Old Sarum Way is a

long-distance footpath A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway (landscape), greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking (wilderness), backpacking, cycling, equestrianism or cross-co ...

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...

, England that forms a circle around the city of

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

. The route uses public roads, public

rights of way A right of way (also right-of-way) is a specific route that people, animals, vehicles, watercraft, or utility lines travel, or the legal status that gives them the right to do so. Rights-of-way in the physical sense include controlled-access h ...

and some newly created permitted paths. Some sections of the footpath are waymarked by a metal plate attached to wooden posts which show a picture of the cathedral spire. This is the best guess of the route (clockwise) based on surviving waymarks: * SU074337 Head down the hill on the footpath, under the railway line then across the river into South Newton. * SU088344 Climb the hill, passing the communication tower and crossing the A360. * SU124353 Join the

Monarch's Way The Monarch's Way is a long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. It runs from Worcester via Bristol and Yeovil to Shoreham, West S ...

. * SU167337 Turn south. * SU162329 Turn east into ''Old Malthouse Lane''. * SU170330 Turn south onto the bridleway; the path crosses the A30 and passes south on the hill above

Laverstock Laverstock is a village and civil parish on the north-east and east outskirts of Salisbury in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. The parish is shaped like a figure 7 and incorporates Ford hamlet, the eastern half of the former manor of ...

. * SU160297 Join the Clarendon Way. * SU185302 Follow the footpath then the permissive path though the Clarendon Estate. * SU193280 Turn south and follow ''Clarendon Lane'' then ''Folly Lane''. * SU183268 Turn onto the bridleway and pass south of Whaddon to SU195261. Turn south following approximately the disused railway line. * SU194238 Turn west then join ''Witherington Road''. * SU189239 Turn onto the footpath through the woods and cross the river. * SU176238 Join the Avon Valley Path northwards. * SU129282 Turn left and head towards

Salisbury Racecourse Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing, southwest of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen race meetings a year are held there between early May and mid-October. History Racing at ...

. The waymarks for the western section are missing. The most likely route is that the path crosses the A30 between Wilton and

Burcombe Burcombe is a village in the civil parish of Burcombe Without, in Wiltshire, England. The village is about west of Salisbury city centre and lies each side of an unclassified road. Burcombe is an unspoiled village with many of the houses' garde ...

, then heads north into

Grovely Wood Grovely Wood is one of the largest woodlands in southern Wiltshire, England. It stands on a chalk ridge above the River Wylye in Barford St Martin parish, to the south-west of the village of Great Wishford, within the Cranborne Chase and West Wi ...

External links

Walking on the Web
Footpaths in Wiltshire Long-distance footpaths in England {{Wiltshire-geo-stub

See also

External links