Hackpen Hill and Overton Down from Avebury

The North Wessex Downs provides some good walking terrain and this extended route from Avebury takes you onto the downs to follow a section of the Ridgeway.

Technical sheet

293307
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.56 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 125 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 271 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 153 m

Photos

Description der Wandertour

This Wiltshire walk can be reached by public transport using the regular bus service between Swindon and Marlborough. Alternatively there is a National Trust pay and display car park (grid ref. SU099696) on the southern side of the village.

(S/E) Leave the car park following the signs to the village passing a section of the stone circle on your right. This path leads you onto the main street. If you want to visit the church then turn left, otherwise turn right and walk towards the main A4361 road. Cross the main road and continue straight ahead with further parts of the stone circle to your right and left.

(1)The lane passes Manor Farm (grid ref.SU110702) on your right where it becomes a track. Take the signed byway on the left. This leads across fields crossing a track leading left to Rutlands Farm. You pass Avebury Down Barn on the right with a small copse on the same side. Go straight across the tracks from East Farm and Middle Farm to reach Mill Lane (grid ref SU107726). Again continue straight ahead soon reaching the A4361.

(2) Bear right along the main road for a short way and then take the track on your right that leads up to Berwick Bassett Down. The track doglegs around a barn (grid ref. SU113736) and then starts to climb onto the downs. With much of the climb completed turn left onto a signed bridleway (grid ref. SU120733), which is before you reach Berwick Bassett Clump. Crossing the flank of the downs, after about 600 metres the route turns sharp right (grid ref. SU122738) and leads you onto the Ridgeway.

(3) Turn left on the Ridgeway and continue to Hackpen Hill with its White Horse.

(4) The view of the White Horse is limited but the panorama across the Wiltshire countryside is superb. This is a good spot for a break although it can be quite busy on nice days. To continue retrace your steps down the Ridgeway for about two and a half miles.

(5) This will bring you to a junction of tracks and paths on Overton Down (grid ref. SU125708). Turn right here and gently descend past Manor Farm and into Avebury(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 154 m - Avebury car park
  2. 1 : km 1.47 - alt. 157 m - Turn left
  3. 2 : km 4.76 - alt. 169 m - Bear right
  4. 3 : km 6.84 - alt. 254 m - Turn left
  5. 4 : km 7.7 - alt. 271 m - View of the White Horse
  6. 5 : km 11.59 - alt. 227 m - Turn right
  7. S/E : km 14.56 - alt. 153 m

Practical information

This walk combines some of the antiquities of Avebury with the wide ranging views from the nearby downs. The route starts in the village and takes you through the stone circle. This can be very busy with visitors so an early start is recommended if you want to this ancient monument in relative peace.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
yuval_cohen
yuval_cohen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 27/07/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk in particular at the end of July, August or beginning of September, the harvest season. The scene is taken from Van Gogh Harvest picture. Amazing!

Pity that the path is not kept well!
We found that:
The fence in #1 blocked, so we had to climb the fence.
The path towards #2 is not preserved! And difficult to walk through.
The path up-hill towards 3 has moved, there used to be two paths, but only one has preserved, the other path cannot be used. Yet easy to find and continue

Recommended!

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.