Bencroft Hill, Stanley

This afternoon I was exploring less familiar stretches of the River Marden and the site of the old Wilts and Berks canal. I found its path but nothing of it remains now, and speaking to a landowner there I learned you have to cross a couple of fields and negotiate a field of frisky cows to get to the site of the fallen aquaduct, which is unsafe to get close to and completely overgrown, and there are no paths. He did recall seeing a marker stone with the word Semington carved in it, but even that is no longer visible. Somewhat off-putting.

This view from a gate with a hawthorn hedge beside it was taken in light rain half-way down Bencroft Hill towards Stanley, with the view leading towards Chippenham on the west, to the right of the picture.