The Millennium Trail is a new circular route going through Swindon and the countryside to the south and west.

The whole trail is 28.5 miles so I thought we could investigate several smaller circular routes, (using parts of the main trail). There are leaflets about the Millennium Trail from the usual venues of tourist information centres and libraries. The Millennium Trail goes through three country parks Barbury Castle, Lydiard and Coate Water. This week's walk is based around Coate Water. There is a car park, toilets and Ranger's Information Centre at Coate Water.

Walk around the side of the reservoir noting the variety of water foul overwintering on the water. After crossing over a bridge go left to walk past an information board about a very similar route. On your left you pass a nature reserve area which can be visited with permission from the Rangers.

At the end of the country park go over a stile and walk on a field boundary towards the motorway. Two stiles lead to the spiral footbridge. On the other side you pass a kissing gate then stile and go diagonally right up a field. Another stile leads through a small patch of woodland then along a field edge with extensive views. On reaching a signpost go right, signed Hodson, cross over a stile then left and ahead on an old track.

Immediately after crossing a stream (which feeds into Coate Water), turn right to follow the stream through this quiet valley.Go over a stile and soon after bear left, heading towards a thatched house. Go left in front of a willow tree to walk up a track with half buried sarsen stones. You reach the road by a public house.

Turn right to walk through the hamlet of Hodson, being aware of the occasional traffic. Follow the road over the motorway. Then go on the signed footpath to the left. The path goes around the field, past the Sarsen stone then up to the road again. Cross over the road then follow the path to the left to walk around the other side of Coate Water. The route of the walk is about three and a half to four miles. Waterproof footwear is recommended.

The first Computer Museum in the country has opened in Swindon.

Sited on the Oakfield Campus of the University of Bath, the museum has been set up as a showcase of outside exhibits, although it does not own any collections itself.

The debut exhibition is on loan from the Bletchley Park Trust and includes a replica of the Enigma Machine.

The machine was used during the Second World War by German Forces and was thought to generate an unbreakable code, until British sailors retrieved one from a sinking U-boat.

This gave code breakers at the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park a key tool in deciphering Nazi naval communications.