Sunday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs: Chalk Figures, Scenic Rolling Landscapes - Tisbury Circular via Dinton and Fovant

Sunset is at 16.42, so good light for walking until 17.15 or somesuch.

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 09.15 Yeovil Junction train from Waterloo (Clapham J. 09.25), arrives Tisbury at 11.01. You have to be in the front three coaches of the train. 

Return trains: xx.55 (basically).

 “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.”

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 although often booked up). 

Tea: One pub en route (see the webpage or the pdf) and plenty options in Tisbury.

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. #2026-11-01T09:15 T=swc.249