Walks

Below are a selection of walks in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB. We strongly recommend use of the appropriate Ordnance Survey map, and ask that you respect the environment you are walking in.

AONB Walking Events
As well as the walks listed below, we are pleased to present a host of walking events across the AONB this spring and summer.

See the Events Page for further details.

Do you have a favourite walk you would like to share?
Please send us any details on walks with information on distance, terrain, number of stiles together with any images and we'll be delighted to add them to the site so more people can discover our varied and beautiful landscape.

1

A May Day Walk - by Rebecca Montague

Rebecca provides us with a wonderful circular walk whilst offering us lots of information on the flora and fauna along the route. Take in a pub lunch at The Dove in Corton and admire the stunning scenery and in particular the bluebells coming out at this time of year.

Thank you Rebecca for your contribution. The full details are available for download below.

Walk Information: Hindon to the Wylye Valley and back
Walk length: 17 miles or 27 Kilometres
Time to allow: 5 hours or 7 hours with lunch
Facilities: The Dove, Corton
Walk Start: The High Street, Hindon
Parking: Roadside Hindon
Terrain: Footpath and bridleway, sturdy footwear recommended

A May Day Walk (PDF, 1.3Mb)

2

A ride through the Deverills - Courtesy of Wiltshire Wayfarer

This route can be split into two shorter circular walks; those wishing to do so should park at the church in Kingston Deverill. The walk has far reaching views across the West Wiltshire Downs

Walk Information: A ride or walk through some of the most stunning scenery in the AONB, the Deverills. Suitable for: Walkers, horse riders and more adventurous mountain bikers. OS Explorer Map No: 143
Walk length: 16 miles
Time to allow: Allow 5 hours on foot
Walk Start: Mere Down (or Kingston Deverill)
Parking: On the byway at Mere Down
Terrain: Unsurfaced chalk and grass tracks, short distance on minor roads, steep in places

A ride through the Deverills (PDF, 1.3Mb)

3

A selection of walks around Tisbury

An historic landscape walk, with various options, through woods, lakes, and castles. The walk takes in footpaths, a recreational trail and Forestry Commission permissive land. This walk is courtesy of Countryside Access part of Natural England.

Walk Information: OS Landranger 184 (Grid reference: ST 945 290)
Walk length: Varied - allow at least 2 hours at a leisurely pace
Time to allow: Allow 2 hours at a leisurely pace.
Walk Start: Tisbury Railway Station, SP3 6JT
Parking: Tisbury
Terrain: Footpaths and trails

Walks around Tisbury (PDF, 280Kb)

4

A Walk in the Wylye Valley

A nice length route that takes you, some might say ideally, past the Dove Inn at Corton and a number of others. Courtesy of the Wiltshire Rights of Way team.

Walk Information: OS Landranger 184 (Grid reference: ST 945 290)
Walk length: 4.5 miles
Time to allow: Allow 2 hours, with extra for pub stops!
Walk Start: The Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul, Mill Street, Heytesbury. Grid Ref: ST 9252 4254
Parking: Heytesbury
Terrain: Footpaths, river valley, so may be wet underfoot.

A Walk in the Wylye Valley (PDF, 240Kb)

5

Southern Damerham

A Walk via the Norman Church and over the water beds in Southern Damerham – Recommended by Nicky Matthews AONB Team.

A tranquil walk which based around a village setting is ideally suitable at all times of year although it can be fairly muddy and wet in winter. With an easy going terrain, approx 4 stiles, pleasant stop offs around the fishing lakes and the 12th century Church of St George (Grade 1). The churchyard is particularly recommended for the snowdrops in the spring which are in abundance in the Church grounds. Afterwards why not have a pint or meal in the village public house (Compasses Inn).

Walk Information: OS Explorer 118 (Grid reference: SU 108 154)
Walk length: 2.5 miles
Time to allow: 1 hour
Walk Start: St. Georges Church, Damerham.
Parking: Church Car Park along Steels Lane.
Terrain: Village setting, may be muddy in winter.

Southern Damerham (PDF, 1.6Mb)

6

Circular walk around Dinton

A gentle circular walk that takes in a variety of landscapes typical of the Wiltshire countryside. Good views and interesting local history. This walk is courtesy of Countryside Access part of Natural England.

Walk Information: OS Explorer 130/Landranger 184 (Grid reference: SU 009 315)
Walk length: 5 miles
Time to allow: 2.5 hours
Walk Start: NT car park
Parking: NT car park
Terrain: Roads and footpaths, some woodland

Dinton circular (PDF, 280Kb)

7

Coombe Bissett Down

A hidden chalk downland valley (coombe), south west of Salisbury. Coombe Bissett Down is notable for its fantastic landscape, with archaelogical features include strip lynchetts (ancient field systems). In summer, the steep slopes of the coombe are ablaze with flowers and butterflies in the summer.

Walk Information: The 35ha reserve provides ample opportunity for walking. (Grid Ref: SU 111 256)
Walk length: variable
Time to allow: variable
Walk Start: Reserve Car Park
Parking: Reserve Car Park
Terrain: Chalk Downland

Link to Wiltshire Wildlife website

8

Dinton Park - Courtesy of National Trust

Explore a tranquil, historic parkland on this gentle walk secluded within the Nadder Valley. You’ll uncover a grand neo-Classical house, an ornamental lake and plenty of wildlife. Listen out for woodpeckers in the woodland and admire spectacular views across the Wiltshire countryside towards the cathedral city of Salisbury.

Walk Information: OS Explorer 130 & Landranger 184 (Grid reference: SU 004 319)
Walk length: 2 miles
Time to allow: 45 minutes, or longer if you take your time.
Walk Start: NT car park
Parking: NT car park
Terrain: Along uneven grassland. Some slopes, steps, gates and stiles. The path around the lake is natural but uneven. Benches are located at various points on the walk.

Dinton Park (PDF, 673Kb)

9

Fontmell and Melbury Downs - Courtesy of National Trust

These Downs were bought in memory of English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy, to protect the landscape in which his novels of the Blackmore Vale are set. Here you will discover an open expanse of flowery downland, excellent butterfly populations and breathtaking views.

Walk Information: OS Explorer 118 or Landranger 183 (Grid reference: ST 886 187)
Walk length: 1, 1.4 & 2.3 mile routes
Time to allow: Varies depending on your choice of distance
Walk Start: NT car park
Parking: NT car park
Terrain: Well used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces which become muddy and slippery after wet weather. Dogs welcome under close control.

Fontmell and Melbury Downs (PDF, 850Kb)

10

Garston Wood Circular Walk - Recommended by Margaret Webb of Fovant

An easy walk perfect for a hot summer’s day as much of the route is through woods part of the ancient Cranborne Chase. There are three stiles and two short uphill stretches along the approximately six miles route. Garston Wood is a RSPB reserve and is an ancient coppiced wood especially worth visiting in the spring when there is a carpet of bluebells, wood anemones and primroses. You may see many woodland birds in the reserve.

Walk Information: OS Explorer 118 (Grid reference: SU 005 194)
Walk length: 6 miles
Time to allow: Approx 2 hours
Walk Start: NT car park
Parking: NT car park
Terrain: Some of the paths could be muddy in winter.

Garston Wood Circular (PDF, 2.1Mb)

11

Stourhead - Park Hill Camp - Courtesy of the National Trust

Enchanting 18th century landscape gardens, deer park and woodlands. A circular route that leads through magnificent woodland dotted with snowdrops in winter and thronged with bluebells later in the year. See an Iron Age fort and medieval deer park and enjoy Stourhead's renowned gardens.

Walk Information: OS Landranger 183 (Grid reference: ST 780 340)
Walk length: 3 miles
Time to allow: Approx 1.5 hours
Walk Start: Visitor Centre car park
Parking: Visitor Centre car park
Terrain: The paths are mostlysurfaced with gravel, grass or natural woodland floor. The lakeside part of the route is mostly flat and easily accessible but there are some slopes through the woods and deer park. Can be muddy in wet weather. No dogs (grazing sheep).

Stourhead - Park Hill Camp (PDF, 200Kb)

12

Old and New Wardour Castles

Explore the picturesque Nadder Valley and historic Wardour Park with views across the valley and the chalk downland to the South. Break your walk halfway by exploring the ruins of Old Wardour Castle.

Walk Information: OS Explorer 118 (Grid reference: ST 946 291)
Walk length: 5.5 miles
Time to allow: 2.5 - 3 hours
Walk Start: Tisbury Railway Station, SP3 6JT
Parking: Tisbury
Terrain: Fields, woodlands and tracks. Can be wet and muddy underfoot with two fairly steep sections.

Old and New Wardour Castles (PDF, 1.5Mb)

New Walking Guide

A new pack of walking guides for East Dorset is available to buy, priced at £6.50. There are 14 countryside routes in the pack and each one is detachable and fully waterproof.

The guides are available from the AONB office in Cranborne, the Wimborne Tourist Information Centre, the garden centre at Cranborne, Moors Valley Country Park and Stewarts Garden Centre near Wimborne.

Long Distance Trails in the AONB

Leaflets with the route descriptions can be obtained from tourist information centres - see our tourist information centres page for details.

Stour Valley Way

The Stour Valley Way is a 64-mile long-distance walk that follows the River Stour from the sea as Christchurch to its source at Stourhead. It is known for its excellent river wildlife and roman ruins including Dudsbury Hill Fort. Several miles of this crosses the AONB coming through the village of Stourton and then flowing through to Gillingham.

The Jubilee Trail

This is a newer trail from Forde Abbey to Bokerley Dyke 145km/90 miles. A winding route across the county from west to east, avoiding the most popular paths to seek out quiet villages and views of rolling downs and secret valleys.

The Trail was originally created by local Ramblers to celebrate the Association's 60th anniversary in 1995 and is supported by Dorset council.

The Wessex Ridgeway

Part of the ancient trade highway, winding it's way from Marlborough, Wiltshire to Lyme Regis, via some of the most spectacular scenery in Dorset. This includes AShmore, Dorset's highest village, Bulbarrow and Hambledon Hill.

Walking related websites in the AONB:

The Visit Wiltshire website has links to eleven longer trails and routes, as well as fifteen walks that can be downloaded as PDF files.

Walking In Wiltshire - John Harris's 'Walking in Wiltshire' with walks, maps and resources for walkers.

Ringwood & Fordingbridge Footpath Society - An area covering 13 parishes formed to protect the interests of users of public paths. The society organises a programme of walks and social events throughout the year - please see their website for further details.

Note: The Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB is not responsible for the content of external sites.