Alton Barnes White Horse
Alton Barnes White Horse
7.65 miles
The Alton Barnes White Horse is: Ordnance Survey reference SU 106 637
This leg will start from Knap Hill which is about 900 metres to the east of the White Horse
We are not starting this leg from the White Horse because it would involve crossing a road which could be a potential danger.
Route - (Select Satellite view) and here is a Word File for easy printing (thanks to Carl Zalek)
Car Parking is at Knap Hill at the start of this leg.
This stage will start in the field, just over the stile. Follow the signs for 'Mid Wilts Way'.
In front of you is a hill from the top of which there
are wonderful views,
however,
take the track (Tan Hill Way) to the left of this.
and continue
uphill
until you come to a gate.
(It has the Mid Wilts Way disc on it.)
Continue to the top of the hill
along the track.
Soon
you come to another gate
and metal stile.
The stile is quicker!
Run along the top of the ridge
keeping the valley
on your right
until you come
to yet another gate
and metal stile.
You have travelled
over a mile.
Now you can see a wood (Gopher Wood)
ahead.
Skirt round this wood to the left.
Climb over this stile
and continue to the bottom of the slope
and
another gate.
Your route is
straight ahead.
Another gate!
(You are now following the Mid Wilts Way)
and up the slope.
At the top of the hill
there is a gate
Do not go through it.
This leads to a bird santuary.
Turn right, keeping the fence on your left
At the corner of the fence,
turn left
and continue across the meadow
keeping the fence on your left.
You come to another
gate and 'stiles' either side of it.
Climb over the 'stile'
and continue still with the fence
on your left.
Bear left at the corner of the fence
and continue
to follow the fence
and the track bewteen the trees
If you look down to your right
you can see the village of Oare.
Pass through the gate
and follow the track
towards another gate.
Beware of rabbit holes.
Nearby
there is a smaller gate.
Pass through this and continue along
the grassy track until
you come to a road.
Follow this road
past the entrance to Huish Down Farm
for about another 700 metres ...
(You may see sheep in the field on your right)
... to the
end of
the
track
where you will meet the road (A345)
Be very careful crossing the A345 as this road is a fast busy road with a blind hill summit obscuring the view.
...
Obey the marshals and if asked to wait, WAIT.
Any gate which you open must be left closed after you pass through.
Run
up
to
the
small car park.
Turn left and continue up this path,
the Tan Hill Way,
until you come to some trees
on both sides of the track.
The White Horse Trail bears left
beneath the trees.
Continue along this track
until you come to the
second 4-way junction
which is clearly marked
by a metal sign-post and
take the path
marked West Wick
.
Continue along
this path keeping
the bushes
to your left
until you come to a fence.
Follow the fence to the right and
pass through the gate
(marked Access Land
).
Keep the fence to your right until
you soon see a track and shallow gully,
where you turn left to descend the field
steeply.
At the foot of this hill you will see two tracks.
DO NOT TURN LEFT
but continue along the track
straight ahead.
Follow
this
track
along
the edge
of the
field until
you come
to a
stile
(marked Mid Wilts Way).
Cross the stile, turn immediately left
and you will soon
meet a track which
cuts across your route.
Continue straight across
and along a track
until you come
to a road (Sunnyhill Lane).
This is Bethnal Green. Turn left,
pass a farm on your right and turn right at the
next lane, signposted
Inlands Farm, Pewsey, 140 metres further on.
Continue along this track for two kilometres,
crossing the canal at Pains Bridge,
a boardwalk,
another little bridge.
You join a road
and run under the railway at Knowle
where you join Hollybush Lane.
This stage finishes at the roundabout
(painted on the road) at Milton Road/High Street.
