Walk 2740 - printer friendly version

Fosbury Camp Hillfort from Vernham Dean Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km

Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SU341566
Lat 51.3075020 + Long -1.5121920
Postcode SP11 0JZ (approx. location only)

A walk from the attractive Hampshire village of Vernham Dean with its thatched cottages and the traditional George Inn. The route uses field paths to explore the downs west of the village in Wiltshire. The highlight of the walk is Fosbury Camp Hillfort which occupies a strategic position on Knolls Down offering a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

The walk starts from the George Inn in Vernham (grid ref. SU341566). Please ask permission before parking. After parking, with your back to the inn, turn right along the road. After 600 metres, when the road bends right, continue ahead and cross a stile into a field. The path runs along the left-hand edge and leads to a stile and a lane. Turn right. Immediately after the first house on the left, turn left into a driveway and continue into a field. The rising path climbs steadily with Oakhill Wood on your right. Reaching the top of the field turn left with trees on your right and continue up to the earth ramparts of Fosbury Camp Hillfort. It is worth exploring the ramparts by following them in a clockwise direction.

Exit the hillfort using the clear footpath on the northern edge. The path enters trees and then swings left before continuing to Tunball Lane (grid ref. SU314571) with Fosbury Farm on your left. Go straight across the lane to join a grassy track with a metal fence on your left. After 600 metres you reach a junction of tracks (grid ref. SU309569). Turn left to follow a grassy track that leads down through Hippenscombe Farm to a narrow tarmac lane. Bear left along the lane. Follow the lane for 1200 metres and turn right at a footpath sign in the right-hand hedge (easily missed). The onward path climbs steeply out of Conholt Bottom across the escarpment and leads to a stile and a lane (Conholt Hill).

Turn right and at the first junction turn sharp left into Conholt Lane. After 40 metres turn left off the lane to enter a field. The path initially runs parallel to a hedge on your right. The onward path is waymarked with yellow arrows and footpath signs and leads onto a gravel track (grid ref. SU339564). Turn left and return to the road through Vernham Dean.

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