Malmesbury: In Search of King Athelstan

A Walk in the Past is a friendly group where regulars and newcomers are always welcome. Our aim is to combine a good walk with pleasant company in historic landscapes.

King Alfred the Great is often regarded as the first king of all England, but actually it is to his grandson, Athelstan, that this honour truly falls.

In the years after Alfred’s death it was his children and grandchildren who fought off the Viking threat and created the earliest embryo of the nation of England.

Athelstan was born and later buried in the market town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire (about fifteen minutes’ drive north of J17 of the M4).

As well as hearing the story of Athelstan we will explore the glorious Malmesbury Abbey and hear the story of Elmer the flying monk. We will search the graveyard for the grave of Hannah Twynnoy, a local barmaid, who in 1703 was eaten by a tiger!

Our walk takes us around the outskirts of this delightful little town, through water meadows and across both the Tetbury and Sherston branches of the river Avon several times.

We will walk about four miles in total and it is mostly flat, although there is a flight of steps up to the town from where we park.

We will enjoy refreshments in one of the pubs or cafes in the town at some point in our walk.

A set of written notes will be emailed out to walkers after our walk. This will allow you to hold on to what you have picked up from our exploration of the delightful Cotswold town of Malmesbury.

If you would like to lift share from Bristol or Bath please use the comment board below to facilitate this.