Gentle start via historic Salisbury, the Chalke Valley,
pretty villages. Strenuous afternoon via the Downs, a Roman Road, and a noted
Water Meadows view of the Cathedral
Length: 32.2 km (20.0 mi) [shorter walk possible, see
below]
Ascent/Descent: 427m
Net Walking Time: 7 ¼ hours
Toughness:
7/10
Meet outside Salisbury Station at 09.25.
From London, take the 07.50 Yeovil Pen Mill train from Waterloo
(07.57 Clapham J, 08.16 Woking), arrives Salisbury 09.19.
Return trains are on xx.21 (or a few minutes later) and xx.47
(or a few minutes later) to 21.25, then 22.25 (last
train).
This long walk explores the Chalke Valley in the Cranborne Chase Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the South West of the quintessentially
English Cathedral City of Salisbury. It leads out of town through the Cathedral
precinct, past some of England’s finest historic houses and through the Harnham
Hill suburb into open fields with far views over the Chalke Valley to distant
Downs. The morning route then largely follows the Ebble River upstream in
the Chalke Valley through several pretty villages in this picturesque part
of Wiltshire, with three good lunch pubs and two community stores conveniently
spaced out along the route.
Most of the climbing is left for the afternoon, starting with a steady
ascent with splendid views into pretty coombes, from Broad Chalke up to an
ancient Ox Drove on top of the Downs. A long stretch with more views
from the Down into coombes and valleys follows, largely along the course of a
Roman Road, before the descent back into the Chalke Valley, followed by an
immediate re-ascent up another Down. A Drove Track with views into the
Nadder and Wylye Valleys leads past Salisbury’s Race Course and
through the steep Harnham Slope Nature Reserve to tea at Harnham’s charming Old
Mill.
From there the route back to the station goes through the town’s Water
Meadows and provides ‘Britain’s Best View’ (Country Life magazine):
Salisbury Cathedral across the meadows.
Walk Options:
Bus 29 Shaftesbury to Salisbury City Centre (10 mins walk from the train station) runs through the Chalke Valley and
stops outside the lunch pubs as well as in the village of Stratford Tony (opp.
Manor Farm), half-way through the afternoon (times at Broad Chalke: 14.12/15.51/17.22/18.32).
Cutting out the outer loop of this
figure-of-8 walk and turning back in Stratford Tony, reduces the length to 17.0
km/10.6 mi.
Shorter routes, reducing the length by 5.4 km or 7.2 km
respectively, are described.
For summary, map, height profile, some photos,
walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.254
1 comment:
After quite a few departures, one walker calling in ill and the walker with 'foot' declaring himself fit again, n=5 started off from the station in grey weather.
All but one did shorter versions, from 1 utilising Shortcut II, one walking the route to Broad Chalke and its café, then taking the number 29 bus back, to two also walking to Broad Chalke but choosing the longer and harder 'over the top of the downs' route on approach (ie reverse walking the pm route for the last stretch).
All 4 who passed through Broad Chalke were reunited at that café, arriving 30 minutes apart. Three got on the 14.12 bus while one walked on along the full route.
The top-of-the-downs large arable fields could have been a major challenge after all the rain we have had, but they weren't.
Too many flintstones and a very forgiving soil meant no serious mud, but fine views as - finally - the dreary low mist of the weekend lifted and 'normal' grey clouds appeared. On the approach to the racecourse, minor specks of blue sky could be seen and then - just as the Cathedral and the City came into view - the sun broke through in places. A fitting end to this three days-in-fog walking trip.
And then there was a fence across the path. A building site fence. I had of course noted new houses at the bottom of the valley along the A road, but it seems the whole development site encompasses the whole valley west of S'bury, all the way to the livestock market and up the valley side ("thousands of houses ", as a dog walker called it). What was a scenic quiet descent will be markedly less scenic in future.
Back before darkness and celebrating with a fine meal.
W=low-clouds-slowly-lifting-with-some-blue-specks-late-on
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