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Bowerchalke & the Ox Drove from Broad Chalke

Wiltshire Walk

County/Area - Wiltshire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Bowerchalke & the Ox Drove
Click image to see photo description.

The Wiltshire countryside with rolling hills and wide views is seen by many as the typical English Landscape. This walk starts from the village of Broad Chalke in the River Ebble valley where limited on street parking is available near the parish church (grid ref. SU040253). However please park with consideration for residents and businesses. An alternative parking area is located at the western end of Bowerchalke village (grid ref. SU013225) - see paragraph 3.

After parking walk west along South Street towards Bowerchalke. After 400 metres from the church, turn left onto a signed bridleway. Almost immediately turn right onto a grassy track heading roughly southwest. This soon becomes a gravel track and leads on passing Field Barn Farm on your left (grid ref. SU032241). At a cross track continue straight ahead to reach Knowle Farm on the outskirts of Bowerchalke village. Continue through the farmyard to reach a road, Church Street (grid ref. SU023235).

Turn left along Church Street and follow it through Bowerchalke passing the parish church on your left. You can also follow a footpath that runs parallel to Church Street on the south side of the houses. This loop by passes the village centre and avoids the road. Nearing the end of the village, ignore the road on the right to Ebbesbourne and keep straight ahead towards Woodyates. At the next junction turn left, signed Woodyates (grid ref. SU013225). The alternative parking is just on this junction.

Continue along this lane through the hamlet of Misselfore climbing gently into the dry valley of Cross Bottom. Walk past the 30 speed limit signs and continue to the end of the hedge on right side of the road (grid ref. SU016219).

Clamber over the fence at some wooden rails a short way along and continue parallel to the road on a clear footpath. After 200 metres or so the path joins a track by a metal gate and shed and veers away from the road up a shallow valley. The path is indistinct in places but goes through a gap in a hedge and with careful navigation leads up to a gate and a track known as the Ox Drove (grid ref. SU018214).

Turn left along the Ox Drove, which will be followed for just under 3 kilometres. The track soon crosses the lane to Woodyates (grid ref. SU023216). Keep straight ahead ignoring tracks leading left and continue on the main track past woodland on your right to reach another lane (grid ref. SU038223). Cross the lane and with Hut Farmhouse on your left continue straight ahead to reach Hut and Lodge Farm on your right. Ignore the first track on your left just past the farm and take the second track on the left (grid ref. SU045226) heading northeast towards a small wood. After 200 metres turn right onto a footpath across a large field through the Middleton Down Nature Reserve.

This path leads to a track (grid ref. SU050223). Join the track and walk north to gently descend through Church Bottom to reach Howgare Road (grid ref. SU042251). Turn left and immediately right into the Causeway. This leads you back to the church and the start of the walk.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3626 The Fovant Badges from Broad Chalkeeasy/mod9.3 miles
Walk 2448 Ackling Dyke from Sixpenny Handleyeasy/mod8.6 miles
Walk 3679 Wardour Castle, Ansty Down & Wardour Parkeasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 3743 Win Green from Tollard Royaleasy/mod5.4 miles
Walk 2158 Great Wishford & Grovely Lodgeeasy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 2465 Steeple Langford Circularmoderate9.8 miles
Walk 2343 Higher Pertwood & Wessex Ridgeway from Hindon easy/mod8.1 miles
Walk 3727 Normanton Down & Stonehenge from Great Durnfordeasy/mod8.2 miles
Walk 2666 North west of the New Forest circulareasy/mod9.3 miles
Walk 3544 Frogham and the Hampton Ridgeeasy3.9 miles

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