AMAZEing Whitsbury Downton Walk

Start time: 10.00 (approx. finish 15.45)

Mileage: 14.2 miles

Walk Grade:  Moderate

IMPORTANT: You need to book a place (see below) so I know who is coming – it helps understand numbers and can be especially useful where parking is limited and possible car sharing. 

Walk Description: 

Please be aware that we are reputed to walk at a brisker pace than other groups, so it’s important to have a reasonable level of fitness. This is a walk with moderate terrain but demanding distance if not your usual habit. Please contact the walk leader if you have any concerns.

Another of our occasional cross-border forays sees us flirt between Hampshire and Wiltshire, in a heavily agricultural area rich with broad sloping meadows, dotted with clumps of woodland, and full of history that takes in three scheduled ancient monuments on our route, as well as an evocatively wooded bronze age earthwork. A bit of gentle up and down, but we’re mostly on solid paths and tracks, with almost no stiles and no mud, unless we get heavy downpours in the days before. We leave the domesday-book village of Whitsbury, heading east to pause for a look at the Breamore Miz Maze, an unusual and rare chalk feature hidden in woods, then downwards to the edge of Downton, where we join the Avon Valley Path, passing through Charlton All Saints and a stop for lunch. We turn west, climbing gently to the first hill fort, then follow long broad ridgeways that offer sweeping verdant views to all points of the compass, but especially east and south. We drop off the ridge to mysterious Grim’s Ditch, before a final climb into Whitsbury, passing the second hill fort.

Refreshments may well be taken at the Cartwheel Inn in the village, if there's any space on an Easter Sunday.

Meet Point: Whitsbury Village Hall Car Park (hired with small contribution required) - see full detail below

Grid Reference/Postcode. SU128187/SP6 3QA

Whatthreewords:

Note additional guidance to reach meet point:

Postcode is approximate. Use Whatthreewords ideally or type ‘Cartwheel Inn’ into Google Maps and make sure it’s taking you to the pub in Whitsbury. Our parking requires a turn off the main road that runs through the village so after seeing the pub look for ‘Lower Grove’ almost opposite the pub’s car park and turn into that road then immediately look to your left just at the end of a few terraced houses for a narrow lane signposted to the village hall car park. We’ve hired it for the day so please have a few coins as a small contribution. 

Booking info

Buy (free) tickets via Ticket Tailor using the following link (paste into internet browser):

https://buytickets.at/walksfordorset4050ramblers/2145762

If you cannot attend please cancel your ticket through the site so others can take a place.

If any issues please contact the walk leader.

Leader: Andy      Contact number: 07786377101 

What you need to consider:

• Bring packed lunch – there are brief drink/snack stops 
• Toilet visit – one in Downton  
• Good walking shoes as a minimum – be prepared for anything!
• Bring enough drink for the walk
• Dogs – assistance dogs only