Walking BritainWiltshire Walk
Pewsey Downs from Wootton Rivers
Maps 
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 157 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 157 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 173 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 173 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
This Wiltshire walk offers a range of scenery from rolling downs to the open aspect of the Vale of Pewsey. The start is the small car park adjacent to the village hall in the village of Wootton Rivers (grid ref. SU197630). Exit the car park and walk north through the village to join the Mid Wilts Way which leaves the road on your left at grid ref. SU197634. Follow this path north for just under a mile climbing onto the downs. Reaching a path junction at grid ref. SU199642 turn left, following the Mid Wilts Way and continue when the path turns right to meet Mud Lane (grid ref. SU198646).
Turn left along Mud Lane for two miles continuing along the Mid Wilts Way. The way ahead climbs steadily across the rolling downs crossing a lane at grid ref. SU183645. Continue straight ahead with a steep escarpment to your left with an excellent view across the Vale of Pewsey. Reaching a path junction (grid ref. SU176642) continue straight ahead. At a cross-path (grid ref. SU174641) go straight ahead and continue along the southern edge of Withy Copse to reach a cross path (grid ref. SU171641). Turn left here to join the White Horse Trail to continue along a ridge passing Giant's Grave. Continue to descend to a cross path (grid ref. SU161628). Go straight across and continue south to reach Sunnyhill Lane (grid ref. SU161622).
Cross Sunnyhill Lane and take the path opposite remaining on the White Horse Trail to reach Pains Bridge (grid ref. SU164611) on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Turn left along the canal towpath for two and a half miles of easy walking back to Wootton Rivers.
Other walks nearby
| Walk 1733 | Wessex Downs & Kennet & Avon Canal from Pewsey | easy/mod | 8.0 miles |
| Walk 3295 | Pewsey Hill and Fyfield Down | easy/mod | 9.0 miles |
| Walk 1807 | The Southern Escarpment of the Marlborough Downs | easy/mod | 6.5 miles |
| Walk 2339 | Milk Hill the highest point in Wiltshire | easy | 3.0 miles |
| Walk 3517 | Avebury & Overton Down from Overton Hill | easy/mod | 7.5 miles |
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Further Information
Walk Location Map
Walking in Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a rural county characterised by its high chalk downland and wide valleys. Salisbury Plain is noted for being the location of the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and other ancient landmarks, and as a training area for the British Army. The highest point in the county is the Tan Hill-Milk Hill ridge in the Pewsey Vale, just to the north of Salisbury Plain, at 295 m (968 ft) above sea level. The Marlborough Downs are part of the North Wessex Downs AONB. In the southeast of the county there is a small section of the New Forest.
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