SWC 252: Tisbury Circular (via Donhead St. Andrew) -- Across the Vale of Wardour, Wardour Park and a Castle Ruin t=swc.252
Length: 14.5 Miles or 23.3 km for those more metrically minded (for those wanting something shorter, short cuts are available! -- see walk notes)
Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (or 4 out 10 for the shorter version)
Train: Take the 9:15 AM South Western Exeter St. David’s train from London Waterloo arriving at a Tisbury at 11:06. Return trains are at 17:01, 17:28, 18:01; 19:01; 20:01; 21:01 and 22:03. Buy a day return to Tisbury.
This walk explores the Vale of Wardour, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Wiltshire. The route heads west from Tisbury along the Nadder Valley and through Wardour Park with its large mansion. After lunch, a series of ascents through some large estates and several woods take you all the way to the Nadder Head in another large country estate. Looping back, the route passes a Neolithic hill fort site on a ridge right on the boundary with Dorset, with occasional views through trees to surrounding steep downs.
An exhilarating descent and an equally exhilarating route through the wooded Barkers Hill lead back down to the Nadder. The return route then leads right past the romantically ruined 14th century Old Wardour Castle and through High Wood back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village. More information and the walk instructions can be found here.
Lunch is at the Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (01747 828 038), 4.3 miles/7.3 km into the walk -- a booking has been made at 1pm.
Post walk refreshies can be had at various spots in Tisbury.
1 comment:
Just 2 alighted from the designated train and were promptly met by 1 more arriving by car, making for a select n=3 on this lovely exploration of the Nadder Valley with perfect group cohesion all day. The morning could not have been better for walking -- bright sunshine, cooling breezes, rolling hills, colorful wild and garden flower displays, light woodland and an art display in a small chapel. Lunch at the Forrester was relaxed and enjoyable with some very tasty food produced in rather large quantities... We eventually managed to set off from our feast with the weather showing signs of change... a few clouds had rolled in and it was not long before we were donning our waterproofs and taking cover under a large tree waiting for the heaviest of the showers to pass... During the afternoon we passed through more picturesque villages and climbed up and down various wooded ridges with some fine views. Fortunately, this is one of the more wooded Tisbury walks -- so we had some cover from the occasional showers that accompanied us on our return route.... Arriving back at the station at 19:00 -- the 2 train travelers had just enough time to bade the driver farewell before hopping aboard the slightly delayed 19:03... A fine day out with good company in w=initially-sunny-then-showery conditions (no thunder showers though)!
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