Hackpen Hill and Overton Down from Avebury

The North Wessex Downs provides some good walking terrain and this extended route from Avebury takes you onto the downs to follow a section of the Ridgeway.

Technical sheet

n°293307

A Avebury walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 10/02/20

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.56 km
Calculated time: 4h 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 127 m
Vertical drop: - 124 m
Highest point: 271 m
Lowest point: 153 m

District: Avebury
Start/End: N 51.425186° / W 1.858°
Today’s forecast: Loading…
- Loading…

Open in the mobile app GPX track PDF print

Description

This Wiltshire walk can be reached by public transport using the regular bus service between Swindon and Marlborough. Alternatively there is a National Trust pay and display car park (grid ref. SU099696) on the southern side of the village.

(S/E) Leave the car park following the signs to the village passing a section of the stone circle on your right. This path leads you onto the main street. If you want to visit the church then turn left, otherwise turn right and walk towards the main A4361 road. Cross the main road and continue straight ahead with further parts of the stone circle to your right and left.

(1)The lane passes Manor Farm (grid ref.SU110702) on your right where it becomes a track. Take the signed byway on the left. This leads across fields crossing a track leading left to Rutlands Farm. You pass Avebury Down Barn on the right with a small copse on the same side. Go straight across the tracks from East Farm and Middle Farm to reach Mill Lane (grid ref SU107726). Again continue straight ahead soon reaching the A4361.

(2) Bear right along the main road for a short way and then take the track on your right that leads up to Berwick Bassett Down. The track doglegs around a barn (grid ref. SU113736) and then starts to climb onto the downs. With much of the climb completed turn left onto a signed bridleway (grid ref. SU120733), which is before you reach Berwick Bassett Clump. Crossing the flank of the downs, after about 600 metres the route turns sharp right (grid ref. SU122738) and leads you onto the Ridgeway.

(3) Turn left on the Ridgeway and continue to Hackpen Hill with its White Horse.

(4) The view of the White Horse is limited but the panorama across the Wiltshire countryside is superb. This is a good spot for a break although it can be quite busy on nice days. To continue retrace your steps down the Ridgeway for about two and a half miles.

(5) This will bring you to a junction of tracks and paths on Overton Down (grid ref. SU125708). Turn right here and gently descend past Manor Farm and into Avebury(S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 153 m - Avebury car park
1 : km 1.47 - alt. 156 m - Turn left
2 : km 4.76 - alt. 169 m - Bear right
3 : km 6.84 - alt. 255 m - Turn left
4 : km 7.7 - alt. 271 m - View of the White Horse
5 : km 11.59 - alt. 226 m - Turn right
S/E : km 14.56 - alt. 153 m

Useful Information

This walk combines some of the antiquities of Avebury with the wide ranging views from the nearby downs. The route starts in the village and takes you through the stone circle. This can be very busy with visitors so an early start is recommended if you want to this ancient monument in relative peace.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Download PDF / Print

Reviews and comments

5 / 5

Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
5 / 5

Clarity of route map
5 / 5

Walk interest
5 / 5

yuval_cohen

29 Jul 2019 at 06:21 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 27/07/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk in particular at the end of July, August or beginning of September, the harvest season. The scene is taken from Van Gogh Harvest picture. Amazing!

Pity that the path is not kept well!
We found that:
The fence in #1 blocked, so we had to climb the fence.
The path towards #2 is not preserved! And difficult to walk through.
The path up-hill towards 3 has moved, there used to be two paths, but only one has preserved, the other path cannot be used. Yet easy to find and continue

Recommended!

Other walks in the area

Avebury, West Kennett and Silbury Hill

Departure from Avebury (Wiltshire)

This Wiltshire walk provides a way of visiting many of the interesting World Heritage Neolithic sites around the village of Avebury including the Stone Circle, Silbury Hill and West Kennett Long Barrow.

Milk Hill the highest point in Wiltshire

Departure from Alton (Wiltshire)

A pleasant Wiltshire walk across chalk downland to the highest point in the county. The walk also includes some other interesting features typical of this area.

Savernake Forest

Departure from Savernake (Wiltshire)

Starting from Postern Hill Car Park this circular route explore much of the beautiful forest including several of the named oaks and the arboretum.

Ogbourne St George to Avebury, The Ridgeway the Other Way

Departure from Ogbourne St. George (Wiltshire)

The Ridgeway the other way. The National Trail from NE to SW. The Stage 6 is a short walk as you will probably have to continue a bit further to get a place to stay and maybe head to Swindon or Trowbridge for onward travel. The countryside is a mixture of arable land, changing colour with the seasons, and areas of sheep or cattle grazed grassland. Some of the best views are from Smeathe’s Ridge as you climb gently up to Barbury Castle.

Pewsey Downs from Wootton Rivers

Departure from Wootton Rivers (Wiltshire)

This Wiltshire walk climbs onto the Pewsey Downs from where there are excellent views across the Vale of Pewsey. The route uses a number of national trails before returning along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal and offers a range of scenery from rolling downs to the open aspect of the Vale of Pewsey.

Milton Lilbourne scenic downland walk towards Pewsey

Departure from Milton Lilbourne (Wiltshire)

Along the downs past Giant's Grave to drop down to Pewsey, then return across fields via Kepnal and Fyfield to Milton Lilbourne.

From Milton Lilbourne to Easton Royal and on the Downs to Giant's Grave

Departure from Milton Lilbourne (Wiltshire)

Across field tracks to Easton Royal, then up onto the Downs and along to Giant's Grave prehistoric long barrow with wonderful views across Pewsey Vale before returning to Milton Lilbourne