Route Description

(Click here for maps)

Before You Walk:  The route is of course not yet sign-posted or improved in any way; but it follows existing footpaths and rights of way for the most part, with some stretches on minor, rural roads.  Car-parking at Avebury and Stonehenge is restricted, and unsuitable for long-term use; please use public transport, or get someone to drop you.  There are good train services to Swindon, Salisbury and Pewsey.  Bus services are still reasonable, but have been subject to cuts recently.  Think about starting your trip at Barbury Castle, just south of Swindon, where there is ample parking and toilets, and you can follow The Ridgeway down to Overton Hill, or strike off along the herepath into Avebury, before taking The White Horse Trail to The Sanctuary and the start of The Great Stones Way.

The Route:  The route begins at Overton Hill, on the other side of the A4 to the current end of The Ridgeway National Trail, where a track leads southwards past The Sanctuary into the village of East Kennett.  The ancient Ridgeway path, shown on the OS map, soon strikes off to the right, rising southwards across the Downs to cross the Wansdyke at Red Shore, where there is a wonderful view across the Vale of Pewsey. The path then dips to meet the B road at the saddle and the Knap Hill car park, before rising again to circle the Adams Grave barrow on Walkers Hill, at the summit of the escarpment.  The path then drops sharply down into the Vale, crossing the road, towards the pretty villages of Alton Priors, with its picturesque old wagon sheds and smithy, and across a field with unusual turn-stiles to Alton Barnes, with its Saxon church.

The path joins the road to cross the Kennet and Avon Canal at the historic Honeystreet bridge and wharves, where the old Ridgeway track is lost amidst the Canal works.  To the right over the old bridge is the Barge Inn, now being revived as a BBC-backed community project. The path turns left, however, along the tow-path, around the flank of Woodborough Hill, until it turns off to the right towards Woodborough itself.  In the village, the path turns left at the junction, to cross the railway near the Woodborough Garden Centre, into the pretty village of Bottlesford.  Passing the fine old hostelry, The Seven Stars, with its new camping site, the path turns off along a footpath through trees towards the hamlet of Hilscott, then across fields to cross the busy A342 at Coombe Cottage.  Beyond the road, a byway leads uphill towards Charlton Clumps, with fine views back over the Vale.

At the top of the hill, the route meets the MoD ranges perimeter track, and follows this, with its vast views northwards over the Vale, to the old hill fort at Casterley Camp.  Here the path diverges from the main track, descending towards the Avon Valley, the ancient route used, with the Bristol Avon, to transport the Stonehenge blue-stones from Wales.  Crossing the A345 at Enford, the route passes the fine old Enford Church and crosses the Avon, turning into Longstreet, where another community pub, the Swan Inn, offers well-earned refreshment.  The pretty villages along the sleepy Avon through which the path then runs are a complete contrast to the windy uplands of the Plain.  The little paths run through water-meadows and past ancient churches and thatched cottages.  Re-crossing the Avon at Coombe towards the hamlet of Fifield, the path runs along meadows until it joins the road  into the larger village of Netheravon, with its shops and other facilities.  At the end of the village, don’t miss the ancient church in front of you, down a short drive, with the Netheravon Dove-cot, preserved by English Heritage, in the fields to the right.

Leaving Netheravon, the route strikes off the road again, past Choulston Farm, rejoining it again to run through Figheldean, past the church, before turning off again through fields through Ablington, and on into Brigmerston.  There is a turn off here towards the great enclosure of Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, and across the World Heritage landscape, the Cursus and Avenue, towards the great pillars of Stonehenge itself.  The main path continues, however, rejoining the Avon, and on to Bulford, where the A3028 is crossed.  The path beyond passes Bulford Manor before crossing the Longbarrow ridge, and the equally ancient Harroway path at Ratfyn, where the busy A303 is crossed by  foot-bridge into Amesbury.

From Amesbury, the route will follow the Avon past the ancient settlement at the inaptly-named Vespasian’s Camp, and the start of the Avenue ceremonial approach to Stonehenge from Bluestonehenge at West Amesbury, to Great Durnford.  Turning up the hill there, it follows the existing footpath along the east side of the valley to Old Sarum and Salisbury, with its Cathedral, rail access and all local services.  

Photographs copyright Chris Cole. Silbury Hill; View over Vale of Pewsey; river Avon at Enford

Click here for a report (with photographs) on walking the section of the proposed Way from Old Sarum to Woodhenge.

Click here for a report (with photographs) on walking the section of the Way from The Sanctuary (SU119680) to Wansdyke