Defended by a Lady; Weekly Walk #10 at Old Wardour Castle

A very historic walk this week as I visit Old Wardour Castle near Tisbury, Wiltshire, and take a walk up White Sheet Hill to an ancient highway used by pilgrims to get between Shaftesbury and Salisbury.

Old Wardour was built in the 1390s under the direction of John, Lord Lovell who had connections to the King and his master stonemasons. It wasn’t actually meant to be a military establishment, as although it had a few security features, it lacked a moat and was in an accessible, low lying position.

Interestingly, it was sieged twice; first most defended by the lady of the house, Lady Blanche Arundell, lost, and eventually reclaimed by Henry Arundell when he blew it up. Since that day, on the 18th March 1644, the castle was left for ruin until New Wardour Castle was built not too far away in a more luxurious manor house style, reflecting its original purpose. 

I started exploring the grounds and found a grotto, a lake, and some lovely, old trees. You can take an audio tour of the castle or use the guidebook like I did. It’s great that you can go inside and up the staircases to several still standing rooms, and definitely makes you feel you’re back in time, in a fantasy book, or for those who know the film, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, as the castle was used a lot in its filming.

I set out from the car park between the castle and the lake to Wardour House. I followed a tree-lined path with a view to New Wardour Castle before a field to Pale Park Pond.

I crossed another field into a wood, walked a driveway of nice houses, and finally turned left to follow the road through Donhead St Andrew to the A30. I took a byway steeply up White Sheet Hill, which felt a long way and had me puffing by the top.

I was now on the ancient highway marked by a milestone dating back to 1736. It was a long, straight track, and following my historic morning, had me feeling I was on the Kingsroad from the series, A Song of Ice and Fire. I wondered if I’d gone too far, but soon I reached the road detailed in my guide and continued further to a gate.

I crossed a field to another gate and followed a path a short way before descending a steep hill. I went through a series of gates and crossed another field, before heading over the A30 once again, but this time to Waterloo Farm. I took a few tracks to the picturesque village of Antsy, which had a pond and a trickle of water running the length of the road.

I continued along a single track road past thatched houses before turning right uphill towards trees, where a deer in the woods ran as soon as I touched my camera. I walked the woods to another field and back towards the castle and its stone arch, which I was dubious about passing under as a few stones had fallen from its roof.

I got back to the car and had lunch overlooking the lake. A lovely end to a lovely day out.

My historic account thanks to the English Heritage guidebook for Old Wardour Castle and the AA’s 50 Walks in Wiltshire guide.

Weekly Walk #9 - Wiltshire Wanderers do Old Sarum

Today I went for a walk with the Ramblers, a walking charity who help protect and increase access and promote walking through many walking groups. I took a blustery stroll with the Wiltshire Wanderers from Iron Age Hill Fort Old Sarum and met some lovely people on a new walk without needing to read a map. I only wish I had proper gloves!

Our group gathered in the car park and after a quick meet and greet wandered down the narrow access road to a gate, along a footpath past the fort, over a road and on past a farm house.

I had a chat about the group and was interested in the long distance walks, but it was nice to know shorter walks such as this were on offer. After a breather and a regroup for those who'd marched ahead (myself included) we continued through a wooded area and down to a road.

We continued a series of lanes and bridges before a set of barns, then continued left across a field, where we were greeted by a pair of inquisitive horses and a muddy path.

Next was a lovely wooded area by the river with old wooden buildings. Soon we past picturesque Manor house, Little Durnford Manor, where it sounded as if a ping pong tournament was taking place. The opposite field was interesting too, as there were donkeys, lamas, and in a barn at the back, a camel. Quite the selection of animals! We continued through a gate and turned right along the road until we could clearly see the Cathedral.

The last part of the walk took us over a series of stiles and fields before Old Sarum appeared. We headed up a tree-lined path towards the fort, then through an even narrower tree-lined path to a field encircling the ruins, which led us back to the cars.

I almost couldn't turn the key in my car for numb fingers and had the heater on full to warm up. It'd been a great morning and I'd managed to talk to just about everyone in the group. I certainly liked not having to navigate, and will definitely take another walk with the Ramblers.

Weekly Walk #8 Downton (the one without the abbey)

Although not the base of the hit series Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle in Berkshire), this Wiltshire village is still a charming base for a good walk. It follows a popular trout fishing section of the River Avon and passes the less known Trafalgar House, once home to Britain's Admiral Viscount Nelson. I really enjoyed the mixture of open fields, narrow marshland paths and woodland, which was brought together with a final touch of sun.

I parked at the top of the high street as there weren't any car-parks, but that was fine. I set off towards the bridge and turned left along a footpath to a field. The path followed the river until it went left over a bridge, then right to a concrete track along a narrow stream.

I saw a few fishermen as I made my way to the end of the path, then right over a style and along the right-hand side of a field. The path continued across another two fields before a farmhouse at the end. I found inspiration for a few arty photos of logs in the flooded field, before heading over two bridges, where again inspiration took hold for a pair of swans.

I continued across marshland until I came to a long bridge over running water. It was exciting to trip-trap over, until I hit a sign indicating the path ahead was closed. I almost turned back with knocked hopes, until a well hidden fisherman called over to say it was okay so long as I didn't run, which I'd already ruled out with one look at its width. 

I passed the Mill and turned left uphill before another sharp left. The setting here felt magical; high walls on a tight bend with a church burred in the undergrowth and woodland all around, mixed with the running stream below. I continued through the woods to a gate with Trafalgar House on the right, then through another gate through woods to a road.

I turned right to follow the road uphill round a bend, before a left opposite a house. I walked a short distance before crossing the old railway bridge and turned right into a field. I passed a tractor at work and continued across the field to a lane, then turned right under a bridge before left into a field.

It was intimidating not being able to see over the blind summit up the hill, but the brow soon revealed the distant Downton church near where I'd begun. I crossed a track to a path at the base of the field, then just as the field started to ascend, I turned right down a little path to another field, which led to a residential area. I turned right down an alley, left to the high-street, and finally right to reach my car.

The schools were letting out as I returned and it was fun trying to find a point to turn around, but the walk itself was lovely; a real mix of settings with sights to see.

Weekly Walk #7 A Sunny Walk in Pitton.

It's been a long time since I've taken a walk in only a jumper, but that's what I found myself doing on this lovely sunny walk through Pitton and Farley. I ploughed through a ford on the drive to the Silver Plough, grabbed my Wiltshire Pathfinder Guide, and set off into the sun.

I took the road behind the Silver Plough and turned right into alley leading up though trees to reach a field overlooking the village. I walked to a podcast on my iPod, and enjoyed being able to listen whilst exercising and admiring the landscape. I crossed two stiles and continued over two fields into a spinney and finally woodland.

It was quiet inside and quite magical. I found myself wandering off the track to play with the focus on my camera, though I was quite glad no-one passed to see me kneeling on the grass to take a shot. I ignored the pathways coming off the main track and followed it to the end and Farley village.

I past quaint houses and the distinctive Farley Hospital, and took the first turning on the left. I studied the guide as I'd gotten lost here before, but still found myself at the pub by mistake. I backtracked and continued further down the field to the correct path, crossed the field to a style past a cottage and onto the road.

I climbed the gate into a long field and walked to the end, crossed a style into a much muddier field, and sank as I slopped my way along. I followed the telegraph poles to the end and had to navigate my way around the electricians whose van almost blocked the bridleway that I took to the right.

I climbed the narrow bridleway to turn left at a cross-road of paths, and followed the next path all the way to the end, where it emerged into an open expanse of field. A little stream ran through the middle, and after seeing no other way to cross, I trudged through, but thankfully my boots kept me dry.

I continued into woodland, and walked the tree lined path enjoying a mixture of quiet landscape with the music of Mumford and Sons. I continued until the path bent around to the right at the edge of a large field. I decided not to continue to the ruins of Claredon Palace, and took a shortcut to arrive at a long pathway through more woods.

I stopped briefly to refuel, then continued out the woods to a white cottage. I followed the path until it reached a hill over looking Pitton, then continued down to the road. I turned left then right at the cross-roads to head back up to the pub where I'd parked my car.