Chair of West Surrey CTC and tour leader with CTC Holidays, Mark Waters, takes us on a wonderful tour of historic Wiltshire.

Starting and finishing in Chippenham, this route visits several national, if not internationally renowned landmarks — Avebury, Lacock and Caen Hill’s flight of 29 locks, just outside Devizes. All are worth a serious visit in their own right, but on this 45-mile ride, you’ll probably just have time to enjoy them briefly before making a note to visit them again soon.

Chippenham isn’t the easiest place to get in or out of, but this ride chooses the easiest options, particularly on the way out which briefly follows the River Avon before taking a disused railway line most of the way to Calne. The wide and surprisingly tranquil A4 is then followed for a few miles before the turn-off to Avebury and its stone circle, one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain without a doubt. There’s lots to explore here.

It’s lanes most of the way now as the route heads south and then curves back round to the west to join the Kennet and Avon Canal a few miles before reaching Devizes. There are plenty of refreshment stops here before you reach those 29 amazing locks, a feat of Victorian engineering second to none. A few more miles of pretty lanes brings you to Lacock, a quintissential English village, not much changed in 200 years and the location for many filmsets.

This really is a fantastic route with much variety and stunning places to see. It’s not too hilly and shouldn’t be too busy with traffic, although you’ll encounter tourist traffic at Avebury and Lacock.