Derry Hill Digest

Food festival, archery and Church Road closure

Thursday 13 August · View online

A child climbing an outdoor wall with a safety rope at Bowood

Outdoor wall-climbing sessions return to Bowood on 21 and 22 August. Image/source: Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team.

Top Updates

eat:Calne fills the town centre on Saturday

More than 70 local producers and independent makers are due in Calne town centre from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 15 August. The free food and drink festival is family-friendly, accessible and dog-friendly.

Children can try archery at Bowood

Children aged six and over can learn to handle a bow and fire up to 12 arrows at Bowood House & Gardens on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August, between 11am and 4pm. A 30-minute activity slot costs £5, and each child also needs admission for the same day; book a Bowood archery slot. An adult must stay with the child.

Book ahead for Bowood's climbing wall

Bowood's portable outdoor climbing wall returns on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August, with trained instructors helping children tackle the route. Sessions run from 11am to 4pm; check ages, prices and book climbing before slots fill.

Dates For Your Diary

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, 11am-4pm

Mini Rovers driving at Bowood

Children can take the wheel of a small electric off-road vehicle and follow an obstacle track at Bowood House & Gardens. Admission and activity tickets are separate; see the Mini Rovers event information.

Friday 2 to Sunday 11 October

Calne Music & Arts Festival

October's festival programme includes concerts, talks, exhibitions and community performances around Calne. Paid events can sell out, while several events are free; browse the 2026 festival programme and book early for your favourites.

What's On

Thursday 13 August

Spanish Conversation Club pub night, 7.30-9.30pm. Practise Spanish in a relaxed social evening at the Lansdowne Hotel bar on The Strand in Calne. Food is available, and the venue is child-friendly and dog-friendly; see the conversation club information.

Sunday 16 August

Dauntsey Car Boot Sale at Beversbrook, Sellers 7am; buyers 8am. Browse the weather-dependent car boot sale at Beversbrook, Calne, SN11 8RX. Take the correct change for parking and check the organiser's update before travelling if the forecast is doubtful.

Calne Recreation Ground junior parkrun, Briefing 8.50am; start 9am. Children aged four to 14 can join the free weekly 2k at the Recreation Ground on Anchor Road. Register before a first visit and bring a scannable barcode; check the junior parkrun information.

Tuesday 18 August

Outdoor exploration at Bowood, Daytime sessions. Mud & Guts leads children through den building, fire lighting, outdoor games and nature exploration at Bowood House & Gardens. The next activity day is Tuesday 18 August; check age limits, session times and tickets.

Roadworks and Transport

Church Road closes from Monday: Church Road in Derry Hill is scheduled to close from 8am on Monday 17 August until 5pm on Friday 21 August for Wiltshire Council work. Use another route and allow extra time for village journeys.

Porte Marsh Road remains closed overnight: The overnight closure on Porte Marsh Road in Calne is scheduled to continue through Thursday 20 August, from 7pm to 6am each night. Use another route for evening and early-morning journeys.

Oxford Road signals on Friday night: Temporary signals are scheduled on the A3102 Oxford Road in Calne from 7pm on Friday 14 August to 7am on Saturday 15 August for council work. Allow extra time if you are travelling through north Calne overnight.

Community Notice

Games and building at Calne Library

Calne Library hosts Board not Bored games on Fridays, while children aged six to 12 can join the Brick Creators' Club on Saturdays between 10am and 3pm. There is no need to book; check the Calne what's-on information before making a special journey.

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