Walks Day walks # 248

Tisbury Circular via Hindon walk

The Nadder Valley, picturesque villages, some dry chalky U-shaped downs of the West Wiltshire Downs, wooded ridges and one of Britain’s largest thatched buildings

Length	21.9 km (13.6 mi), of which 3.9 km (2.5 mi) on tarmac or concrete. Cumulative ascent/descent: 465m. For a shorter or longer walk, see below Walk options.
Toughness	7 out of 10
Features	This walk leads mostly around the very large Fonthill Estate in the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. You’ll find picturesque villages and excellent pubs in the beautiful undulating countryside, as well as plenty of woodlands and some dry chalky U-shaped downland valleys. The morning route is a steady ascent out of Tisbury along the scenic Oddford Vale to the highest point of the walk. This stretch is also characterised by some slack way-marking though, and a map and a compass are recommended. The walk then leads through a grassy valley and across a wooded ridge to lunch in Hindon, where the two recommended pubs are right opposite each other. Most of the ascent lies before lunch, but there are still two climbs through woods in the afternoon. The final part of the walk is a scenic descent into the Nadder Valley and then passes one of Britain’s largest thatched buildings, followed by a stretch along the river back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.
Walk Options	A westerly extension via East Knoyle adds 5.7 km (3.6 mi), 2.1 km to the tarmac count and 92m ascent/descent. Shortcut I just after lunch reduces the walk by 1.8 km (1.1 mi), but adds 0.4 km to the tarmac count. Shortcut II at the end reduces the walk by 1.3 km (0.8 mi) but adds 0.4 km to the tarmac count. Taking one or both shortcuts does not reduce the rating, walking the extension to the full walk (even with a shortcut) makes it a 9/10, and combining the extension with both shortcuts makes it an 8/10.
Travel	Tisbury Station is on the London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids West of England Main Line. Journey times are 106 minutes Monday to Saturday (hourly) and 114 minutes on Sunday (hourly).
Lunch	Pythouse Kitchen Garden Cafe West Hatch, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PA (01747 870 444). The Pythouse is about 700m off-route and located 5.2 km (3.2 mi) into the walk. It is a fallback lunch destination for late starters or when you have missed the recommended train, as you would struggle to get to the other pubs in good time for food service. Pythouse Kitchen Garden Shop and Café, to give it its full name, is situated in a beautiful 18th century walled garden, and is a perfect place to relax, eat and shop. Open every day 09.00-17.00 and Fri also from 18.00. Food served 12.00-14.30 (and Friday from 18.00). The Fox & Hounds The Green, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, SP3 6BN (01747 830 573). The Fox & Hounds is located 9.8 km (6.1 mi) into the extended walk. Open daily 11.30-15.00 and 17.30-22.00. Food served daily 12.00-14.30 and 18.30-21.00. It is a traditional, family-owned, thatched country pub, providing outdoor seating with stunning southerly views over Blackmore Vale. The Angel Inn High Street, Hindon, Wiltshire, SP3 6DJ (01747 820 696). Open 11.00-23.00 Mon-Sat and 11.00-22.30 Sun. Food served 12.00-14.30 and 18.00-21.30 Mon-Sat and 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-21.00 Sun. The Angel Inn is located 10.4 km (6.4 mi) into the walk and 16.1 km into the extended walk. It is a beautifully-restored coaching inn, built in 1750, when it replaced an earlier medieval inn. One of only two inns surviving from Hindon’s heyday, when there were 14! The Lamb High Street, Hindon, Wiltshire, SP3 6DP (01747 820 573). Open 07.30-23.00 Mon-Fri, 08.00-23.00 Sat-Sun. Food served: 12.00-15.00 daily and 18.00-21.00. The Lamb is located 10.4 km (6.4 mi) into the walk and 16.1 km into the extended walk. It is a coaching inn, probably trading since as far back as the 12th century. One of only two inns surviving from Hindon’s heyday, when there were 14! The Riverbarn Fonthill Bishop, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 5SF (01747 820 232). Open 11.00-15.00 Tue-Sun and 18.00-22.00 Thu-Sat. Food served 12.00-14.30 Tue-Sun and 18.30-21.00 Thu-Sat. The Riverbarn is an award-winning restaurant with rooms, which also provides economic light lunch options, and is located 13.3 km (8.3 mi) into the walk The Beckford Arms Fonthill Gifford, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PX (01747 870 385). Open 8.00-23.00 Mon-Sat and 8.00-22.30 Sun. Food served 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-21.30 Mon-Sun. The Beckford Arms is a traditional yet stylish country pub located on the edge of the rolling parkland of the Fonthill Estate. It is a late lunch option if taking Shortcut I and is then located 15.1 km (9.4 mi) into the walk.
Tea	The Beckford Arms Fonthill Gifford, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PX (01747 870 385). Open 8.00-23.00 Mon-Sat and 8.00-22.30 Sun. Food served 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-21.30 Mon-Sun. The Beckford Arms is located 4.9 km (3.0 mi) from the end of the walk, and 3.6 km if taking Shortcut II. Tisbury Fish & Chips The Square, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6JP (01747 870 273). Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop The Square, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6JP (01747 871 819). Open 8.45-17.00 Mon-Fri, 8.30-17.00 Sat and 9.00-16.30 Sun. Tisbury Delicatessen High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6DP (01747 871 771). The Beckford Bottle Shop High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6LD (01747 870 947). Open 10.00-18.30 Tue-Thu, 10.00-19.30+ Fri, 09.00-19.30+ Sat and 10.00-13.30 Sun. Drinks are sold by the glass. The Benett High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6HD (01747 870 428). Open 12.00-late daily. Run by the local Keystone Brewery. Selected bar food is available upon request. The Boot Inn High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PS (01747 870 363). Open 12.00-14.30 Wed-Sun and 19.00-23.00 Mon-Sat (17.00-23.00 Fri). Food served until 21.30 evenings. Atmospheric local pub with authentic meals freshly prepared. The South Western Station Road, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6JT (01747 228 010). Open 12.00-22.00 Mon-Thu, 12.00-23.00 Fri-Sat and 12.00-21.00 Sun. Food served Tue-Fri 17.00-21.00, 12.00-21.00 Sat and 12.00-15.00 Sun. The South Western is a pub with rooms originally built in 1884 as one of two railway hotels in Tisbury.

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