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Bumper year ahead for Wiltshire
11/23/2009 11:13:00 AM
In 2010 Wiltshire will be truly coming of age thanks to no less than five major anniversaries, plus a number of new attractions and events.
The county, which is most noted for being one of the most historic locations in the UK, is among others celebrating 200 years of the Kennet & Avon Canal, 175 years of the Great Western Railway and 200 years of Ancient Wiltshire.
County highlights in 2010 include:
Ø 200 years of the Kennet & Avon Canal - The canal is Wiltshire’s main waterway and runs right through the centre of the county. It is most famed for the impressive Caen Hill Locks, a flight of 29 locks which rise 297 feet in two miles. However it is also popular with walkers, especially thanks to a new interactive trail, launched in the Pewsey area, where walkers can collect brass rubbings of insects, plant and wildlife which can be spotted along the canal. The official birthday is on 28th December 2010, a date which marks the completion of the canal. Events are planned throughout the year and will be announced on www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
Ø 175 years of the Great Western Railway – The railway that links London to the South West is celebrating its anniversary with a number of events throughout 2010. Much of the railway is celebrated at STEAM in Swindon, the home of the railway and where the company’s locomotives were built. http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/. Among the events on offer include Pete Waterman’s Railnuts on 10th April, where the railway fanatic spends a day at STEAM celebrating railways and models. In June the STEAM Museum will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and in August tickets will be available for an official 175th Anniversary Gala Dinner, hosted by Pete Waterman.
Ø 150 years of Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum – Located in Cathedral Close, Salisbury, the museum houses extensive collections that focus on the history and archaeology of Salisbury and South Wiltshire. http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/. The museum regularly hosts special exhibits with 2010 offerings including ‘Marks through the landscape’, an exhibition of sculpture and drawings.
Ø 200 years of Ancient Wiltshire – There will be exhibitions at both Stourhead House and Gardens and Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes to celebrate the life of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, archaeologist, antiquarian and artist. Sir Richard had a long history of being involved in many of Wiltshire’s key archaeological finds, including being one of the first people to record excavations at Stonehenge in 1798. Material from his work will be displayed throughout 2010 at Stourhead and Wiltshire Heritage Museum. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Ø Woolley Grange comes of age – Luxury family hotel, Woolley Grange, near Bradford-on-Avon will turn 21 in 2010. The Jacobean Manor House Hotel offers stylish and luxury accommodation with a range of excellent facilities for families including an OFSTED approved children’s nursery. It also features playrooms with soft rooms for smaller children and Playstations and snooker tables for teenagers. To coincide with the anniversary the hotel is undergoing a major refurbishment with the additional of a new spa. www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk.
Ø Longleat Animal Adventure – The new £1.3 million addition to the Wiltshire attraction will officially open for the start of the season, in the spring of 2010. The interactive experience allows visitors to be involved in keeper-led tasks from health and welfare of the animals to grooming guinea pigs, weighing and measuring tortoises and monitoring and recording animal behaviour. www.longleat.co.uk.
Ø Salisbury City Carnival Launches – On 22nd October 2010, Salisbury City Carnival will launch as the streets come to life with illuminated floats and masquerades. The route plan is top secret, although organisers are open to ideas from locals and business at the where the procession should lead. They are also calling on locals to join the procession and build community floats. www.salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.
Ø Peartree Serviced Apartments open – In June 2010 a new concept in accommodation will open, thanks to Peartree Apartments. The apartments offer space and freedom plus benefits of services including continental breakfasts, secure broadband, car parking plus maids and concierge. Optional additional services include laundry and shopping. Length of stays can vary from as little as one night through to one year! Rates reflect the length of stay and start from just £65 per person, per night. The website is under construction, although bookings are currently been taken at www.salisbury-apartments.co.uk or by calling 01722 340892.
In addition South West Trains has announced that from 2010 the rail routes between London and the South West will be greatly improved, offering hourly links to Wiltshire’s historic and beautiful city of Salisbury for the first time in over 40 years.
Alun Williams, VisitWiltshire’s Head of Partnership thinks the anniversaries will provide a huge boost to the county: “Major anniversaries are always something that raises awareness amongst tourists and we envisage it will encourage both new visitors and also repeat visitors from those who want to return to the sites for these historic moments. Certainly no rail enthusiast would want to miss the GWR anniversary.”
Details of all the events occurring around the anniversaries will be uploaded regularly onto www.visitwiltshire.co.uk.
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