PEWSEY DOWNSAROUND
17 MILE ROUTE
BW - Bridleway, CB - Compass Bearing, CP - Check Point, FP - Footpath, L - Left, M - Metre, MWW - Mid Wilts Way, R - Right, TL - Turn Left, TR - Turn Right, RD - Road, TK - Track, SO - Straight On, ST - Stile, X - Cross.
Please bring map (Landranger 173 or Explorer 157), compass, and mug.
Please note that the wiltshire downs are extensively farmed with sheep. Close all gates. Keep dogs on leads.
Checkpoints on this route
CP1 Knap Hill car park (SU116637), 7.3 miles. Opens 09:00, Closes 13:00
CP4 Huish (SU142628), 13.1 miles. Opens 11:00, Closes 17:45
Finish Pewsey Scout Hut (SU162601), 17.1 miles. Closes 19:00
PEWSEY to KNAP HILL, 7.3 miles
1.1 From the Scout Hut X RD and go down path past car park to Main Road. TL & at the mini-roundabout, TR into Broomcroft Road and in 65M take FP on L into Scotchel Nature Reserve. Follow path through reserve to TK & minor RD & TR under railway bridge. (SU162604).
1.2 SO for 100M to X stream by house (Buckleaze Mill). Continue on path for 200M, which bends to the L, and then continue straight on to reach lane and houses. Turn L down bridleway at end of lane. X bridge over tiny River Avon & then over canal at Pains Bridge. SO on TK to pass tarmac drive on L in 350M.
Continue SO on TK for 600M to reach RD (SU163623).
1.3 TL & in 190M, just beyond bungalow on L, TR onto FP and follow field edge to top L of field to meet TK. X TK and through metal gate. SO across field, CB 34, for 140M to go through metal gate on the R. TL, keep hedge on L & steeply ascend the Giant's Grave. Continue SO with fence on your L to pass trig point (SU166632).
1.4 SO for 360M to X broken ST by gate & continue SO keeping fence on L ignoring MWW marker. Ascend slope for a further 500M to reach fence corner by large metal gate. TL, keeping fence on your L, for 500M to reach a track at field corner. TL down stony track still with fence on L for 550M to reach main road.
1.5 X BUSY MAIN RD (A345). TL on BW for 800M to 'Huish Down Farm' sign. TL (ignoring FP on L) to follow main TK for 100M to where main TK bears L towards isolated house. SO through gate onto green TK (west, CB 290) for 500M, first through a plantation of young trees and a metal gate, then across open field to 2 large gates. Go through R hand gate, keeping fence on your L for a further 600M to field corner where fence and path bear R. Continue on path for 100M with fence still on your L to go through metal gate. (SU147646).
1.6 Immediately TL through a 2nd metal gate to go down green TK and after 300M go through metal gates to a X-TK (SU142645). SO through gate to follow path due west on MWW. Continue uphill to X next ST/ gate. Bear slightly left and follow vague path towards corner of wood, to reach & X gate/metal stile. SO (due south), aiming for 1st tree on L on the horizon, to reach sign-post (SU138641).
Here the 10 mile route turns left
1.7 TR (west, CB250) on MWW & continue on with steep escarpment & fence on your left. (The views on your L are across the Vale of Pewsey.) SO for 450M to gate/metal ST. X ST with fence now on your R. SO in same direction for 500M and, at fence corner, X further gate/metal ST & continue SO due west for 600M to meet fence coming in from R. X metal ST & SO following MWW for 500M to gate. TR to go through Knap Hill car park.
Checkpoint 1, Knap Hill car park (SU116637), 7.3 miles
Opens 09:00, Closes 13:00
KNAP HILL TO AVEBURY 7.0 miles
2.1 X BUSY RD. Go through gate & immediately TL through a 2nd gate. SO down field and bear R to gate which is 150M on R. Through this gate then bear L (still on MWW) to further gate. Through gate and bear slightly right for 40M to earth bank. Immediately TR & follow earth bank uphill on grassy path which goes up and around hillside on right to pass above the Alton Barnes White Horse (700M from the earth bank). SO to reach gate (SU105638).
2.2 SO the main path following MWW for 400m with gorse bushes on the right. After gorse bushes, bear right to top of escarpment to gate.SO on MWW for 200M to 2nd gate. SO, still keeping fence on your R, for 300M to reach 3rd gate. TR on MWW & follow fence on R through 4th gate.
Here the 26 & 35 mile routes turn Left down the track
2.3 X TK and ST and turn right along the top of the Wansdyke (east). Ignore ST on R after 200M. (By the way, the highest point in Wiltshire, at 968ft, is by the large tank on the field to your right). Continue on top of dyke for a further 200M to reach a fence corner. TL for 25M to reach gap in fence. Through gap, immediately TR and follow TK for only 25M, then TL to walk with the Wansdyke now on your L (still going east) , SU107646.
2.4 Follow dyke for 350M to gate. Through gate, SO for 150M to 2nd gate. SO with dyke still on your L and fence on your R, for 550M to reach T-junction. TR for 50M then X path to ST.
Here the 26 & 35 mile routes join from the Left
X ST by gate. SO across field (east, CB 110) on grass TK for 300M to reach lone beech tree at a fence corner. SO, with fence on your L, down to gate (SU125647).
2.5 Go through gate, X RD, and X ST by gate. SO uphill along grassy TK, keeping fence on L, to metal gates at end of field. Go through L metal gate and SO, now with fence on R. Continue on main path around bend, with fences on your L&R, to reach far end of TK after a further 300M. TL and follow fence on R for 250M. Bear R on enclosed FP (SU138649).
2.6 SO & downhill. Then SO uphill on path, with fences on your L&R, to enter field. SO keeping fence on your L for 20M to ST and metal gate on L. Through gate and X field (SE, CB140) to reach a wide TK. SO on TK for 40M to 5-Way Junction with fingerpost on L (SU142645). Turn hard right through wooden gate signposted MMW (same route you took this morning). [Route change for 2017 to avoid quagmire in Gopher Woods]. Follow path due west on MWW. Continue uphill to X next ST/ gate. Bear slightly left and follow vague path towards corner of wood, to reach & X gate/metal stile. SO (due south), aiming for 1st tree on L on the horizon, to reach sign-post (SU138641).
2.7 Go through large metal gate and bear L down hill towards edge of wood (east, CB 100). Follow main path as it curves steeply down to the R. Keep the hedge/fence on your L for 400M as you continue downhill to reach a large metal gate. Go through gate, SO on TK, still with hedge/fence on L, for further 450M to reach gate & lane. Continue down RD to Draycott Farm and CP.
Checkpoint 4, Huish (SU142628), 13.1 miles
Opens 11:00, Closes 17:45
HUISH to PEWSEY, 4.0 miles
3.1 Continue down RD. At hard R bend in RD, by house 'New Mead', continue SO on BW along L edge of field to end of field. TL and in 20M TR through gate. SO, due east, to follow broken line of mature trees across grassy field to reach wooden fence on South side of wood. SO, keeping wood and stout wooden fence on your L for 120M then go through a wooden gate. Continue SO for 60M with fence still on your left to corner. Go half R, CB 50, for 70M to gate and FP sign-post. Go through wooden gate, immediately TR through 2nd gate & follow BW, due east, along R field edge for 250M to X ST by gate.
Continue across yard to lane (SU156631).
2.2 TL following the lane through Oare village to reach main RD, A345, in 240M. X RD into Pound Lane. SO for 420M, past all buildings to reach a path junction.
Here the 26 mile route continues SO down Pound Lane
TR onto footpath heading south, continue along R field edge for 500M to reach Sunnyhill Lane (SU161623).
2.3 X RD to ST opposite. X ST and continue in same direction (south, CB 160) across field & through hedge gap. Bear slightly L, CB 150, to reach ST 50M from far L hand corner of this large field. X ST and continue slightly L for 40M, CB 140, to X ST. TR on TK, SO & ignore tarmac drive joining from R, to X canal at Pains Bridge (SU164612).
Here the 26 mile route rejoins from the left
2.4 TL down FP to X bridge over River Avon. SO for 150M to where your TK becomes a lane. TR on RD and SO. After 100M the RD becomes a FP. Continue SO path with field on your L. FP turns R and goes downhill (railway embankment now on your L). SO to X stream by house & reach RD. SO and in 120M TL under railway bridge. Immediately after bridge, TL and go through gate. Follow path through nature reserve & at exit TR to mini-roundabout. TL into North Street, X RD carefully, and in 100M TR into Goddard Road.
Continue up path on L to Scout Hut (SU162601) & the finish.
Congratulations! You have completed the 17 mile Pewsey Downsaround!
You must be back at the Scout Hut before 19:00