The Coombes, Hinton Parva

The Coombes is a steep-sided dry chalk valley cut into the scarp of the Marlborough Downs at Hinton Parva near Swindon, looked after by the National Trust for its flower-rich unimproved chalk grassland and traditional hay meadow. A small spring-fed stream lined with hedgerow and old willow pollards separates the main valley from the meadow, medieval strip lynchets still terrace the valley sides, and the grassland supports 23 butterfly species, with marsh fritillaries on the wing between May and July, plus uncommon plants that suggest long traditional management. Red kites and buzzards hunt overhead, and berry-feeding birds arrive in autumn and winter. Reviewers describe an easy, well-defined path along the valley bottom and steeper climbs for better views. Tips from visitors: there are no toilets, the gravel car park behind the village hall can be muddy, and cattle sometimes graze near the entrance gate. A bridleway runs from the village hall along the eastern edge of the site up to the Ridgeway.