These rolling chalklands form the largest wild landscapes of their kind.That is almost entirely due to them being the principal firing and training ground for artillery and infantry divisions of the British Army. English history started here, with Alfred the Great’s key victory over the Danes, and ancient monuments abound with the largest collection of prehistoric burial mounds in the country.

White horses are the Wiltshire icon.The tops of the escarpments are moulded by the Iron Age earthworks of some of the largest Wessex hillforts. When it comes to walking, these edges are key to wherever you are going as the footpath network comes to a halt when it meets the core of the military no-go area. Around this, however, there is an equally vast area where you are allowed to walk.

The ten selected walks, ranging from 3 to 8 miles, suit the needs of families, groups of friends or individuals looking for a gentle stroll or a longer walk, and reflect the many varied facets of the area – its people, its history, and its working landscape and will help first time visitors to experience some of the great scenery the area has to offer. Many of the walks feature a pub along the route.

Rodney Legg is a prolific author and historian who has published hundreds of country walks. Nationally he is active in the environmental movement having been chairman of the Open Spaces Society since 1989 and a member of the ruling council of the National Trust from 1990.

Imprint: PiXZ Books. ISBN 978 1 906887 11 7, hardback, 110x155mm, 64 pages.