Use car park or local bus number 7 or 20 to Grange Drive, SN3 4JY. Grid reference SU 175868

This route includes some grass paths but there are tarmac surface alternatives, suitable for those with buggies or with wheelchairs.

Note: Stratton Community Leisure Centre has toilets, nappy changing , vending machines and a bar with refreshments ( £1 to non members to visit bar!)

[1] Turn left as you leave the main door of Stratton Community Leisure Centre and proceed through the car park to the left.

Take care walking through the large car park. The disabled gate requires a radar key to open it for wheel chairs.

[2] Go left through the gate into the play area (suitable for all ages of children).

[3] Exit the play area and turn right opposite Shenton Close. Walk to Ermin Street, the old Roman Road. Turn left. Go to the zebra crossing and cross the road. Turn right and go past the Wheatsheaf to the next junction to the left. Bear left into Church Street.

(A) The tree on the pavement island is where a Canadian pilot was killed in World War II. The nearby red seat is a memorial to him.

[4] Go past the Church entrance and take the footpath on the left into the park. Continue on the path keeping the dried up pond on your right.

(B) See photograph of the dried up pond.

Take the left path over the bridge and ditch between railings. At the road, Rainer Close, turn right towards Goodwin Road.

[5] Cross the road to the left path. Go left into Crispin Close and then straight ahead towards the detached garage. Pass to the left of the garage on to the green play area. Turn right into the park on the tarmac path.

[6] Take the next left fork. Grange Infant  School (C) is on the left and the play area on the right. The excellent play equipment has soft surfaces, a zip wire, spinning poles and many more exciting pieces of children’s equipment.

[7]   Go to the left corner by the school. At the road go to the left down the narrow compacted path between the fences. At the school car park gates, turn right towards the road. Cross the road and go left through the car park between the houses in Hatch Road. Continue and then turn right at number 9. Go along the the small brick covered roadway to the sign 53 – 61.

Take care when crossing the road and walking on the brick roadway which is open to traffic.

[8] Turn left down a tarmac drive at number 60, Hatch Road, a cycle and pedestrian path (look out for cyclists). Continue beyond the square in Winton Road. Continue right along the track to the green footpath sign pointing to the right.

[9] Turn right at number 60 Winton Road. Keep hugging the houses. Bear left at the sign 34 – 38.

[10] At the end of Winton Road go onto the track parallel to the high grass, sound barrier, bank and the high wooden fence beside the A419 road. Continue on this path and then take Godwin Road to the right.

Alternative route. If you wish to continue on the high bank then do so, however this is not suitable for those with buggies or using wheelchairs. If you take the alternative route, then rejoin the main route at [12].

Take care on the bank as it may be muddy and slippery. Not recommended for younger children.

If following the main route, cross over Godwin Road and continue along the pavement until reaching Gifford Road.

[11] Turn left and go to the end of Gifford Road to the track in the left hand corner by the fir tree.

[12] Follow the track to the  right. Keep houses to the right and the high grass bank to the left.

[13] Alternative route.  When the path narrows, those with buggies and/or wheel chairs (or those wishing to avoid the mud) can take the alternative route to the right, across the park area and then left towards the Church, rejoining the main route.

If continuing along the grass track of the main route, then the Cemetery is on the left. Continue until you come to the Church.

(D) St Margarets Church dates back to the 13th Century, with many later additions.

Both routes now return to the main road along Church Street. At the road, turn right to the zebra crossing, cross over and turn left. At the first road turn right and return to the Centre through the childrens play area on the left.

Take care when crossing the road.

Information about the Canadian WW II Pilot:

Name:BARBEAU, NORMAN WILLIAM

Nationality:Canadian

Rank:Sergeant (Pilot)

Regiment/Service:Royal Canadian Air Force
Age:20
Date of Death:07/12/1941
Service No:R/88806
Additional information:Husband of Florence Marguerite Louise Barbeau of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:N.W. of church.
Cemetery:MINCHINHAMPTON (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD

More info here.http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/conte…_feature.shtml

Also http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/united-kingdom/6731-canadian-airman-crashed-swindon.html