North Meadow, Cricklade

A good time to make this walk at Cricklade is in April and May when the fritillaries are in bloom. It is a wonderful sight – thousands of delicate flowers creating a purple haze on the meadow.

(http://www.crickladeinbloom.co.uk/cricklade_north_meadow_walks.html)

Starting from the car park at Fairview Recreation Field by Calcutt Street (B4040), walk round the edge of the recreation field to the Thames, and follow the Thames Path through the northern side of Cricklade to North Meadow (about 1 mile). Passing the Red Lion, you can decide whether to fortify yourself with a glass of the Thames Trail Ale before or after your walk.

In North Meadow, there is a path path around the edge, which is the Thames Path until it leaves the meadow. Staying in the meadow, the path goes round the fritillaries to reed beds beside the River Churn, and bends round to an entrance at Weavers Bridge.  From this point, a network of paths lead back to Cricklade, meeting the Thames Path on the way. There is so much to see that it usually takes about 90 minutes to get round the Meadow although the distance is only 2 miles.