Wheelchair users, please note that several of the paths in and around Lawns Woods are rough-surfaced and uneven in places. There are also gradients, but the route has been arranged so that you will mainly travel downhill rather than uphill on the rough-surfaced sections.

[1] Leave the Leisure Centre by the footpath beside the main entrance to the car park (wheelchair users: use roadway to avoid kissing gate). At the end of the access road turn left into Marlborough Lane, then turn right and pass under the old railway bridge (the Midland & South Western Junction Railway between Cheltenham and Andover, which closed in 1961, used to run over this bridge). There are public toilets on the left after the bridge, though no disabled access.

[2] Cross the main road at the traffic island and turn left. Cross Carlisle Avenue and Old Mill Lane and continue walking gently uphill towards the centre of Old Town. Just beyond the pelican crossing is the old market square – turn to view the Locarno building, now sadly derelict.

(A) This fine building, erected in 1866 as Swindon’s Town Hall and Corn Exchange, has been used as a theatre, ice rink and cinema before re-opening as the Locarno Dance Hall in 1949. Opposite is The Bell Hotel, which claims to have been established in 1515, in the reign of Henry VIII.

Beyond the market square, just after crossing Charlotte Mews, turn right through an archway.

[3] You now enter an avenue of American Pin Oaks, planted in 1992 (notice the plaque on the right). At the end of the avenue, where the path divides twice in quick succession, take the right-hand fork both times.

(B)  On your left is the site of a manor house occupied by the Goddard family, which was demolished in 1952. You can still see the remains of the walled garden and Holy Rood Church behind it.

Continue ahead where the path joins a tarmac road, walking downhill until you reach a pair of gate pillars on your left. Turn left on to the path between the pillars.

[4] You are now walking through Lawns Woods, formerly part of the estate of the Goddard manor house. At the next path junction, turn right. This path soon passes between two lakes. Bear left on the path which follows the edge of the left-hand lake. At the T-junction at the far end of this lake, turn right.

[5] You now reach a cross-roads of paths. Turn right on to a tarmac footpath which runs alongside a cycle track (look out for cyclists). At the end of this path continue through the turning head and follow the footpath which runs in front of the houses on your left. Follow the road round to your left (Sandown Avenue) and cross over.

[6] Take the first turning on your right (Carlisle Avenue) and cross over again. At the roundabout continue ahead. On reaching the main road, cross at the traffic island and pass under the old railway bridge again to return to the start.