Length: 21.9 km (13.6 mi) [longer or shorter walk
possible]
Ascent/Descent: 428 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
Take the 09.15 Exeter St.
David's train from Waterloo (09.24 Clapham J., 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury
at 11.06. Return trains: 17.01, 17.28, 18.01, 19.01, 20.01, 21.01,
22.03.
This walk leads mostly around the very large Fonthill Estate in the West
Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular
walking country with some breath-taking views. You’ll find picturesque villages
and excellent pubs in the beautiful undulating countryside, as well as plenty
of woodlands and some dry chalky U-shaped downland valleys. The morning route
is a steady ascent out of Tisbury along the scenic Oddford Vale to the highest
point of the walk. This stretch is also characterised by some slack way-marking
though, and a map and a compass are recommended.
The walk then leads through a grassy valley and across a wooded ridge to lunch in Hindon, where the two recommended pubs are right opposite each other. Most of the ascent lies before lunch, but there are still two climbs through woods in the afternoon. The final part of the walk is a scenic descent into the Nadder Valley and then passes one of Britain’s largest thatched buildings, followed by a stretch along the river back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.
Walk Options:
A westerly extension via East Knoyle adds 5.7 km, 2.1
km to the tarmac count and 92m ascent/descent (8/10).
Shortcut I just after lunch reduces the walk by 1.8 km, but
adds 0.4 km to the tarmac count.
Shortcut II at the end reduces the walk by 1.3 km but adds 0.4
km to the tarmac count.
Lunch: The Grosvenor Arms or The Lamb
in Hindon (both: 10.4 km, food all day). The
Fox and Hounds in East Knoyle on the extended walk (9.8
km, food to 14.15). There are several other good pubs en route in the
afternoon, see the webpage or the pdf for details.
Tea: Tisbury has plenty of options for refreshments –
and a SPAR market. See the pdf for details.
For walk directions, a map, a height profile, gpx/kml files, and photos click here.T=swc.248
1 comment:
n=3 in w=warm-with-a-breeze weather
We were lucky insofar as most of the either notoriously or just seasonally overgrown paths and areas had very recently been cut, so only a stretch of the Extension (after lunch) was a mini-fight with low nettles and errant brambles. Else, there was still plenty of mud present on several of the wooded stretches, of which there were plenty, which was of course quite convenient on this sunny day. Plenty of dragonflies, butterflies and moths along the enclosed paths. And a very fine lunch for us on the Extension in the Fox & Hounds in East Knoyle. If only all country pubs would be like that one...
1 was always going to walk the extended walk to check the text directions, 1 other joined him but then walked the afternoon shortcuts. Number 3 walked the Main Walk. I walked through the Nadder Meadows just after 6 and heard the (delayed) 18.01 depart from behind the high hedge, and didn't meet the other two in 'town' or later on the 19.01, so presumably they were on that earlier train.
I had loads of time for the Bennett Arms and the Co-op, as Tisbury tradition kind of dictates.
Post a Comment