Pewsey Downs from Wootton Rivers

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.

Technical sheet

n°293119

A Wootton Rivers walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 12/05/22

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.64 km
Calculated time: 4h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 147 m
Vertical drop: - 146 m
Highest point: 279 m
Lowest point: 126 m

District: Wootton Rivers
Start/End: N 51.364943° / W 1.71646°
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Description

(S/E)The start is the small car park adjacent to the village hall in the village of Wootton Rivers (grid ref. SU197630). Exit the car park and walk North along the main road (Forest road) for around 0.43 miles. Walk through the village along that road, on the way past The Royal Oak on your right-hand side. When the road curves right, seek for the Martinsell house on your left and Clare Cottage on your right-hand side. Here join the Mid Wilts Way which leaves the road on your left (North) onto a footpath at grid ref. SU197634 or 51.369908, -1.717988.

(1)Follow this path North for just under a mile climbing onto the downs ignoring footpaths coming from the left. Reaching a path T-junction of footpath at grid ref. SU199642 turn left (West), following the Mid Wilts Way, and continue when the path turns right (North) to meet Mud Lane (grid ref. SU198646).

(2)At the junction, turn left along Mud Lane for two miles continuing along the Mid Wilts Way. The way ahead climbs steadily across the rolling downs crossing a lane and past a car park at grid ref. SU183645.

Continue straight ahead (South-West) with a steep escarpment to your left with an excellent view across the Vale of Pewsey. Reaching a path junction (grid ref. SU176642) continue straight ahead.

(3)At a cross-path (grid ref. SU174641) go straight ahead (South-West-West) and continue along the southern edge of Withy Copse on the edge of woodlands on your right-hand side to reach a junction of paths (grid ref. SU171641).

Turn left (South) here across the field to join the White Horse Trail to continue (South-West-West) along a ridge passing Giant's Grave. Continue to descend to a cross path (grid ref. SU161628). Go straight across and continue South keeping your left to reach Sunnyhill Lane (grid ref. SU161622).

(4)Cross Sunnyhill Lane and take the path opposite remaining on the White Horse Trail, keep your right-hand South to reach Pains Bridge (grid ref. SU164611) on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Turn left (North-East) along the canal towpath and stay along this canal for two and a half miles of easy walking back to Wootton Rivers. (S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 132 m - Start: Wootton Rivers village hall
1 : km 0.59 - alt. 138 m - Leave road on left
2 : km 1.98 - alt. 200 m - Turn left along Mud Lane
3 : km 4.21 - alt. 259 m - Continue ahead at path junction
4 : km 7.52 - alt. 141 m - Cross Sunnyhill Lane and take path opposite
S/E : km 12.64 - alt. 133 m - Finish: Wootton Rivers village hall

Useful Information

Take an OS map with you as you might be confused around Martinsell.

Car park : small car park adjacent to the village hall in the village of Wootton Rivers (grid ref. SU197630).

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.3 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5

Walk interest
4.5 / 5

julie cigman

12 May 2022 at 05:38 EDT

More information would be useful about exactly where to turn off the road eg walk from the village hall past --- before the road climbs, turn... turn left opposite ...
Further on, we went wrong because the path turned left and we went on. If you can flag up that there's a path opposite (I can't remember which path it was but it was signposted) - don't go down that path but turn left here... etc. We weren't expecting our path so soon as it took a long time to get through Wootton Rivers, so we were struggling with the scale of the walk. Sometimes things were further than we expected and sometimes they were nearer.

But it was a lovely walk and appreciated!

Delphinium

12 May 2022 at 04:45 EDT

Hi Julie !
Thank you for this valuable feedback. Do you have any suggestions to correct the description?
King regards

julie cigman

11 May 2022 at 15:13 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 10/05/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This was a lovely varied walk with beautiful; views and a gentle ending along the canal towpath. The disappointment was with the description - it was hard to find the correct pace to come off the road onto the footpath in Wootton Rivers. When we had walked round Martinsell, we weren't sure where to go and had to use GPS on our phones. It would be good to have more verbal description.

jeremynh

07 Oct 2019 at 05:28 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 03/10/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The directions were very vague, providing no useful details at all about things to look out for at crucial turns up on the downs. The author seemed to assume everyone would be travelling with some GPS device.

BertieTanks

01 Jul 2019 at 04:14 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 29/06/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great walk through beautiful countryside. A couple of climbs but wonderful views at the top. To finish the walk you do a couple of miles along the canal. A very varied walk which I enjoyed very much.

yuval_cohen

17 Jun 2019 at 06:01 EDT • Last modified: 30 Sep 2019 at 10:27 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 16/06/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We have done the walk on Saturday 12/June/2019.
Weather was ok, with some rain in the middle. (Lovely typical British weather...)
Views are superb!
Grazing cows everywhere (watch out: cow s....t everywhere). The mud lane was ok, whilst I agree that the name of the lane is very descriptive, it is not that bad, and there is enough places on the side to walk and not get too dirty.

Although it is not according to the current GPX file, I recommend to go to the 'Martinsell Viewpoint' (marked in mapsme.com and in https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?que... ) it is well worth a short (~500 meters) change to the walk. And from Martinsell viewpoint the path continue and you can easily continue the walk... (i.e. no need to return on the path that you arrived to the viewpoint).

Enjoy!

richardmundy

11 Apr 2018 at 03:01 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 08/04/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Did a variation and Parked at Oare then walked the route in reverse, lunching at Wootton Rivers
Route was very muddy, especially at Mud Lane and the towpath along the canal was muddier then I expected. Weather was not good, but the views were still good. Saw deer in the field below Mud Lane.
Altogether a very pleasant if damp and muddy walk.

Windraker

12 Mar 2018 at 07:06 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 11/03/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great walk! Varied and interesting. Awesome views. Decided to walk up to the Fort rather than around it - really glad I did!

Other walks in the area

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

From Burbage follow Lover's Walk to Savernake and Kennet and Avon Canal

Departure from Burbage (Wiltshire)

A lovely varied circular walk taking in part of Savernake Forest and Kennet and Avon Canal.

Tottenham Estate and Savernake Forest from Burbage

Departure from Burbage (Wiltshire)

A walk on a lane to Durley then across the Tottenham House Estate to St Katherine's. Then onto Savernake Forest. Fine views and beautiful Savernake Forest.

Burbage to Great Bedwyn via Durley and St Kathryn's

Departure from Burbage (Wiltshire)

This circular walk takes in parkland, woodland, pretty villages, especially Great Bedwyn, which has various facilities. Returning on the Kennet and Avon Canal past the famous Crofton Beam Engines dating back to 1812 and still operational some summer season weekends.

Burbage to Martinsell Hill via Wootton Rivers

Departure from Burbage (Wiltshire)

A scenic walk. Beautiful in late spring. Including woodland, fields and downland.

Burbage to Graftons, Wilton and Crofton Beam Engines

Departure from Burbage (Wiltshire)

A lovely walk across fields and through pretty villages and passing Wilton Water. Seeing Crofton Beam Engines before returning along the Kennet and Avon Canal.