Montpellier Gardens

While walking here it’s interesting to consider that, even when Wilson was in Antarctica, he never forgot his Cheltenham home. Because his Antarctic diaries were written for the family he often made references to the town. It was his way of giving metaphorical access to the strange land and so, to some extent, to allow the family to share in his adventures.

For example, on one occasion during the Discovery expedition when he accompanied Shackleton to take thermometer readings at the top of Crater Hill, he described the old volcanic cone at the top of the hill as being ‘about as big as Montpellier Gardens’. However, while the average air temperature in Cheltenham would have been 9 °C, the temperatures on the top of Crater Hill, upon which incidentally Wilson would also sometimes stand and make sketches, were between -29 °C and -40 °C.

Turn right at the statue. You can stop here for a drink at the Garden Café. Turn left into Montpellier Walk after exiting the park. Take the third exit at the roundabout and then turn left into Lypiatt Road.

OR: FOR A SHORTER WALK - you can omit the detour to Burlington House by selecting SKIP and then 7 Edward Wilson Birthplace to be directed straight to Montpellier Spa Road.