Burbage to Martinsell Hill via Wootton Rivers

Description

(D/A) From Burbage High Street, head North and soon turn left into Westcourt road. At T junction, turn right. When houses end, turn left following path going diagonally across the fields. When this reaches a lane, follow the path opposite, which follows the left edge of the field. On reaching a large gap in the hedge, go through and proceed in the same direction on the right edge of this field. Follow this edge as it turns left, and soon reach a lane on right angle bend. Go right/nearly straight on and follow the lane into Wootton Rivers. Cross the canal.

(1) Walk through the village, passing a left turn and a pub. Where the road bears right, take a broad track forking left. At a junction, turn left and follow path soon passing round a patch of woodland in a curve. On reaching a lane, turn right and follow the lane past a farm. On joining another, lane turn right and follow the lane as it curves round to the left uphill.

(2) On reaching a small car park on the left, walk through this and enter the field. Stop to admire the view over downs and valley to your left. Follow the path bearing left to go uphill through a small patch of woodland.
As you come out, bear right then left to reach the beautiful view over the amphitheatre of Martinsell hill with splendid views to the East. Continue through woodland and bear right on exiting following the path through a gate.

(3) Enjoy a rest on the memorial bench here and admire the view to the South. While you can walk further, this is quite a long walk anyway, so suggest turning back. Either follow return route through trees or return through the gate and come off the bank and walk just below the woodland on little tracks and enjoying the views to the East. Come back to the lower bank of the hillfort and continue towards the trees. On reaching the trees, turn right and follow a path dropping downhill to the East. Soon come into the open following a rib of the hill downhill. Coming off this, turn left and follow a small path along the hillside, which follows the flow of the hill to the right and eventually takes you back to your outward route near the gate to the car park.

(2) Walk through the car park, cross the lane and walk along Mud Lane (signed). This is a footpath, not a lane.
Continue along here passing 3 junctions of footpaths. Enjoy views to the right over downland and ancient woodland, with wonderful spring flowers, to the left.

(4) Nearing the end of the path, a disused railway swing in from the left to run parallel to the path. Shortly after, there are some wooden steps onto the railway. If you wish you can go up, then down and up, and turn right along a little path along the quite overgrown line. Soon the path bears right, then down some steps to join the original path OR you can remain on the original path till the end. It joins a lane by a dismantled railway bridge on the left.
Turn right onto the lane. When the lane turns right, turn left down a private lane leading to the canal.

(5) At Kennet and Avon Canal, cross the bridge and take the towpath to the left. Just past some woodland, take a stile on the right to cross the railway via a pedestrian level crossing. Once safely over this, follow the path into the woods and turn left. On leaving the wood, continue along the left edge of a large field. At the end of it, turn right to continue following the edge of it. Continue following field edge bearing right past house gardens. Shortly there is a path signed to the left. Take that to reach Ram Alley.

(6) On reaching the road, turn left and walk a short distance till you reach a small path to the right.
Follow this through a muddy patch, which soon opens onto a field, and you follow the path to the left with field edge on your right. On reaching a broad track, turn right and follow this uphill passing horses fields. It joins a lane coming from the right. Carry straight on and you soon reach Westcourt.
Turn left to return to Burbage, on your outward route.(D/A)