Basepoint Centre to West Swindon Centre and Shaw Ridge

Starts at Basepoint Business Centre, Rivermead Drive SN5 7EX

45 minutes | 2.3miles 3.7km | Easy

ID: 230.2 | Developed by: Grahame Lee | Checked by: Valerie Barron | www.getwalking.org/swindon

A brisk circular walk from the Basepoint Centre along tarmac footpaths through green open and wooded areas. The halfway point is the West Swindon Centre where refreshments can be purchased, returning through the open Shaw Ridge green area.

Starts at

Basepoint Business Centre, Rivermead Drive, SN5 7EX. (Circular.)

Getting there

The bus route 19 stops close by on the main Mead Way with a bus stop by the childrens soft play centre. There is ample parking in and around the Basepoint Centre.

Route instructions

Starting from: The Basepoint Centre Roundabout

[1] Starting from the Basepoint roundabout take the right hand pavement heading back towards the Spectrum Centre and West Swindon. Keep to the right hand pavement at the end of the buildings to the right of the road and follow through the underpass. After the underpass follow the tarmac path round to the right and continue until you reach the bridge and footpath crossroads.

(A) The Basepoint Business Centre provides space for small and start up businesses.

[2] Turn right here and pass through the underpass following the signs to West Swindon District Centre. Keep to the footpath on the left, with the brook and children’s play area to your right. The Fire Station is to your left behind the fence. Keep to this footpath and go straight ahead at the first junction until you reach a footbridge crossing the brook to the right.

[3] Cross the footbridge, following the signs to the West Swindon District Centre. Keep the Westlea School playing fields to your right and continue until the road junction. Cross the road, Langstone Way. Take care when crossing the road. Continue straight ahead passing between the houses. At the pedestrian crossing use the traffic lights to cross the road, Corton Crescent, and continue straight ahead passing alongside the Asda main building. Take care when crossing the road and use the controlled traffic lights.

(B) The West Swindon District Centre contains shops and food outlets where refreshments can be bought for consumption in the green space area of Shaw Ridge.

[4] Continue past the main entrance of the West Swindon Centre , unless you need to shop, and pass left of the trolley bay on your right. Turn right on to the broad pavement and continue until you reach the road. Take care when crossing the road as this is a busy bus turning area. Cross the road and go straight ahead through the underpass, keep to the right and continue past the buildings which are on your left. Continue up the slope into the green area known as Shaw Ridge.

[5] Pass the first footpath on your right and take the 2nd footpath on the right into the open area. You will be heading towards the statue in the middle of the open space. Continue along the ridge, passing the footpath on your right leading to Shaw Ridge School. As the path bends round into the valley take the next footpath on your right which runs between the houses and into the Bramptons. Take the footpath in the right hand corner of the cul de sac which runs alongside the tennis court until you reach The Bramptons road. Cross the road and take the footpath to the right of the road name sign. Continue along this road until you reach the Shaw Road. Turn left and keep to the footpath until you reach Old Shaw Lane.

(C) The statue is named “How the Mighty Fall 1989″ by Tim Sandys-Renton and is made of aluminium and cast iron. The sculpture is like an archaeological artefact from the 20th Century which requires its viewers to transport themselves into the future.

[6] Keep to the left into Old Shaw Lane and continue until you reach the bend in the road and the footpath on the right. Take this footpath until you reach the road. Cross the road, Cartwright Drive. Take care when crossing this road as traffic moves fast and visibility is not good. Pass into the green area, following the footpath, passing the children’s play area to your right.

[7] Continue along the footpath to the sloped gravel path and down to the underpass. Take care when descending the slope as it may be slippery when wet. Go through the underpass and turn right following the footpath around the building until you reach the road again. Turn left at the road and return to your starting point at the Basepoint roundabout.

(D) In the green area is another statue and this is called the “White Horse Pacified 1987″ by Julie Livsey and is made of concrete and steel. The statue is designed to represent the various famous chalk white horses surrounding Swindon.

Acknowledgements
Developed by: Grahame Lee
Checked by: Valerie Barron
Thanks to Roger and Val Barron for checking the details of this route.

Filed under: Swindon Walking Routes
Tagged: Basepoint Business Centre, Ramblers, Shaw Ridge, swindon, walk, Walking, west swindon
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