Visit Westmill
Visit the Westmill Wind Farm and Solar Park on a tour, led by our friendly, knowledgeable guides!
Many of us are concerned about climate change and awareness of the problem is growing. The UK needs more clean, renewable electricity to decarbonise our lives.
As part of our ambition to help people to understand the enormous benefits of renewable energy, we encourage you to visit Westmill to discover how clean, green energy can be created.
During your visit, you will learn about the eventful history of the site, including how our solar farm became one of the largest community-owned solar farms in the world!
Discover the community campaign that brought Westmill to life. Then, learn why the location maximises wind and solar capture, before seeing the turbines and panels up close — including their impressive scale. Explore their materials, construction, how they generate power, and grid connection. Also discover the story behind the two cooperatives that own the project, with members championing community energy. And learn about Westmill's biodiversity steps that also protect wildlife habitats on site.
The tours offers a unique, intimate and insightful perspective on how a wind and solar farm works, all led by our team of friendly, volunteer guides!
Please note: Although our tours provide an engaging insight into Westmill, for visitors seeking highly technical details on turbine/solar maintenance or thorough investigations into the planning process, please contact us to explore possible separate support—we cover the essentials but not the fine print.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ON A TOUR:
- Hearing the Site's Story
- What the land was before—and how it became a renewable energy installation
- The community campaign that brought Westmill to life
- Why this location maximises wind and solar capture
- Seeing Turbines & Solar Panels Up Close
- Their impressive scale, materials, and key features
- How they were built and arranged — and what they cost
- Exactly how they generate electricity
- Maintenance, servicing, grid connection, and environmental impact
- Learning About the Cooperative Model
- Two cooperatives running the project together
- How members champion community energy
- Discovering On-Site Biodiversity
- Wildlife protection and habitat enhancement
Find Us
The site is located in Oxfordshire, near the Wiltshire border, close to the village of Watchfield, not far from Swindon.
Explore Westmill!
...as an individual, a family or a small group
- An on-site GUIDED tour at Westmill
- Popular – so book early!
- For individuals and groups of 9 or less
- Tours take place at least monthly from April to October
...as a large group or educational institution
- An on-site GUIDED tour at Westmill
- For associations, clubs, societies, corporate bodies, schools, colleges, universities, etc, of 10+ in size
- Bespoke tours available for a date of your choice within our April to October tour season
...through a virtual tour
- Accessible remotely
- For large groups of 12+ only
- Suitable for schools (KS3+), colleges, societies, associations or similar
- Bespoke tours available for a date of your choice
...for commercial purposes / research surveys
- Access to the Westmill site for commercial / media purposes, and for unaccompanied research fieldwork
- Priority for bona fide community, cooperative entities that demonstrate a genuine sustainable agenda
- Conditions apply
Public On-Site Tours
For individuals, families and small groups
These tours are aimed at groups of people too small to be eligible for a bespoke Large Group tour. We welcome you to join us on one of our monthly scheduled public on-site tours which run from April to October inclusive. A maximum of 9 tickets can be booked per group. Please see below for the next available dates.
On-Site Tours for Large Groups
For schools, colleges, societies, associations, or similar
These tours are only for large groups (schools, colleges, societies, associations or similar) of 10 or more.
A tailor-made bespoke on-site visit to the Westmill site can be made at any time. However we encourage site visits to be made during British Summer Time; from the end of March to the end of October, when weather conditions at the site are a little more favourable during these warmer months. We actively discourage any site visits outside this time as dangerous weather hazards can prevent tours from operating effectively, or at all.
Before you visit...
- Large group tours are given for free, although we would appreciate a donation to allow us to continue our work.
- All bespoke tours for large groups are subject to volunteer guide availability.
- Group sizes are capped at 40 people per group per tour. However, there are alternative options should you still wish to visit.
- On-site tours normally last between 60 and 90 minutes.
- Visitors should be fairly mobile, as the tour involves a moderately level walk of around 1.5 to 2 miles. Most of this is on hard, stony ground, except the solar farm, which is grassy.
- The content of our tours may be too advanced for children aged 6 and younger (Key Stage 1) and so we would advise that only children aged 7 and older attend (Key Stage 2+). Please contact us if you wish to discuss this further.
Request a Large Group Tour Now
Please complete our on-site Visit Request Form and we will contact you to arrange the next steps. Please allow a minimum of four weeks’ notice for bespoke on-site tours.
Virtual Tours
Our bespoke virtual tours are useful to attend if an on-site visit is not possible, or if you’d like to visit during our close season, between October and April (when we do not recommend visits to site, as the area is very open and exposed).
So, no matter where in the world you are and no matter how far away you may be, you always have an opportunity to join us to learn about our clean, green community energy!
These online guided tours are presented by a team of experienced, knowledgeable guides and offer an informative and engaging peek behind the scenes at Westmill.
Before you visit...
- These virtual tours are for large groups (schools, colleges, societies, associations, etc) only.
- We ask that interested groups consist of 12 or more people.
- With regard to schools, the content of the virtual tour is suited for students at Key Stage 3 (Year 7) onwards.
Request a Virtual Tour Now
Please complete our Virtual Tour Request Form and once we receive your request we will contact you to arrange the next steps.
Commercial or Research Access
Westmill is a unique location and the Wind Farm and Solar Park offers potential for researchers or other commercial entities. We welcome applications for research projects, miscellaneous events and ad-hoc commercial/media activity.
This type of access does not encompass a guided tour. It will be unaccompanied access and may be suitable for entities like:
- film/TV companies
- video production organisations
- photographers
- researchers looking to conduct fieldwork surveys
How To Apply For Permitted Access
If you are taking photographs or making videos for your own exclusive use then you are welcome to do so and you do not need authorisation. In all other circumstances, you will need to formally apply for permission.
We welcome access visits for activities from bona fide community, cooperative organisations and charities that can demonstrate a genuine sustainable agenda.
We will also consider - on a case-by-case basis - applications for activities from commercial organisations. Here, examples of a commitment to sustainability and / or community ownership are desired. Such examples, may improve chances of access approval.
We will not accept photo or filming applications from any person or organisation whose business or purpose is collecting and reselling images or videos.
Request Access to Westmill
To apply for permitted access, please complete the Research / Commercial Entity Access Request Form.
Find Us
Please use the information below to get in touch.
