Length: 24.1 km (15.0 mi) [shorter or longer walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent:
431m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
Take
the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s train from Waterloo (Clapham J.
09.27, Woking 09.46), arrives Tisbury at 11.06. You have to be in the
front three coaches of the train.
Return
trains: 17.01, 18.01, 19.03, 20.01,
21.01 and 22.03.
This walk explores the Nadder Valley east of
Tisbury, part of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking open vistas in a
varied landscape. Without scaling any ridges or steep ascents, the route
meanders through the beautiful undulating and peaceful countryside with a few grassy
U-shaped valleys, pretty views out to some distant coombes, and scenic Dinton
Park with its grand mansion (Philipps House).
A couple of picturesque former corn mills on the Nadder River are walked past, while the afternoon route also offers views from a wood’s fringe across a valley to the Fovant Badges, regimental badges cut into the chalk, and the largest group of hill side figures in Europe, before leading through a couple of quiet villages followed by a gentle descent across fields back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village. The route features several good bluebell woods and wild garlic-lined paths, and it also goes through plenty of meadows and pastures rich in wildflowers, especially buttercups.
A couple of picturesque former corn mills on the Nadder River are walked past, while the afternoon route also offers views from a wood’s fringe across a valley to the Fovant Badges, regimental badges cut into the chalk, and the largest group of hill side figures in Europe, before leading through a couple of quiet villages followed by a gentle descent across fields back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village. The route features several good bluebell woods and wild garlic-lined paths, and it also goes through plenty of meadows and pastures rich in wildflowers, especially buttercups.
Walk Options:
A Shortcut before lunch reduces the walk by
1.4 km (0.8 mi) and the ascent/descent by 25m.
Bus Line 25 (Salisbury – Tisbury or Zeals), with 5 buses a day Mon-Fri
and 4 on Sat, has convenient stops in Teffont Magna (after 7.9 km, at 14.26)
and in Dinton (11.8 km, just after the lunch pub, at 14.30).
A Shortcut right after lunch reduces the walk by 1.9 km (1.2 mi) and the
ascent/descent by 21m. Taking both Shortcuts makes this a 5/10 walk.
An Extension to and through the Fovant Badges and up to Fovant Down and
the Chiselbury Iron Age hill fort site adds 5.1 km and 150m ascent/descent (8/10).
Lunch: The Wyndham Arms in Dinton (11.7
km/7.3 mi, food served).
Tea:
a couple of pubs en
route (see the webpage or the pdf) and plenty options in Tisbury: Star Grill, Tisbury Fish & Chips,
Tisbury Delicatessen, Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop, The Beckford Bottle Shop,
Coffee Angels, The Benett, The Boot Inn.
For
walk directions, map, height profile, photos
and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.249.
3 comments:
Advance Tickets still available
There were #9 (?) at the start. The weather was #overcast,-cool-and-breezy,-with-occasional-showers.
Two took the shortcut in the morning, and (at least) two in the afternoon. Walking was damp underfoot, and many of the footpaths were overgrown, which made for soggy trousers.
The Nadder valley is beautiful.
A cool respite from the heat in Town.
Thanks due to Thomas for posting the walk, and to SWC volunteers that update the walks and volunteer their time to keep the SWC going.
I believe there were #10 walkers on the walk, and it was lovely. Beautiful meadow flowers, including orchids and we saw a hare bounding away. The regimental badges are quite a sight! One of the walkers did the extension which goes up close to them. The chips from the take away in Tisbury were very welcome to three of the walkers.
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