Print this
page (portrait A4 format) as a guide for the walk.
To use the map references given in this walk, please
use an Ordnance Survey Map, Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury
and Cranborne Chase, Poole, Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum)
Walk #3 - Swallowcliffe - Ansty - Wardour -
Ansty - Swallowcliffe
Time: 2-3 hours
POINT
1
Start at the bus stop by the church in Swallowcliffe (ST 964
271). Opposite the bus stop is a footpath leading north west
up into a field. Walk along the field fence towards the woods. Along
the edge of the woods is a stile that leads into the woods. Once
in the wood, follow the footpath up through the wood to the stile
at the top of the hill. (ST 963 269)
POINT 2
Once in the field on the other side of the wood, follow the direction
of the footpath across the field. This should take you over the
brow of the hill and down again. At the end of the footpath, you
are now in Ansty.
POINT 3
You should be able to see the Ansty maypole across the road. Turn left at the maypole (ST 957 265) -which is the tallest in
Europe. Follow the lane around and up the hill for a short distance until you come to a road on your right. Take the footpath leading off to the left.
After a short while the footpath comes to a junction. Keep to the left path. This
should lead you into the woods.
POINT 4
Follow the footpath into the woods, following this correctly should
bring you to a clearing, crossing this will lead you on to Wardour
woods and ultimately the footpath should take you on to the Castle
(ST 939 263). From here you can walk around the castle grounds
and the woods, bearing in mind to keep a note of the footpath which
got you there. You can then re-trace your steps back into Ansty.
In Ansty you can return the way you came (over the hill, and through
the woods) back to Swallowcliffe. Alternatively you can turn left
at the clearing and take the route of the GPX file around Twelve Acre Copse.
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