Two Dogs and an Awning

Tag: Clarendon Way

  • Frost and a Monolith

    Frost and a Monolith

    The start of a new year sees me starting another “Walk the Year” challenge.  In 2021 I aim to walk 2,021 miles.  I started doing this annual challenge in 2018 so this is my fourth year.  In my quest I only count “Boots on Miles” which means the miles I notch up whilst wearing my walking boots.  Normal day to day walking does not count as far as I am concerned.  In 2020 I walked 2,542 miles which far exceeded previous years; 2,231 miles in 2019 and 2,229 in 2018.  

    It is a bright but frosty morning so ideal for walking at pace to keep warm and I intend to start the year with a good long morning walk from Pitton, my home village.

    I start my walk from the village pub, the Silver Plough, leaving the car park I turn left and then immediately left along The Green.  I ignore footpaths to the right and left and stay on the lane to reach a bridleway opposite Glebe House.  At the end of the bridleway I turn right to walk up the track, Winterslow Hollow.  

    I ignore a footpath on the left and then within 10 yards turn left to join the permissive path running along the fence line and then continue between fields to reach farm buildings.  The footpath goes to the left of the farmhouse and then on reaching a track I continue the short distance to a road.  I cross and carry on along a track alongside All Saints Church on the edge of Winterslow.

    Through a kissing gate I keep to the left hand side of the field to reach another kissing gate, here I keep close to the fence and soon reach another two kissing gates side by side.  I go through the one on the left and follow a fence lined path and stay with it as it leads into a copse. The path is easy to follow through the trees and soon turns to the left to descend to a sunken track, here I turn left and head downhill.  

    This is part of the Monarch’s Way, a route that follows the journey made by Charles II after the battle of Worcester.  The 625-mile route starts from Worcester and after a convoluted route reaches the Dorset coast and then heads east to finally end at Shoreham-on-Sea.  It is a walk I would love to do, but I would need a long pass from Lynnie before I could consider it!

    As I continue along the track I am mentally planning the logistics of tackling a walk of over 600 miles.  At the moment it feels like it will be some time before such a walk would be possible, but it is potentially something to add to my list of winter projects. The track leads to a road where I turn right and follow a path on the verge.  At a crossroads besides a wind pump I turn left back towards Pitton, after about a hundred yards I take a footpath on the right just after the entrance to Windmill Farm.  I am still on the Monarch’s Way.  

    This fenced path leads between fields then reaches a play area at the back of houses in Firsdown.  The route continues west, following the course of a Roman Road, to reach a copse.  I stay on the main path still heading west through the trees.  There are no other footpaths marked on the map for these woods, but obviously local dog walkers have established a few routes.  At a clearing in the hedge line I stop to look at the view back towards Pitton. 

    The next section of the walk looks a bit complex on the maps, but on the ground the footpaths are clear. I emerge from the wooded area and continue straight ignoring a path on the right.  Within a few yards I carry straight on at a crossing of tracks and then at the next crossing of tracks, within a hundred yards, I turn right.  This path is way-marked as the Monarch’s Way.

    A few hundred yards along this path I reach a stile on the left and cross this, still on the Monarch’s Way, from here I follow the path along the right hand edge of a field.

    The path passes through a gate before heading along a driveway to a stable to reach the A30.  On the far side I go through a gate and walk besides a field to reach a stile on the right giving access to the Neolithic and Iron Age site of Figsbury Ring.

    After wandering around a section of the ring I rejoin the Monarch’s Way, leaving the access land by a gate in the western corner of the field I join a track descending towards the Winterbournes. 

    I go through a kissing gate besides a farm gate and continue along a tarmac lane that goes under a railway bridge to reach the village.  The lane leads to the A338 where I turn left by St Michael and All Angels Church.  After a few hundred yards on the pavement besides the main road I turn right into Tanners Lane and follow this lane as it heads to the River Bourne.  I stay with the lane until it reaches a ford, here I take the footbridge and cross the river.

    After crossing the river I turn left along a track and then at a junction of tracks turn left to cross the river again.   At a junction I turn right into Hurdcott Lane and then after a couple of hundred yards turn right into Black Horse Lane and pass the Black Horse pub.

    At the end of the lane I join a footpath and follow this as it skirts the edge of a field and then goes through the hedge line into a second field to continue on to a footpath running behind houses.  This soon opens up into a driveway to properties and then reaches a minor road in Ford where I turn left and walk up to Broken Cross Bridge that crosses the railway line.  After carefully crossing the bridge I turn left into Old Malthouse Lane.  After a couple of hundred yards just as I reach industrial barns I take a footpath on the right and follow the path steadily uphill towards the A30.

    After crossing this busy main road the path continues on the far side through a hedge to follow a farm track along the side of a field.

    At the top corner of the field I turn right and follow the edge of the field to join a path leading through bushes to reach a kissing gate onto the open access land of Cockey Down Nature Reserve.

    When I was a nipper this hill briefly gained national notoriety when on 26th January 1969 a group of students from University College North Wales carved a chalk Panda onto the hillside as part of a RAG week stunt.  The Panda remained visible for some time, but has long since grown over.  It is a few months since I was last here and as I walk around the trees I am surprised to see a monolith has been erected.

    I walk away from the monolith on a path that descends steeply and continues south on Laverstock Down.  Here I bump into a couple heading up the hill and they inform me that the monolith appeared overnight and they are eager to catch a glimpse.  

    Continuing along the path I encounter a steady stream of people heading up the hill to view the new phenomenon (as it later turns out they were right to do so because 3 days later it was pulled down).  At a fork in the path I go left and head uphill to reach a kissing gate and then follow a hedge lined path to reach the gates for Clarendon Estate at Rangers Lodge Farm.  I turn left, now on the Clarendon Way and follow the Estate Road before forking right onto the footpath to cross a field heading towards King Manor Hill.

    The path continues up a track and as it bends to the right I continue straight on to visit the remains of Clarendon Palace.  This Royal Hunting Lodge was a major residence of Kings from the reign of Henry II to Henry VII.  When I was a youngster the site was overgrown and the ruins were lost in the undergrowth, now they have been cleared and it is an interesting, historic spot to visit.

    I leave the site of the palace by a gate in the north east corner and rejoin the Clarendon Way and turn left along a track.  Within a hundred yards I fork left leaving the track to follow the Clarendon Way sign into the woods.  I now stay with the Clarendon Way as it follows a clear path through the trees to reach farm buildings and then continues around the back of Four Cottages and back into Pitton.  At the crossroads I turn right and walk up White Hill to reach my starting point at the Silver Plough.

    My walk has covered just over 13 miles and has been a great start to my walking year.  It has been a very chilly day but the occasional sunshine has made for pleasant walking.  

    You can view this 13 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps OL130 Salisbury & Stonehenge and OL131 Romsey, Andover & Test Valley

    1st January 2021

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2021)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Stockbridge Down

    Stockbridge Down

    A few days ago I was chatting to a neighbour and they mentioned walking on Stockbridge Down with its wonderful views.  I confessed to not having visited the location despite it only being about twelve miles from home.  I have driven past many times and seen the busy car park and that has put me off, I prefer to walk in quiet locations. 

    After looking at the map I plotted a route starting in Stockbridge that visits the downs.  Lynnie and I are off today to see if the views are as wide ranging as promised.  The starting point for our walk is the parking lay-by on the edge of the town besides the A30. 

    We head south back towards the town and cross the road at the roundabout besides the White Hart public house and then take Trafalgar Way besides the pub.  As the road turns to the right we continue straight on the route of the Test Way.

    For a number of years I have considered walking the forty-four mile route of the Test Way from Ink Pen Hill, south of Newbury, to Southampton Water at Ealing.  At the end of 2019 I started making plans with my long distance walking buddies to set a couple of days aside to do the walk in 2020, however the Covid-19 pandemic has meant our plans are on hold.

    This section of the walk follows what was the route of the Andover to Redbridge railway line.  Opened in 1865 the line was apparently known as the Sprat and Winkle Line, the origins of which are unclear.  Like many other railways built in the mid 1800’s it followed the route of a canal.  The Andover and Redbridge canal was completed in 1794 and operated for 63 years before the canal company decided the future was in railways.  They changed the company name to the Andover and Redbridge Railway company and set about filling in the canal and laying tracks.

    During World War I and II the railway was used to transport troops from their training camps on Salisbury Plain to the docks at Southampton and being a rural line also transported agricultural goods.  It was one of the lines that fell victim of the “Beeching Cuts” and ceased to operate in 1963.

    We stay with the Test Way for just over two miles to reach a junction of footpaths where the Clarendon Way crosses the Test Way, here we turn left and walk steadily uphill on a track following the route of the Clarendon Way.  After passing How Park Farm the track soon becomes a tarmac driveway.  Since I last walked here the farmer has considerately moved the fence line so there is a wide verge for the many walkers who follow this route to walk safely off the road.

    As we approach the junction with Down Drove Hill we take a footpath on the right, which goes through a kissing gate and descends steadily to the edge of King’s Somborne.  

    After going through another kissing gate the path goes down steps to join Cow Down Hill where we turn right and walk into the village.  Our route is to follow the Clarendon Way, however first we take a slight diversion to wander into the centre of the village to look at St Peter and St Paul’s church with its interesting tower and short steeple.

    Leaving the church we cross to take a look at the village information board on the wall of the Crown Inn.  I don’t think I have been in this pub for over forty year, perhaps when things return to normal we will come out here for a bite to eat.  It gets good reviews. 

    From the pub we walk briefly on the pavement besides the A3057 and then turn right into Old Vicarage Lane and cross a stream close to the Corner Stores.

    We are now on Winchester Road and follow this east through the village until we reach a junction with New Lane, here we turn left over the footbridge besides a ford.

    The lane ascends steadily and then just as we near the A3057 we take a Permissive Footpath on the right that goes along the edge of the field with the hedge to our left and avoids having to walk besides this busy road.  It is always welcome to find a farmer that has been considerate.  These days when edges of fields are so often left as wildlife margins it makes little difference to crop yields and means that walkers can safely join paths and avoid traffic.

    After 150 yards on the Permissive Path we go through the hedge line to join a footpath where we turn right, walking away from the A3057, to head through a spinney.

    The footpath soon opens out to walk along the edge of arable land.

    After a couple of fields we enter the edge of North Park Wood and follow the path through the trees.  This is an attractive stretch of woodland with the Hazel looking ready to coppice.

    The path then runs along the edge of North Park Farm to reach a minor road where we turn left and then after fifty yards we take a footpath on the right to walk along the edge of a field with woods to our right.

    Following the path into the next field the woodland is now on our left and then we go through a copse to reach the B3049 which we cross with care to go through a gate onto Stockbridge Down.  This is open access land owned by the National Trust and covering 172 acres.  Our route is to follow a footpath in a north easterly direction though the shrubland with the path soon descending steadily towards a gate.

    A few yards before reaching the gate we turn left and follow a broad grassy path heading steadily uphill towards Woolbury hill fort.  The path goes around the ramparts of the iron age hill fort with some stunning views over the surrounding countryside.

    From the hill fort we follow a path heading south westerly across an open area heading back to the corner of the access land.

    After going through a gate we cross the B3049 and walk along a minor road, Somborne Park Road, for 600 yards to reach a footpath on the right

    This is a clear well-made path along a wide track so easy to follow.  Just after passing a large red barn the track goes into woodland.

    Emerging from the wooded area we pass a barn in the midst of conversion and then follow a track as it continues to go downhill to pass Home Farm and then the entrance to Steepleton House.  A few yards further on we reach the A3057 and turn right on the wide verge.  There is then a short section of just over 100 yards without a verge to reach a lay-by on the left.  Here we take a path that leads down through trees to reach a minor road where we turn left.  After 100 yards we turn right into a small car park and go through this to cross the Test Way and then through a gate onto Common Marsh.

    This is an open access area popular with dog walkers.  We stay along the northern boundary and soon take a footpath on the right to cross the Marshcourt River.

    Our route now follows the footpath into Stockbridge with the final section going besides a stream.

    Stockbridge is said to be one of the smallest towns in the Country.  In the past the High Street was littered with pubs, now it is full of cafes and high end art and craft shops.  Normally at this time of year the place would be buzzing with Christmas shoppers, but due to the lockdown things are relatively quiet today.

    Our route is east along the High Street to the roundabout where we go left besides the A30 to return to our starting point.  Our walk has covered 11 miles and the views were as outstanding as my neighbour had promised.  I am sure we will be returning to Stockbridge Down again soon.

    You can view this 11 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer – 131 – Romsey, Andover & Test Valley

    24th November 2020

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Walking The Sarum Way

    Walking The Sarum Way

    Over twenty years ago I purchased a guide to The Sarum Way, a circular walk around Salisbury and Wilton covering over thirty miles.  I have often thought about tackling this walk but in normal times we spend long periods away in the caravan and I have difficultly finding a whole day at home when I can head out.  

    During the lock down period I came across the guide and whilst plotting the route realised some of the original permitted paths through Clarendon Estate are no longer accessible and starting from my home village would lengthen the route to around thirty three miles.  A good days walking! 

    My walk starts from outside the Silver Plough pub in Pitton.  Leaving the car park I cross the road and take the track to the left of the village hall passing the village playing field.  Just after the tennis court the footpath leaves the track and follows a parallel route on the left.  This leads into a copse where just after passing Coldharbour Cottage I fork left and head steadily uphill through the copse to reach a fence lined path along the ridge with memorial benches.

    At a junction of paths I continue straight on along a track, Cock Row, so called because in medieval times local peasants used to net Woodcock along it.  I stay with this track until I reach a tarmac drive where I continue straight on to a junction with Lucewood Lane.  Here I turn right and walk along the road.  At a T-junction I turn left onto Clarendon Road and after a couple of hundred yards fork right into Green Drove.

    At the bottom of the drove I carry straight on to cross the River Dun and then go right following the road through the village of West Grimstead to reach a green with a bench.  From the green I follow a path running inside a hedge parallel to Grimstead Road heading towards Whaddon.

    Nearing Whaddon the path joins a pavement and crosses the A36.  I then continue down the road to a junction where I turn right onto the Southampton Road.  Prior to the by-pass this was the main Salisbury to Southampton route.  Within a hundred yards I turn left opposite the village shop to walk along an unmade road, Castle Lane.  When the lane forks I go left and then join a footpath on the right and stay with this to pass Matron’s College Farm.

    This footpath crosses the disused Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway and continues on a clear track across arable fields.

    At a junction of footpaths I turn right and after crossing the disused railway line again turn left and walk along a permissive route parallel to the railway line.  The Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway was an 18 mile line spurring from the Salisbury Southampton line at a junction in Alderbury through Downton and Fordingbridge to West Moors where it connected with the main Southampton to Dorchester line.  The line was completed in 1866 and operated until May 1964.  This section of the line ran through a deep cutting.

    I keep the disused railway to my left until I reach Four Gates, after passing through a gate I turn right and walk along a minor road to reach a junction with Witherington Road where I turn right and follow this minor road downhill towards Standlynch Farm.  Just before the entrance to the farm I take a footpath on the left which heads into woodland.

    These woods are part of the Trafalgar Park estate and after passing through a gate I catch a glimpse of the main house.  As you might imagine with a name like Trafalgar this estate has connections with Admiral Horatio Nelson.  Following Horatio’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 his brother Rev William Nelson was created 1st Earl Nelson and apparently lobbied Parliament for an estate in recognition of his brother’s service to the Nation.  Standlynch Park was the location chosen by the Treasury and it was renamed Trafalger Park.  Descendants of Horatio Nelson lived here until 1948 when it was sold by the 5th Earl Nelson.

    After crossing a field I go through another gate to follow a track through woods.  I stay with this path until I reach a concrete path.  Here I turn right and head downhill to reach the disused Standlynch Mill.  

    This is a cracking spot besides the River Avon.

    The footpath goes over weirs on the river.  This spot is absolutely stunning. 

    After a series of small footbridges I reach a field and fork right to head towards Charlton-All-Saints.  The exit from the field is by way of an unusual turnstile gate.

    I now turn left along a path to reach a road running through the village where I turn right and walk along Lower Road.  At All Saints Church I turn left into Church Lane.

    After a few hundred yards on Church Lane I take a footpath on the right across a field.  This is the Avon Valley Path and I stay with it to cross further fields to reach a minor road where I turn right and follow the lane passing old barns and Matrimony Farm House. 

    At a footpath on the left I leave the road and cross a field to reach the A338 which I cross with care to join a footpath heading uphill besides a field.  After 250 yards I go through a gate on the right to follow the Avon Valley Path as it crosses a field of pasture.  After passing through another gate I join a track and follow this past a farmyard to reach a minor road.  

    I continue straight on along the road passing houses, then as the road turns to the left I take a footpath opposite to head through fields towards Odstock Farm.  After some farm buildings I continue in a westerly direction to cross a field and then follow a path leading to a minor road where I turn right and walk into Odstock to reach the Yew Tree Inn.

    Passing the pub I go straight over the crossroads and keep on the road for 500 yards, crossing the River Ebble, to find a footpath on the left besides a small lay-by.  The path initially goes through bushes and then reaches arable fields.

    This is a well-worn path that I am heading west on.  I ignore a path on the left and continue to a crossing of paths, I turn right and go steadily uphill to reach a drove where I turn left and follow the track to reach the A354 Blandford Road.

    After crossing the road I take the track opposite, The Old Shaftesbury Drove, to reach a track junction where I turn left.  Sadly this drove appears to be a popular location for fly tipping.

    The drove continues past properties and then becomes a hedge lined track rising steadily towards the race plain.  As the track starts to level the railings of the racecourse can be seen on the right with fine views beyond of Salisbury Cathedral.

    This racecourse hosts flat racing and lays claim to being the venue where on 7th April 1948, Lester Piggott, aged twelve, rode his first race and also the course where the famous American jockey Steve Cauthen rode his first race in Britain.

    The track continues to join a tarmac driveway and passes a caravan site and the race course grandstand.  Soon after passing the stables on the left I reach the remains of Cowper’s Cross on the grass verge.

    Continuing along the tarmac driveway I reach a minor road which I cross to continue along the Old Shaftesbury Drove passing Hare Warren.  After three quarters of a mile I join a minor road.  I turn right walking besides the road for just over 100 yards to an entrance into woodland on the left.  I follow the path through the trees, ignoring paths to the right and left and occasionally enjoying fine views between the trees to the right.

    The woodland track reaches a stony track, turning right I gradually descend towards South Burcombe, pausing on route to admire the stunning contours of the Punchbowl valley on the left.

    After passing converted barns at Manor Farm I reach a minor road, which I cross and carry on north to cross the River Nadder, this is the third of Salisbury’s five rivers I have crossed today.

    This minor road leads to the A30 opposite the church of St John, an interesting church because unusually it has a tower that is lower than the nave roof.  It is of Saxon origin, restored over the years, but apparently in 2005 the Church Commissioners declared the church redundant and it is now closed.

    After visiting the church I head east on the pavement besides the A30 to reach a footpath on the left.  I cross the road and take the footpath heading up to cross the main Exeter to Salisbury railway line before continuing steadily uphill towards a barn. Here the track turns left and soon after right to continue the steady ascent of the hill. 

    Soon after passing farm buildings on the left I reach a crossing of paths, my route is straight on and I stay with the waymarked route as it enters trees. 

    At a junction of paths close to a Grim’s Ditch I make a short diversion, turning right along a track through the trees and then follow the hedge line on the right to reach the Ordnance Survey trig pillar on Grovelly Hill.  This is the 208th I have bagged.

    From the trig pillar I retrace my steps and continue north through Heath Wood, passing an ancient earthworks and staying with the way marked route. 

    At a crossing of tracks I go right and descend to the edge of the woodland to cross a stile into a field. I go right along the fence line and enter another field and then go left to join a path across access land above a stunning valley.

    The path descends steadily to a stile which I cross and continue diagonally across an arable field to reach a track. 

    I walk under the railway line to join a minor road turning right and then within a few yards I take a footpath on the left leading down to the River Wylie. This offers an ideal bench besides the river a perfect spot for lunch.

    After my break I resume the walk continuing besides the river to a footbridge leading into South Newton. Besides the path, in the field to the right, is a World War II pillbox.

    On reaching the village, where the busy A36 runs through, I turn right to walk on the pavement to reach Forge Close on the opposite side of the road.  I cross with care into the Close and then carry on besides allotments.  After passing more houses the footpath turns right to head out onto an arable field.  At the field boundary I turn left on a track heading steadily uphill.  At a fork in the track the path goes to the right and heads onto downland with fine views.

    I continue along the top of the downs with a fence to my right to reach a stile near a copse. After crossing I follow the path towards telecom aeriels at the top of the hill. 

    After passing the masts the route follows a track and soon arrives at an Ordnance Survey trig pillar on the hedge line, this becomes my 209th bagged trig. 

    Further along the track I pass the Bronze Age burial chamber of Newton Barrow.  Apparently excavation work in 1805 discovered a skeleton with amber beads and eighteen perforated wolves and dogs’ teeth, thought to have been a necklace.  These days the barrow is only a small mound besides the track.

    On reaching the A360 I cross and take the footpath opposite heading towards woodland.  As I reach the edge of the trees the path turns to the right and starts the long steady descent towards Lower Woodford.

    After passing farm buildings I carry on down to the village.  I have now joined the Monarch’s Way; this route gets its name from following the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after his defeat by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. The route is 625 miles long, starting in Worcester and travelling through Stratford upon Avon, Stow on the Wold, Cirencester, Bristol, Yeovil and then through Dorset to continue along the south coast to Brighton before ending at Shoreham-by-the Sea. In recent years I have walked a number of sections of this long distance path but this part is new to me.

    In the village I turn right and then almost immediately left, just after the Victorian Wall Postbox, taking a waymarked path through a gate besides a cattle grid. It then passes along the drive of a property to reach a bridge over the River Avon.

    After crossing the river the path goes uphill to a minor road where I turn left and then almost immediately right at Salterton Farm.  Keeping the farmyard to my left I go through a gate.

    The path goes steadily uphill with good views of the Woodford Valley.

    I stay with the Monarch’s Way path as it heads towards the A345 at Longhedge.  Until recently Longhedge was farm land but these days it is a vast housing development, part of the expansion of Salisbury.  It won’t be too long before the houses reach the Monarch’s Way path.  

    Crossing the A345 still on the Monarchs Way I follow a drove to reach a road known as Portway, there is a World War II pillbox in the field to my right.

    I cross the road and start to descend towards Hurdcott.  As I near the village the Monarch’s Way goes to the left but I continue straight on, crossing the River Bourne, my fifth Salisbury river of the day, before turning right into the village and shortly after take another right into Black Horse Lane, passing the Black Horse pub.

    At the end of the lane I join a footpath and follow this as it skirts the edge of a field and then goes through the hedge line into a second field to continue running behind houses.  This soon opens up into a driveway to properties and then reaches a minor road in Ford where I turn left and walk up to Broken Cross Bridge, that crosses the railway line.  After carefully crossing the bridge I turn left into Old Malthouse Lane.  After a couple of hundred yards just as I reach industrial barns I take a footpath on the right and follow the path steadily uphill towards the A30.

    I cross the main road with care and continue on the far side through a hedge to follow a farm track along the side of a field. The path ascends steadily with some fine views back across Salisbury.

    At the top corner of the field I turn right and follow the edge of the field to join a path leading through bushes to reach a kissing gate onto the open access land of Cockey Down Nature Reserve. My route follows a path along the top of the downs towards a clump of trees.

    After passing through the trees the path descends steeply and continues south on Laverstock Down.

    At a fork in the path I go left and head uphill to a kissing gate and then follow a hedge lined path to the Clarendon Estate gates at Rangers Lodge Farm.  I turn left, now on the Clarendon Way and follow the Estate Road before forking right onto the footpath that crosses a field heading towards King Manor Hill.

    The path continues up a track and as it bends to the right I continue straight on to visit the remains of Clarendon Palace.  This Royal Hunting Lodge was a major residence of Kings from the reign of Henry II to Henry VII.  When I was a youngster the site was overgrown and the ruins were lost in the undergrowth, now they have been cleared and it is an interesting, historic spot to visit.

    I leave the site of the palace by a gate in the north east corner and rejoin the Clarendon Way and turn left along a track.  Within a hundred yards I fork left leaving the track to follow the Clarendon Way sign into the woods.

    I now stay with the Clarendon Way as it follows a clear path through the trees to reach farm buildings and then continues around the back of Four Cottages and into Pitton.  At the crossroads I turn right and walk up White Hill to reach my starting point at the Silver Plough.

    I have clocked up just over 33 miles, a good days walking.  It has been a really interesting walk, some sections I have walked previously but to take on the whole route in one day has been a good challenge.  Now it is time for a reviving cup of tea before taking the dogs out for a walk!

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps OL130 Salisbury & Stonehenge and OL131 Romsey, Andover & Test Valley

    You can view this 33 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    Additional Information

    For more information on this walk including car parking, amenities, refreshments and detailed walking directions visit my associated Walking Moonraker website.

    15th June 2020

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Jamming About from Pitton to Broughton Down

    Jamming About from Pitton to Broughton Down

    In a weeks time I will be on my walk along the South Downs Way and I am still fussing about trying to get the correct balance between the items I want to take and the weight I am willing to carry.  After walking sixteen-miles last week with a fully laden rucksack I had a bit of a re-think and now feel more confident that I have what I need but no excess baggage.

    (more…)
  • Walking the Clarendon Way

    Walking the Clarendon Way

    For a number of years I have considered walking the Clarendon Way, the 27-mile walk between the cathedrals of Salisbury and Winchester.  I am not sure what has stopped me, mainly trying to find the time, but now retired I have no excuse.
    (more…)

  • A Thirteen Mile Circular Walk from the Silver Plough

    A Thirteen Mile Circular Walk from the Silver Plough

    We have been at home for almost two weeks and I have cut the grass (several times) and done other chores, although Lynnie insists there are more to do, but I am getting restless for a decent walk.  We have a couple of family events to look forward to over the coming weeks so a trip away in the caravan is not feasible.  I have covered all my usual walking routes (and strimmed one because it was overgrown) so have decided to go for a bit of a jam about today.
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