Walks
| Published: 20th June 2007 13:20 |
Calstone Wellington and Cherhill Downs walks
A 5 ½ mile walk exploring the chalk downland between the A4 and the A361 on the edge of the Marlborough Downs west of Avebury. Of such exceptional quality the area around Oldbury hillfort is administered by the National Trust. Walking is generally easy with one sharp climb to the hillfort from where there are fine panoramic views.
Oldbury prehistoric Iron Age Hillfort was constructed for defence.
Park at Smallgrain Plantation Picnic Site car park (019672) NW of the golf course on the Calne to Bishops Cannings road.
Leave the car park on its NE side, passing under some beech trees and down concrete steps to Wansdyke.
This long post-Roman defensive dyke was thrown up to resist enemies advancing from the North.
Turn right and walk ¼ mile E along Wansdyke which here coincides with the Roman road to Bath. At a bend (022672) on the NW side of Morgan's Hill, between gates on either side of the track, pass through the gate on the left and walk NE for ¾ miles down the bridleway. On descending a long incline, ahead on your right is the Landsdowne Monument. Pass immediately left of St Mary's Church St Calstone Wellington with its amusing inscription on the external N Wall commemorating a stagecoach driver!
The church stands isolated with earthworks to its W. These suggest that the village may have at some time moved away from its church.
From the church follow the lane N into Calstone, turn right, and pass South Farm.
From a point (032684) a little E of South Farm a short diversion may be taken N to visit the steep gorge which contains the large pools and springs which are the source of the River Marden.
The pools were formerly used for washing the sheep from the surrounding downlands and the coombe therefore became known as Washpool Bottom. Calstone was formerly a very busy place. In addition to the sheep-washing it had four mills milling flour and snuff, and making paper. The woollen trade was also carried on here, mop heads were made, and local village industry was the making of whitening by crushing chalk for whitening cottage walls, thresholds and hearthstones. Withies were grown from basket making, and watercress was also cultivated.
From the lakes return S up the track to near South Farm and then after crossing a stile behind an iron gate continue walking E and after a short distance fork left and cross another stile into Ramscombe Bottom which is intersected by the dramatic shallow dry upland valleys of the Calstone Coombes.
The strip lynchets on the combe sides are probably medieval cultivation terraces which were used into the 18c.
Continue for one mile E along Ranscombe Bottom to point 050684 on Calstone Down, then turn N and walk ¾ mile up the slope to Oldbury Hillfort. A little N of the hillfort is Cherhill White Horse hill figure. At the W end is the obelisk known as the Landsdowne Monument.
Oldbury is a prehistoric Iron Age hillfort which has been much damaged by flint-digging.
Cherhill White Horse was cut into the turf in 1780 at the directions of Dr Alsop of Calne.
The Lansdowne Monument was built in the 1840's to the design of Sir Charles Barry (architect of the Houses of Parliament) to commerate Sir William Petty (1623-1687) economist and inventor, a 17th century ancestor of the Landsdowne family of Bowood House.
The Old Road from London to Bath with high protective banks ran over the downs past the Landsdowne Monument.
After enjoying the splendid panoramic views over the Calstone Coombes and to the NE the Marlborough Downs, from the E end of the hillfort, return S down the slope by which you approached the hillfort, cross Calstone Downs , and join the Roman road at 048680 on North Down near the N end of a linear tree belt.
Follow the Roman road, which here coincides with the North Wilts District Council boundary, for 1 ½ miles W over North Down, rejoin the outward route on Morgan's Hill, and return to the car park.
This Roman road passes (at 028672) Morgan's Hill chalk downland nature reserve.
Community Comment:
Add your comment:
You will need to sign in to post a comment to this article. if you do not have an AboutMyArea account, you can join now for free.
