Congratulations on finishing the walk and we hope you had fun exploring!

Previous Trails

Moredon Trail (The Robin Trail)

Enjoy this circular route from the Moredon Sporting Hub

Distance: 2.2 miles

Starting Point
The trail starts at the Moredon Sporting Hub, where you’ll find car and cycle parking, a café and toilets.  The nearest bus stop is on Akers Way, served by bus numbers 15 and 16.

What Three Words: ///beast.status.flags

1. With your back to the car park and the main pavilion building on your left, take the wide path on the right that runs alongside the cycle track.
2. Continue past the shipping containers
3. At the end of the path you’ll see a gravel path on the left with a dog bin.  Follow this path.
4. Keep following the path.  This may be bumpy for pushchairs / wheelchairs, and muddy after heavy rain.  Also take care around tree stumps and roots.
5. The path brings you out into a field.  Take the path to the left, where you’ll walk alongside the river.  Head towards the power lines.
6. Go under the power lines and you’ll come out on Route 45.
7. Turn right so that you are heading north. Keep going along this pretty stretch.
8. The path emerges onto Purton Road, where you turn right and follow the path into the housing estate.  Turn right so that you are following the pavement along Chicory Close.
9. Head uphill to the very top of Chicory Close where there is a short path to connect you onto Akers Way.
10. Turn right on Akers Way and follow the pavement all the way to Nova Hroed School.
11. Turn right and head down the school’s driveway.  At the bottom of the hill, use the pedestrian crossing to get to the gravel path on the left.
12. Follow this gravel path, with the cycle track appearing on your left. You’ll soon be back to the dog bin, where you turn left, walk back past the shipping containers and this will bring you back to the pavilion where you started.
13. Pop into the pavilion where you can collect a Robin badge from the reception and enter the prize draw.