Three days' Wiltshire Finale to our lengthy UK Spring Tour's Finale

Day 1 - Please look at this map >https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7535501,-2.8564153,12.15z
Near the centre is RAGLAN - which has a ruined castle. http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/raglancastle/?lang=en
You will be coming down from the NW (Abergavenny) via the A40 - which is an expressway. I would be inclined to stay on this expressway to Raglan & see the castle rather than take slower roads to Usk. Next - how to get to TINTERN ABBEY? I would suggest that you take the A40 expressway up to Monmouth and then loop around at the first roundabout after the traffic lights & then take A466* down the beautiful Wye Valley. (The alternative would be to take the back road via Llansoy - please look at it on street view and zoom in on Raglan so that you can figure out how to join this road in Raglan village. When it reaches the B4293 on high ground - very narrow back roads lead down to Tintern. I would suggest you may like to stay on the better top road and head for St.Arvans by forking left at Devauden - where you turn L onto A466 for Tintern). Chepstow Castle should also be considered before leaving Wales.

So, you are now heading E on the M4. I would suggest that you leave at Junction 18 and turn left onto A46 & immediately R for Tormarton and Acton Turville - continue on B4039 to where you see Castle Combe circuit & turn R - go down the hill to CASTLE COMBE village - everything you would expect of a Cotswold village! Return to B4039 & head east toward Chippenham and then S on A360 - turn off into village of LACOCK. Having seen Lacock 0 then continue by back road to Sandy Lane and A342 to Devizes.
Map >https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4708642,-2.1899013,15813m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1

Day 2 - Try & visit in Malmesbury >http://www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk

On the day you go to Stourhead, you may also like to fit in >https://www.longleat.co.uk/longleat-house
I can’t see much point in going to Pewsey. Don’t forget that Avebury stone circle and Silbury Hill / West Kennet Long Barrow and not far NW of Devizes.

Wonderful stuff, James I'll certainly use your directions, study all carefully for inclusions-a few which I already have and others not yet.
Printing your feedback out immediately. Thanks ever so much for the mapping, itinerary options & details help!

I'd forgotten to state that we'd done Lacock and Castle Combe three years ago and couldn't agree more about their magic. Avebury has so much and your inclusions had been among them. Now I'm more carefully looking into your suggestions near Devizes rather than merely having them looked over as was the case before. Also, your secondary road suggestions have now been included as my path of choice toward Tintern area.

Interesting: just removed Pewsey three hours ago. (You must have been transmitting subconsciously).

Again, many thanks and all good things---

OK - so you have been to some of the places I have mentioned. You may like to consider going to the Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint - looking over the Wye Valley. When you click the link, you will get a map of the area south of Tintern. If you are coming down the Wye Valley from Tintern, you will see a sharp bend just before St.Arvans - take narrow minor road on R a short distance to a parking area on right - zoom down & you will see it. From this parking area, it is about a 20 minute walk up the zig zag rough track through the woods to the viewpoint - which is high up on a cliff but it has protective railings. (The viewpoint is to your right where the path levels off). DO NOT use the Wyncliff parking area by the A466 as to reach the viewpoint from here involves a very steep climb up numerous steps/ladders.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6688589,-2.6888227,1771m/data=!3m1!1e3

Also - click & drag this map south to Chepstow. If you intend to see this castle, park by the castle and walk to the river bridge for a good view. (It is also worth taking a photo of this historic bridge - one of the first iron bridges in the world. The river market the Wales/England border). Look at the road layout in Chepstow - you have to drive on a one way system on narrow streets & it can be a bit confusing to get out of the town to go to the Severn bridge - especially due to a lack of signposting.

Earlier in your trip:>
If you are really walking types - you may also like this one:> when you click the next link, you will be above the A40 between Brecon & Crickhowell. Just before the A40 reaches the village of Bwlch, you will see a signpost for the Welsh Venison Centre - left. Drive the short distance off the main road to the WVC and park. They have a nice little cafe where you could perhaps of a venison burger & coffee etc. Toilet also available. Anyway, near the centre of the map you will see a hill with woods on the sides. From the Venison Center car park - walk back down their drive & take the track on the right from near the gate. It is a steady 50 minute walk to reach the top - from which you will have wonderful views in all directions.http://beaconsfarmshop.co.uk
http://www.breconbeacons.org/explore
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.9032016,-3.2659249,2884m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1

Do you mean Marlborough on day 2 rather than Malmesbury?

I only ask as that itinerary looks all over the place even though it contains on the whole nice places. I would certainly avoid going towards malmesbury as it's too much of a detour and Marlborough is just as nice and better located. If you're going to Ramsbury I'd swing by Hungerford as well.

r_-g-- Just realized, I left Marlborough out only as a typo. Both actually were/are included. I'm inclined to feel the same way about the long trip to Malmesbury. If you are confident Hungerford (originally in but dumped with Malmesbury stretch) is a better choice than that town for our purposes, I'll make the switch. Just advise and thanks!

Whoops James (interim response) --your stuff is great as well. I've already mapping in some of your first road ideas.--I'll be studying these fresh other options tomorrow (Happy Easter) and get back on them as well--

I was in Marlborough last week. It has oldish buildings in the main street but - it is absolutely jammed with traffic. I got straight back in the car and left! I suggest that you check it out on Google Streetview and see what you think? >https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4185433,-1.7334706,3a,75y,23.23h,94.2t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdHUm4RyyMrTItn-qcARTWQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DdHUm4RyyMrTItn-qcARTWQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D104.60327%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

Dive down the side alleys in Marlborough, walk down by the river. Have tea in Pollys tea room. Just stay out of the road and you'll be fine! And I have to add my American friend loved it!

You two are top drawer!

I'm thinking the widest market street in England will be ok if we can avoid the three day holiday weekend and walk about where needed.

I've found a few further maps and online notes relative to engaging the Eagle View/Wye river area secondary road route (love Coleridge's work so trust your and his judgment as well) and have much of it already plotted since Friday last. Most of the focus there is on walking maps as you know but we've got a long transition day offering limited distraction such as pounding the turf there.

Love the Welsh Venison Centre Bwich area tips-will make the route fit and see if believe we can get the hour walk in as well unlike with Wye Valley.

MULTIPLE GEMS! So very grateful-- You two should collaborate on a book.

I think I mentioned it before but there is a delightful drive due south east from Royal Wooten basset to Marlborough, easy to spot on the map via Broad Hinton. The sort of scenary that lifts the soul.

You might also like this place - Tretower Court :>http://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=521

It is not far from Bwlch - the place with the Venison Farm. Look at this map and you will see Bwlch at the top left:> https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Tretower+Court+and+Castle%2F+Llys+a+Chastell+Tre-tŵr/@51.8849903,-3.215475,4533m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x486e298355272c1d:0x87e983a43211031d!8m2!3d51.8833591!4d-3.1839806!5m1!1e1

If you do intend to detour to Tretower Court from the A40 via one* of the narrow lanes, be sure to check out the turns on street view as they are very sharp and you don’t want to suddenly brake with a load of traffic on your tail. The alternative is the A479 junction - which is also sharp. * I would certainly not use the first one as it has no passing places. The second one is also pretty tight. I don’t think either lane is signposted from the A40.