Stokke, Chisbury Woods, 4 miles
Date: February 25, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Opposite The Londis, Gt Bedwyn SN8 3NU
The walk began up Forest Hill from where our 14 walkers (plus a little one in a backpack) took the grass path high on the bank above the traffic to the top of the hill. This path was restored early last year with funding from the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Our route then entered the fields, and we made our way to Stokke through the gates installed under the same project. These were the last of Great Bedwyn parish’s stiles to be replaced with gates. There is a lovely distant view of the village and the church from under the oaks in the field but on our walk the weather was unfortunately too misty – but at least it wasn’t raining! We walked past Stokke Manor then along the bridleway that skirts Bedwyn Common. After crossing the main road to Marlborough our route took us along the lane to a bridleway behind Chisbury Lane Farm, over 4 stiles, through another field which was badly flooded after the recent heavy rains. To avoid the appalling wet conditions on the path down to the village by Chisbury aerial we stayed on the hard track instead to join the pavement down Forest Hill and conveniently ended our walk near the pub, where some of us enjoyed Sunday lunch.
This route crosses a number of fields which are grazed by herds of cattle in the summer months but we didn’t meet any on this February walk.
