A walk to locations associated with Eric Ravilious and some of his little-known watercolours of the Pewsey Vale - and visit Oare House gardens!

Eric Ravilious was invited to stay at Oare House in Wiltshire by Sir Geoffrey Fry, who was Private Secretary to Stanley Baldwin from 1923 to 1939. Sir Geoffrey was a patron of the arts and helped Ravilious to establish his career. Ravilious was commissioned to paint a number of watercolours, including the well-loved 'Strawberry Nets', which he painted in 1932.

Join Museum Director, David Dawson, on this walk visiting the locations of some of the little-known watercolours that he painted in the area, and will include an optional visit to the gardens of Oare House, open as part of the National Garden Scheme. There is a separate entrance charge (£8) for the gardens, where you can expect to see a wonderful display of magnolias, bluebells and Snakes-head fritillaries, as well as finding teas and home-made cakes and seeing the view that Ravilious painted.

Along the way, we will discover fabulous views of the Vale of Pewsey and interesting archaeology, including the Giant's Grave Iron Age hillfort above Rainscombe.

There is very limited parking available at the starting point of the walk, so we will meet at the Museum and a location in the Vale of Pewsey to arrange car-sharing, before proceeding to the starting point.

The walk is fairly strenuous, and is approximately 9km (5.6 miles) in length, including a moderate climb and a steep descent. There is likely to be livestock grazing in the fields and we are afraid that dogs should not be brought on the walk.

Date: Sunday 30 June

Timetable of the Day:

• 11.30 am - meet at Museum
• 11.45 - meet at parking space in Vale of Pewsey
• c. 12.00 - start of walk
• c. 3.30 Oare House
• c. 4.30 Leave Oare House
• c. 5pm Arrive back at starting point of walk

Cost: £12 (£10 WANHS members).  There is a fee to visit Oare gardens (£8), which is not included in the ticket price.

Booking: Essential 'BOOK ONLINE' below.  Sorry, no dogs.

Maximum Number: 16 (excluding walk leaders)

TERMS and CONDITIONS

• Stout footwear, protective clothing to suit the prevailing weather conditions and reasonable mobility will be required.
• Please ensure that you bring water and snacks; this is particularly important in hot weather.
• The event may be postponed if adverse weather is forecast.
• Unless sold out, bookings will close at 9 am on the day of the outing.
• Booking for events
• Cancellations, Refunds and T&Cs