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Amesbury > Stomehenge >
Woodhenge > Amesbury
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Distance: 8 miles (13.3
km)
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Height Gain: 572ft
(174m)
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Overview: Spot on for a flatter walk
on quiet winter days, this route takes in the atmospheric
ancient monument of Stonehenge
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Maps: Landranger 130
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 1
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: 150
214
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With winter here and the shorter days restricting time on the
hills, it's a chance to seek out beauty in some of our country's
lower lying areas. Here we highlight a circular route around the
iconic Stonehenge, as we approach the winter solstice. The summer
crowds have dispersed and cool crisp days give stunning views of both
the monument and the surrounding plains. This would make a great
stroll with the family or a laidback pre or post pub wander with a
group of mates.
Section 1 - Amesbury to Stonehenge
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Distance: 4.3 miles (7Km)
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Height Gain: 451ft (137m)
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From the car
park at Amesbury, walk along a wide track at the north-west
end of the recreation ground.
Cross a footbridge over the River Avon and bear right to cross
three further bridges close together. The path now bears to the left
and on reaching a finger-post, go right on a wide track to the right
of a house. The track is signposted to Durnford.
Continue on this enclosed track which ascends through farmland to
reach a cross track. Keep ahead on this track which is still sign
posted to Durnford. The track now descends and just before it starts
to climb uphill again go right at a Sergeant Walk finger-post.
Pass through a metal gate and cross a field keeping the field edge
to your left to reach a gate on the left in the far corner of the
field. Go through the gate and keep ahead on a grass track, which
soon continues to the left of a stream.
On reaching a footbridge go right to cross the stream and continue
on a narrow path to reach another bridge. Cross the bridge over the
River Avon and keep ahead to cross a small brick bridge over a ditch
and reach a stile in a fence.
Do not cross the stile but go right to follow the edge of the
field, keeping the fence to your left. Ignore another stile on your
left by a high wall and keep ahead to cross a stile and join a
metalled driveway. Go right on this driveway to reach a metalled
road.
Go left and continue on this road to reach the driveway of
Springbottom
Farm on the right. Go right on the driveway and in approx.
40yds (37m) go right again to join a tree-lined path, which runs
parallel to the driveway.
Continue uphill on this path which after passing farm buildings
descends and rejoins the driveway just before Springbottom Farm.
Continue on a wide track to the left of the farm buildings and at a
fork take the righthand track.
This wide, enclosed grass track soon starts to climb uphill and
Bronze Age burial mounds can be seen on both sides of the track. On
reaching the ridge the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge can
be seen dominating the landscape directly ahead. When the track
starts to descend go left over a stile and cross a field, keeping the
field edge to your left.
At the far side of the field cross another stile and go right on a
wide enclosed track. Continue on this track which soon joins the
A303. Take care crossing this major east-west trunk-road and keep
ahead on the track opposite which then reaches the A344. Cross the
road and go right to visit Stonehenge.
Section 2: Stonehenge to Woodhenge
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Distance: 3.7 miles (6km)
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Height Gain: 121 ft (37 m)
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After visiting Stonehenge return to the track by the car park and go
right to continue on the track. When the track bears to the left and
descends towards a coniferous plantation, cross a National Trust
stile on the right.
Bear left, downhill to a stile on the far side of the field. Cross
this stile and keep ahead to cross another stile then continue with
field edge and trees to your left. At the far end of the trees, in
the corner of the field, cross a stile and maintain direction on a
wide track.
At a cross track keep ahead on a wide enclosed track which passes
to the right of houses. The track eventually bears to the left
towards woodland to join the track bed of a dismantled railway. At
this point you will see a finger-post on the left. Go left to the
finger-post then immediately right on a narrow path, which runs to
the left and parallel with the dismantled railway, and with the
woodland on your left.
Continue on this path to the far end of the woodland then go left
on a track, with the woodland to your left, which soon joins a
metalled road. Go right and continue along this road to find
Woodhenge on the right.
After visiting Woodhenge retrace your steps to the corner of the
woodland then bear left on a narrow path which soon rejoins the track
bed of the dismantled railway. Continue on this track which heads
back towards Amesbury to join the A345, ignoring a track on the right
signposted to Old King Barrows.
Go right on the A345 to cross a roundabout at a junction with the
A303 and keep ahead towards Amesbury. At a cross roads with
traffic lights go right to continue through the High Street, passing
the church of St Mary and St Mellor and crossing a bridge over the
River Avon.
When the road bends sharply to the right, go left on Recreation
Road to return to the car park.
Note An international multimedia campaign has recently been
launched to find the new seven wonders of the world and millions of
people worldwide have already voted for their favourite wonder'.
Stonehenge is the only UK site to be short listed so to back
Britain and pledge your support for Stonehenge please visit www.new7wonders.com
and vote online - winning monuments to be announced 07.07.07.
DandyMountainMan
