Walk 9 - Wayfarer's Walk and West End

Wayfarer's Walk and West End

Length: 6 miles

This route starts out along the Wayfarer's Walk heading towards Soberton, and returns through some quiet back lanes. This is a good walk for bird-watching and spring flowers.

The walk commences at The People's Market and goes up the High Street into the churchyard. After the church, turn left onto the footpath to an iron kissing gate. Keep straight ahead in the same direction across a field. On reaching the houses at Stewart's Green, cross the green to the main road, which cross carefully. Turn right then take the signed footpath left. This climbs up through a wood known as Litheys Hanger which is full of bluebells in May. Once the path levels out and widens, look out for a small wooden garden gate on your right. Head towards this, and you will see the path skirts past to a stile. Climb over this and cross the field towards a clump of trees. The path continues through the holly trees to a stile. Cross the next field going diagonally right, heading for a green signpost in the distance. On reaching a road, cross over and take the path ahead. There are far-reaching views here and skylarks are often singing overhead, as well the 'peep-peep' of meadow pipits. In cold winter weather you may see fieldfares and redwings in the fields.

At the wood, keep left on the path that follows the field edge with the wood on your right. After the stile, turn right to a post with waymark signs. The route of the blue arrow is the one to follow, going ahead and bearing right. After about a mile, when the track reaches the valley bottom, look out for a stile on each side, and climb over the stile on your right. Cross the field to the outer corner of a wood, then bear left along the wood edge.

At the road, turn left. You will see a road turning off on your right; cross carefully and turn in here. Follow the road as far as a T-junction, where you turn left. In half a mile turn right into a farm road (signposted as a bridleway). Soon after the cottages you will reach a road (Brook Lane), which cross carefully. Take the stile ahead and follow this path straight on, over the top of Windmill Down and then downhill to Hambledon School. Go right at the school, then left at the road, which you follow back to your start point in the village centre.