In Things to do

Wiltshire, a county famed for its blend of breathtaking natural landscapes and world-renowned historic sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury, and Salisbury Cathedral, is closer to Bath than you might think.

Join us on a journey into the county’s westernmost area with the D1 bus service, and discover a world of bountiful delights…

Where to catch the D1


Image: D1 bus service from First Bus

You can catch the D1 towards Warminster from Bay 7 at Bath Bus Station, based on Dorchester Street, just opposite the SouthGate shopping area. The service generally runs once every 50-70 minutes, seven days a week, but we’d advise checking the First Bus website for the latest timetables. The last bus departs from Warminster’s Market Place stop for Bath at 7:45pm, with the journey taking just under two hours in both directions.  

If you’re short on time, an express version of the D1, the D1x, also runs once per hour on a shorter, more direct route to the town of Trowbridge rather than Warminster. The last D1x departs Trowbridge’s Fore Street stop for Bath at 5:50pm from Monday-Saturday, with no services on Sundays. The journey takes roughly one hour in both directions.

Where can I buy tickets, and which ones should I buy?

We’d recommend downloading the First Bus app to buy your tickets in advance and track your bus in live time, to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Travelling with kids? If you’re staying in Bath during the school summer holidays, they’ll go free on all buses, but if not, you’ll still save with discounted tickets. Under 5s go free throughout the year.

Perhaps you’re travelling with family or friends? First Bus offers a range of great-value group tickets – check their website or app for full details.

If you’re boarding the D1 back towards Bath at any stop up to and including Westbury’s Haynes Road, ask the driver for an AvonRider pass, and continue your adventures with unlimited travel on all buses in Bath and its surrounding area until 3am the following day. The pass costs just £7, and is issued as a paper ticket only. 

Discover Dundas Aqueduct

After the bus pulls out of Bath Bus Station and wends its way through the city’s eastern suburbs, it isn’t long until it reaches the first point of interest along the route. The surprise may be slightly spoiled by the stop’s name, ‘Aqueduct,’ but take a left turn down Dundas Lane after alighting, and you’ll soon come across the titular Dundas Aqueduct.


Image: Dundas Aqueduct, credit Explore BOA

The younger sibling of the nearby Avoncliff Aqueduct, this spectacular bridge carries the Kennet & Avon Canal over the River Avon. Scottish visitors can be especially proud in the knowledge that the aqueduct was designed by architect John Rennie, who was distantly related to none other than Charles Rennie Mackintosh!


Image: The Angelfish Restaurant

Once you’ve admired the aqueduct, why not stretch your legs with a walk along one of the two walking routes that converge on the landmark? For a longer hike, follow the scenic Kennet & Avon Canal Path towards Bath or Bradford-on-Avon, or go for a short jaunt along the Somerset Coal Canal towpath towards the Brassknocker Basin, where you’ll find the superb Angelfish Restaurant. This local institution serves crowd-pleasing classics both indoors and out on their riverside seating area, including fish and chips battered in local Iford Cider.

If you picked the latter option, you can hop back on the D1 from the Viaduct Hotel stop nestled just outside The Angelfish on the main road. 

Go off-grid at Campwell Farm

Shortly afterwards, the D1 crosses over the border into Wiltshire and passes through the peaceful village of Winsley. Alight in the centre of the village at the Turleigh Turn stop, then take the 10-minute walk to Campwell Farm on Winsley’s northern outskirts.


Image: Campwell Farm 

Here, you can accept the venue’s invitation to ‘rewild yourself’ with a range of one-of-a-kind experiences, including sauna sessions from Wednesday-Sunday, regular farm tours, and even a chance to try your hand at sheepherding! Please note that all of Campwell Farm's experiences must be booked in advance via their website, or by contacting the team.

Fancy staying longer? Campwell also offers a variety of suitably off-grid accommodation, from bell tents and yurts to wood cabins. It’s the perfect place to fully disconnect from all the distractions of modern life, and immerse yourself fully in the land.

Stop for a shop at Hartley Farm

Nestled just a 10-minute walk from Campwell Farm, Hartley Farm is a must-visit on your D1 journey. Browse their extensive range of products grown and reared on the farm and find the perfect souvenir for your trip, from meat and vegetable boxes to local preserves and handmade pies.


Image: Hartley Farm Shop & Kitchen 

Once you’ve stocked up, get a taste of the merchandise in the café, which serves a dedicated breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea menu. Each is packed with tried and tested dishes that Hartley Farm has put its own spin on, from fry-ups to burgers and pizzas - what will you go for?

In the sunnier months, be sure to nab a table in the peaceful kitchen garden, ensconced within a neighbouring field. Keep an eye out for the farm’s regular events too, including monthly pizza nights with live music, seasonal supper clubs, and much more.

Explore The Hall Estate

After Winsley, the D1 rolls into Bradford-on-Avon, a storied market town which straddles two waterways. As well as being a popular destination for wholesome riverside walks, boat trips, and water sports, the town is a melting pot of historic buildings dating from a variety of different time periods.

Image: The Hall Estate 

While the medieval St Laurence Church and Town Bridge are both worthy of a mention, the majestic Hall Estate is a must-visit when in Bradford-on-Avon. And luckily, the D1 can drop you off right outside the gates, at a bus stop of the same name.  

Built in the early 1600s by wool tycoon John Hall, the 400-year old Jacobean stately home boasts a fascinating history, having passed into the ownership of multiple different families over the course of its life. The most recent owner, Dr. Alex Moulton, was a prodigious inventor who created the distinctive bicycle of the same name, and the suspension system on the original Mini!

Book onto one of the attraction’s regular tours and discover the multitude of compelling stories contained within The Hall Estate’s walls with expert guides. Tours run throughout the year on Fridays and Saturdays, with special Christmas tours during November and December, showcasing the house dressed in its festive finery.

Taste Bradford-on-Avon’s finest food and drink 

Before hopping back aboard the D1, take some time to introduce your taste buds to the culinary treats of the town.


Image: The Bridge Tea Rooms 

If it’s an afternoon tea that takes your fancy, look no further than The Bridge Tea Rooms, where you can enjoy the beloved ritual in the charming surroundings of a Tudor-era blacksmith’s cottage. Or head just steps around the corner to the cosy Timbrell’s Yard, where you can take your pick from an extensive range of seasonal dishes crafted using the finest local produce.


Image: Timbrell's Yard

On the opposite side of Town Bridge, treat yourself to a meal at The Bunch of Grapes, as featured in the Michelin Guide. Or, take your pick from the range of other popular restaurants in the converted mill buildings of Lamb Yard and Weavers Walk.

Don’t miss the independent Kettlesmith Brewery taproom, tucked away on the southern edge of the town. Try a pint or two from their small range of beers, inspired by a variety of beer styles from across the world, and be sure to take one for the road as you continue on your D1 adventure!

Take a hike around the Westbury White Horse

After passing through Bradford-on-Avon’s fellow market town, Trowbridge, the D1 reaches Westbury, which is best known for the figure of a horse carved into a chalk hillside on its southern border.


Image: Westbury White Horse

A feature of the landscape since the late 18th century, the monument and the ancient neighbouring hill fort of Bratton Camp can be accessed on foot by alighting at the Haynes Road stop, then following the Newtown and Long River roads. Please note that this two-mile walk is suitable for those of a high fitness level only; there is also no off-road footpath, and the route is steep in places.

Meet the animals of Longleat

From Westbury, the D1 continues southwards to its final destination, Warminster.

Warminster serves as the gateway to one of Britain’s most acclaimed safari parks; Longleat, which lies four miles west of the town centre. While the D1 doesn’t stop at the attraction, you can pre-book a ride there and back with the Wiltshire Connect bus service, or take a taxi.


Image: Longleat 

Once at the park, you’ll be greeted with a wide variety of fabulous activities to fill a few hours. We’d recommend starting by booking a seat on Longleat’s dedicated safari bus, and experiencing the famed drive-through safari, where you’ll meet everything from monkeys and deer to big cats, wolves, rhinos, and much more.


Image: Longleat House

Afterwards, explore the magnificent interiors of Longleat House. Built in 1580, the stately home is regarded as one of Britain’s finest pieces of Elizabethan architecture, including a timber-roofed Great Hall complete with minstrels gallery, a wooden grand staircase, and what is thought to be the earliest example of a plumbed-in flush toilet in Britain!

There are plenty more treats waiting for you in the house’s gardens. Our favourites include spotting sea lions, hippos, and gorillas on the boat safari, getting up close to meerkats, koalas, otters, crocodiles, and many others in the walking safari, and losing yourself in the giant hedge maze.

Be sure to stop at one of Longleat’s many shops for a souvenir before taking a taxi or bus back to Warminster town centre, and catching the D1 back to Bath from the Market Place stop.

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