Castle Combe is undoubtedly one of Britain's most attractive villages. Its golden cottages nestle at the foot of a charming valley, made even more beautiful by the sparkling waters of the By Brook.

With all of the classic Cotswold architecture, the parish church and the market cross, the village has become justifiably popular with visitors to the area.

This walk explores not only the village, but also some of the fine natural landscape surrounding it. This includes a dry river valley, splendid deciduous woodland, traditional meadows and the banks of the By Brook, a noted trout stream.

Much of this landscape is a nature reserve managed by the Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation, and is, therefore, of quite exceptional quality. It's a fine ramble that proves that the Southwolds have much to offer for the rambler who believes that the 'wolds end at Cirencester.

The White Hart, at Castle Combe is a charming old inn that overlooks the village cross in what is a picture postcard settlement. Inside the bar and family room, flagstone flooring, low ceilings, beams and open fireplaces lend this Cotswold hostelry a most traditional and welcoming feel.

In addition to soup, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, customers can enjoy grilled steaks, baked and fried fish, home-made pies, curries and vegetarian dishes as well as daily specials. With a welcoming pint of Wadworth 6X or Farmers' Glory to accompany your meal, the White Hart is certainly a pub in which to rest and linger awhile.

Opening times are 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm. Food is normally served from noon to 2pm, and from 7pm to 9pm.

1.

Follow the road uphill out of Castle Combe from the White Hart for 250 yards before turning right opposite Hill House and the local museum to follow an enclosed sunken path. After 250 yards, at the top of a climb, turn left at a junction with a back lane and continue for 200 yards to the B4039 in Upper Castle Combe.

Follow the pavement opposite to the right for 100 yards, then turn left along a lane running alongside a local chapel. Follow this lane to a sharp left-hand bend in 600 yards and turn right along a byway called Summer Lane. Follow this byway for 600 yards down to the B4039, before following the main road down past an entrance to Castle Combe Race Track and on for 100 yards to a hand gate on the right, and a signposted bridleway.

2.

Turn right through this gate, cross a field and join a drive running past a cottage. Beyond this cottage, continue along a track to a pair of gates. Pass through the left-hand gateway and drop downhill to a gate on the far side of the field. Continue through a shallow valley, following a graveled track, to the next gateway before entering a nature reserve.

Continue ahead to a clearing, walk across the right edge of this open space to the next gate, and continue along a track through the valley bottom for 450 yards to the next gate. Pass to the right of the bushes ahead, and follow a path across the side of West Yatton Down – a delightful valley. At the far side of the valley, bear left, and continue along the footpath to a hand gate and lane.

3.

Turn left and, almost immediately, right along the cul-de-sac lane to Long Dean. At the junction in Long Dean by By Brook House, turn right and follow a track uphill out of Long Dean to a gateway almost on the hilltop. Continue ahead to a second gate, before following a track across a wooded hillside high above the By Brook.

In ½ mile, having emerged into a more open hillside field, follow the path ahead along the bottom left edge of the field to a stile by the By Brook in its far left corner. Continue alongside a short section of riverside path to a bridge, cross the river and join the road leading into Castle Combe. Follow this road to the right into the village and continue up the High Street to the White Hart.

Places of interest: The nearest town to Castle Combe is Chippenham, originally a Saxon market place on the River Avon. The oldest part of the town lies around St Mary's church, where there are a number of half-timbered houses of the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as stone-built Georgian properties.

These historic dwellings reflect the town's former days as a cloth centre. The history of Chippenham can be discovered by visiting the Museum and Heritage Centre in the Market Place. Telephone 01249 705020 for details.

Pub Walks for Motorists Bristol & Bath, Somerset and Gloucestershire, by Nigel Vile, is published by Countryside Books priced £8.99.