OARE

LOCATION AND CONNECTIVITY

Oare is a charming Wiltshire village set within the beautiful Pewsey Vale, positioned between Marlborough and Pewsey and surrounded by some of the county’s most peaceful countryside. The village sits on the A345, giving convenient access north towards Marlborough and south towards Pewsey and Salisbury Plain. The Oare and District village website describes Oare as being located on the A345 between Marlborough and Pewsey, just north of Salisbury Plain.

For commuters, nearby Pewsey provides a mainline railway station with direct services to London Paddington, with average journey times of around 1 hour 7 minutes and some direct services taking close to an hour. Marlborough and Devizes are both within easy reach for wider amenities, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

The village is also well placed for those who enjoy countryside living but still want practical connections, with road links towards Marlborough, Pewsey, Devizes, Swindon, Salisbury and the M4 beyond.

LIFESTYLE AND THINGS TO DO

Oare is a peaceful and picturesque village with a lovely sense of history, countryside and community. It sits within the Pewsey Vale, an area known for its far-reaching views, chalk hills, quiet lanes and wonderful walking routes.

One of Oare’s local highlights is the Giant’s Grave, an ancient long barrow at the eastern edge of the village, offering beautiful views across the Vale of Pewsey. The wider landscape is ideal for walking, cycling, running and riding, with routes leading through open countryside, along lanes and up towards the surrounding hills.

Oare is also often linked with Thomas Hardy and is believed locally to have helped inspire the setting of Tess of the d’Urbervilles. The novel, first published in 1891, is one of Hardy’s best-known works and is set within his fictional Wessex landscape.

SHOPPING AND DINING

Oare itself offers the charm of a smaller village setting, with its church, village hall, school and community events forming the heart of local life. For day-to-day amenities, nearby Pewsey provides shops, cafés, takeaways, pubs, leisure facilities and a railway station.

Marlborough is also a short drive away and offers a wider selection of independent shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs, Waitrose, Tesco, The Parade Cinema and leisure facilities. Devizes is another excellent nearby market town, with supermarkets, independent shops, restaurants, cultural attractions and the Kennet and Avon Canal.

A lovely local touch is Oare’s wood-fired pizza evenings, with the village website listing takeaway pizza on the fourth Friday of every other month.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Oare is a very appealing village for families, helped by its village primary school and strong community feel. The Oare and District village website highlights the village school and village hall as being at the heart of the local community.

Nearby Pewsey, Marlborough and the surrounding villages offer further schooling options, while independent schools such as St Francis, Dauntsey’s, Marlborough College and other well-regarded Wiltshire schools are within reach.

This combination of village schooling, countryside surroundings and access to nearby towns makes Oare an attractive option for families seeking a quieter rural lifestyle without feeling disconnected.

COMMUNITY AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT

Oare has a wonderfully friendly village feel, with its school, village hall and historic church helping to bring the community together. The village website notes that Oare and nearby Huish both have historic churches, and that the surrounding hamlets of Draycot, Prospect, Sunnyhill and West Wick also form part of the wider local area.

Oare Village Hall plays an important role in local life, hosting events, gatherings and community activities. The village website has recently highlighted the importance of supporting the hall, noting that it is at serious risk of closure and encouraging local involvement.

For buyers, Oare offers a peaceful and authentic village lifestyle, with countryside on the doorstep, a strong local identity and easy access to Pewsey and Marlborough.

WHY WE LOVE OARE

Oare is one of those villages that feels beautifully tucked away, yet incredibly well placed. It has the tranquillity of the Pewsey Vale, historic charm, lovely walks, a village school, a church and a strong sense of community, all within easy reach of Pewsey and Marlborough.

We love the views from Giant’s Grave, the gentle village atmosphere and the way Oare feels connected to the surrounding landscape. It is ideal for those who want countryside living, space to breathe and a slower pace of life, while still having a train station, shops, cafés and wider amenities nearby.

It is a village with real character, from its Hardy connections and historic church to its community events, pizza evenings and beautiful walking country.

THINGS GOING ON IN OARE THIS YEAR

Here are some Oare and nearby Pewsey Vale diary highlights for 2026. As Oare is a small village, some of the wider events listed are nearby and form part of the local lifestyle.

Oare Easter Trail, 4 April 2026

A family-friendly village Easter trail run by Friends of Oare Primary School, with entry at £4 per child including the trail, an Easter egg and a craft activity.

Easter Church Services at Holy Trinity Church, March and April 2026

Oare’s village website lists Easter church services at Holy Trinity Church, reflecting the church’s role at the heart of village life.

Wood-Fired Pizza Evenings, Fourth Friday of Every Other Month

A much-loved local treat, with takeaway wood-fired pizza served in Oare on the fourth Friday of every other month, starting 27 March 2026.

Oare Village Hall AGM, 14 April 2026

A community meeting at 7pm, encouraging residents to support the village hall and its future.

Wiltshire 3 Peaks Challenge, 13 June 2026

Starting and finishing at Oare Village Hall, this charity challenge offers 10km, half-marathon and marathon routes across three iconic Wiltshire hills in support of the Youth Adventure Trust.

Made in the Pewsey Vale Exhibitions, Throughout 2026

A programme of local art exhibitions and creative events in nearby Pewsey, including solo exhibitions and art and music evenings through spring and summer 2026.

Seasonal Walks Around Giant’s Grave and the Pewsey Vale, Throughout 2026

Oare is beautifully placed for year-round countryside walks, with routes around Giant’s Grave, the surrounding hills and the wider Pewsey Vale offering views, history and peaceful rural scenery.