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Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John walk

The Upper Nadder Valley (Wiltshire Downs), Wardour Park and its ruined Castle, steep ascents to Win Green and White Sheet hills and Chalke Valley.

Circular Long Tisbury Wiltshire

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 30-Mar-24 Saturday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs at their best: Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John 8 sunny with some clouds to lunch
Sun, 14-May-23 Tantalizing Tisbury 1
Sat, 30-Oct-21 Saturday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs at their best: Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John 7 sunny then sunny with clouds and two showers
Sat, 02-Oct-21 Saturday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs at their best: Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John
Sat, 20-Apr-19 Saturday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs: Tisbury Circular (via Ludwell and Berwick St. John), with short options and some bluebell woods 8 hot unmitigated sunshine with only a weak breeze
Sat, 30-Sep-17 Tantalizing Tisbury 9 some dark and ominous clouds with small patches of blue
Sat, 23-Apr-16 Saturday Third Walk - Tisbury Circular (via Ludwell and Berwick St. John) 25 cold with sunny spells
Sat, 14-Nov-15 Saturday Third Walk -- Tisbury 8 rainy and blustery in morning then better afternoon
Sat, 09-May-15 Third Walk
Thomas G
DAC is away...
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [with a bus option to shorten the walk, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 607m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
or
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 340m
Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J, 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury at 11.06 (you have to be in the front 3 cars).
Return trains: xx.01 (from 108 mins).
This walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.

After lunch in Ludwell, it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, an often-boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.

Bus Option: Line 29 (Shaftesbury - Salisbury) stops outside the lunch pub on the main walk (13.33, 15.18, 16.33), as well as in Berwick St. John later in the afternoon (15.25, 16.40, 17.55), it gets you to Salisbury Bus Station (a 10 minutes’ walk from the train station) in just over an hour.

Lunch: The Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi, food to 14.00) on the short walk; The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi; under new mgmt as of 2023; food to 15.00) or The Talbot Inn in Berwick St. John (17.6 km/10.9 mi, food to 4.00) [currently closed due to change of ownership] on the main walk.
Tea: Plenty of options in Tisbury; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.251
  • 31-Mar-24

    5 regulars plus 3 occasionals convened on the patform ( 8 ) on a sunny with some clouds to lunch day.

    The Nadder meadows were waterlogged and muddy in many places, so the first 45 minutes or so one needed to be alert where to trod and the gaiters were certainly worth their expense. The walk author/'leader' was often at the back taking notes as this served as a 5 year text-check, so when at New Wardour Castle the 'false leader' marched on to the right of the stately pile, the 3 occasionals followed him. Along the route of another of the Tisbury walks...

    The 3 eventually saw the error of their ways and turned back to soon catch up with the other 4. The 'false leader' we only bumped into again just before lunch, so he had somehow gotten back on route.

    More mud was to come in the infrequent woods and on some of the farm tracks and fenced paths, but it was not too bad all in. Views were tremendous, group chat was lively, and we mostly kept together as one, with 1 slower regular occasionally falling behind.

    1 occasional then departed to walk the short walk (16.01 train).

    At the Grove Arms in Ludwell, 3 lunched (taken into the Hall & Woodhouse fold, I had hopes for it now being food-let but not so, the menu was short and the food just OK; but still: a very friendly pub with fine interiors, so we hung around for more than an hour), while 4 picicked either on the slope above the pub or further along on the ascent up Win Green, and we never saw 3 of them again.

    From the top of Win Green, Dorset out to Bournemouth and even the Isle of Wight were clear to see and saddles in the westerly ridges seemed to allow peeks into Somerset and to some other hills (the Quantocks maybe?).

    Several off-road bikes were encountered on the chalky ox drove before our descent down the ever deeper holloway bridleway, washed out down to the chalk bed now and flanked with acres of wild garlic. Generally, bluebells were way behind, but anemones, celandines and primroses in good shape where encountered.

    We then bumped into the slow picnicker just before the ascent onto White Sheet Hill and stayed together from there to Tisbury. Hundreds of lambs and ewes as well as many pregnant ewes and had been passed in many places, a herd of deer was spotted below our elevated path grazing in a field below just after lunch, birds of prey were aplenty, some pheasants that had survived the autumn cull and the not-so-harsh winter weather, and the birdsong became more prominent as the day wore on, with especially blackbirds (we think) giving it a right good go; butterflies were spotted here and there, and eventually we got to Tisbury.

    We walked under the railway bridge just as the 19.01 was crossing it and a determined sprint would have probably been enough to catch it, but an unspoken agreement had developed that we deserved, maybe even needed a drink in a pub, so no one made an attempt to catch it.

    Up to the top of the village to the Boot Inn, which is a great old pub with a fine menu of classics and a mini pizza oven behind the counter (as well as now having an earlier opening time compared to previous years, so it's a good dinner option for all Tisbury walks).

    21.01 train for the 4 of us, after sqeezing in a visit to the Co-Op for sustenance for the long journey. The 3 picnickers presumably caught the 19.01 or even the 18.01. A grand day out.

Sun, 14-May-23 : Tantalizing Tisbury 1
Stargazer
Stargazer

SWC 251: Tisbury Circular -- Across the Vale of Wardour and Up Win Green Hill t=swc.251

Length: 16.4 Miles or 26.3 km for those more metrically minded (for those wanting something shorter, a shorter version of 10.7 miles/17.2 km is available)

Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (or 3 out 10 for the shorter version)

Train: Take the 9:15 AM South Western Exeter St. David’s train from London Waterloo arriving at a Tisbury at 11:06. Return trains are at 17:01, 17:28, 18:01; 19:03; 20:01; 21:01 and 22:03. Buy a day return to Tisbury.

This walk explores the Vale of Wardour, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Wiltshire, and climbs the highest peak in South Wiltshire. In the morning, the walk passes through Wardour Park with its neoclassical mansion and romantic castle ruins. After lunch, the route takes you up onto Win Green Hill with commanding views far and wide (including to the coast). It then traverses a ridge before descending back into the valley for the return to Tisbury. A short cut which shares the morning and afternoon stretches is available near the lunch pub. More information and the walk instructions can be found here.

Lunch is at the Grove Arms in Ludwell (01747 828 811), 6.6 miles/10.6 km into the walk. For those opting for the shorter version, lunch is at the highly acclaimed Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (01747 828 038). Please call ahead to check availability.

Post walk refreshies can be had at various spots in Tisbury – including the Boot Inn.

Enjoy the walk!
Thomas G
This walk was posted on Oct 2, but had no walk report, so let's try again...
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [with a bus option to shorten the walk, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 607 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
or
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 340 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J, 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury at 11.06 (you have to be in the front 3 cars)
Return trains: xx.01 (from 108 mins).
This walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.

After lunch in Ludwell it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, an often-boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.

Bus Option: The number 29 bus (Shaftesbury to Salisbury) stops outside the lunch pub on the main walk (13.33, 15.18, 16.33), as well as in Berwick St. John later in the afternoon (15.25, 16.40, 17.55), it gets you to Salisbury Bus Station (a 10 minutes’ walk from the train station) in just over an hour.

Lunch: The Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi, food to 14.00) on the short walk (Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2013); The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi, food all day) or The Talbot Inn in Berwick St. John (17.6 km/10.9 mi, food to 14.00) on the main walk.

Tea: Plenty of options in Tisbury; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.251
  • 26-Oct-21

    If getting advance tickets, is the 1903 the one to go for?

  • 26-Oct-21

    Yep. Assuming normal pace (5 km/h on the flat), it is 6 1/2 hours walking plus your lunch break

  • 31-Oct-21

    There's something very satisfying about leaving home in a heavy downpour, heading for a walk far away, where the forecast promises rain to lunch, then an overcast afternoon, and then to see the clouds breaking round about Basingstoke way and clear blue skies reigning all the way to the destination.

    Thus we started in sunny weather, with ample clues though on the ground of the heavy rain of the last hours, days and weeks. It took 2 and a bit hours to the lunch pub, a nice but not necessarily sensational stretch, just picturesque valleys, villages, country piles and woods. A table had been booked by one walker, and exactly the booked number of people wanted to have a pub lunch, as luck had it. Order taking took a while and was of the officious kind (drinks first, then 10 minutes later food orders), and food delivery took a while (the pub was busy, mind). So we left 20 minutes behind my schedule for beating darkness. [The one picnicker had already moved on and ended up on a train hoke an hour ahead of us.]

    The rest of the walk? Just fantastic, I have to say (ok: it's my walk, my posting, but still...): excellent far views from the tops (Isle of Wight and Bournemouth, Purbeck Hills one way, Alfred's Tower/Stourhead Estate and the Mendips the other, as well as most of the walk route), remote lush coombes, some deer encountered in a high pasture (and staying remarkably unfazed by our presence), the previously 'precipitous' descent down a chalky/muddy path now largely grassy, the 'jump over a boggy stream' now a boardwalk and a raised bridge, plenty of autumnal leave colours, late-on some mist rising from the fields, and some pink glow on fluffy clouds as sunset approached. In one large pasture there was a 50-strong herd of young horses in a far corner. Initially at least in the far corner. Then they started to slowly move. And gain some pace. And start to gallop towards where we were. Then stampede towards where we were. Then they raced through and around us to the other far corner. Magical, in a way.

    There had been a conveyor belt of sheeting rain followed by rainbows to the left and right of us early afternoon when we were on the ridges (some double rainbows amongst them, some accompanying us for about 15 minutes each). Where we were though, there was only ever one hard 15 minute shower as we started the ridge route from Win Green along the Ox Drove, and another short and not so hard shower a bit later, else the afternoon was sunny with passing clouds.

    We got to Tisbury at 18.20, with the last light, just as planned, which left good time for a stock-up at the Co-Op before the 19.03 train.

    7 very fortunate people getting the rub of the green, as far as the weather was concerned: sunny then sunny with clouds and two showers

Thomas G
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [with a bus option to shorten the walk, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 607 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
or
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 340 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J, 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury at 11.06 (you have to be in the front 3 cars)
Return trains: xx.01 (from 108 mins).
This walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.

After lunch in Ludwell it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, an often-boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.

Bus Option: The number 29 bus (Shaftesbury to Salisbury) stops outside the lunch pub on the main walk (13.33, 15.18, 16.33), as well as in Berwick St. John later in the afternoon (15.25, 16.40, 17.55), it gets you to Salisbury Bus Station (a 10 minutes’ walk from the train station) in just over an hour.

Lunch: The Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi, food to 14.00) on the short walk (Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2013); The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi, food all day) or The Talbot Inn in Berwick St. John (17.6 km/10.9 mi, food to 14.00) on the main walk.

Tea: Plenty of options in Tisbury; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.251
Thomas G
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [with a bus option to shorten the walk, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 557 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 10 out of 10
or
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 290 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J, 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury at 11.06. (you have to be in the front 3 cars).
Return trains: xx.01 (from 108 mins).
This walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.
After lunch in Ludwell it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, an often-boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.
Bus Option: The number 29 bus (Shaftesbury to Salisbury) stops outside the lunch pub on the main walk (13.31, 15.16, 16.31), as well as in Berwick St. John later in the afternoon (15.25, 16.40, 17.55), it gets you to Salisbury Bus Station (a 10 minutes’ walk from the train station) in just over an hour.
Lunch: The Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi, food to 14.00) on the short walk (Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2013); The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi, food all day) or The Talbot Inn in Berwick St. John (17.6 km/10.9 mi, food to 14.00) on the main walk.
Tea: Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop (open to 17.00) and Beckford Bottle Shop (open to 21.00) plus a deli, a fish & chips, two pubs and a Co-op; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.251
  • 20-Apr-19

    Some dandelions, bluebells (and even a proper bluebell wood), woodpeckers, anemones and all our other dear friends of the flora and fauna were spotted/heard, but that is not what this walk is about. It's about scenery and views, stunning coombes, quiet woods, the odd country pile and hills to remember. Today's weather of hot unmitigated sunshine with only a weak breeze delivered. So there was a bit of a haze, so much so that we couldn't quite make out the Isle of Wight 50 km away from Win Green Hill, but else it was a great day for this route. 8 disembarked from the train and 1 fell behind early on (a Tisbury first-timer obvs overwhelmed by the beauty of the surroundings), the others stuck together for the rest of the walk. Only 2 had lunch at the pub, the picnickers joined them for a drink. The legendary 'difficult' brook crossing in boggy ground has unfortunately been and gone: a plank approach and a two-railed bridge have been installed. The 7 got to Tisbury minutes before the 18.01 was due, so opted for the train. Walker 8 later went for a pub and fish & chips.

Sat, 30-Sep-17 : Tantalizing Tisbury 9
Stargazer
Stargazer
SWC Walk 251: Tisbury Circular -- Through the Vale of Wardour and Up Win Green Hill T=SWC.251

Length: 16.4 Miles or 26.3 km for those more metrically minded (for those wanting something shorter, a shorter version of 10.7 miles/17.2 km is available)

Difficulty: 10 out of 10 (or 5 out 10 for the shorter version)

Train: Take the 9:20 AM South Western Exeter St. David/Bristol Temple Meads' train from London Waterloo (9:29 Clapham) arriving at a Tisbury at 11:07 (be sure to be in the front three cars of the train). Return trains are at 18:01; 19:03; 20:01; 21:01 and 22:03. Buy a day return to Tisbury. If you are willing to commit on your return train time, you may be able to take advantage of South Western Railway’s half-price advance ticket special if you book online at least the day before.

This walk explores the Vale of Wardour, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Wiltshire, and climbs the highest peak in South Wiltshire. In the morning, the walk passes through Wardour Park with its neoclassical mansion and romantic castle ruins. After lunch, the route takes you up onto Win Green Hill with commanding views far and wide (including to the coast). It then traverses a ridge before descending back into the valley for the return to Tisbury. A short cut which shares the morning and afternoon stretches is available near the lunch pub. More information and the walk instructions can be found here.

Lunch is at the Grove Arms in Ludwell (01747 828 811), 6.6 miles/10.6 km into the walk. For those opting for the shorter version, lunch is at the highly acclaimed Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (01747 828 038). Post walk refreshies can be had at various spots in Tisbury – including the Boot Inn and the Beckford Bottle Shop.

Enjoy the walk!
  • Anonymous
    25-Sep-17

    Anyone worked out cheaper options (where you don't commit to specific trains), using split ticketing? Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    28-Sep-17

    This would-be first time walker with you ( who has hiked before) was hoping for more than chilly silence. Will seek warmer climates.

  • 28-Sep-17

    Sorry no one replied, but I think the reason is that there are no split ticketing options anyone one could think of. Usually split ticketing works when there are two different rail companies, one on each of the segments. Here, alas, one is in the clutches of South Western Railway (as we must now call them) from start to finish.

    Incidentally, there is no specific team of people who monitor this website or reply to comments. We are a group with no organisation, which may also be why your comment was overlooked. Also you didn't say you were a (would-be) first timer...

  • 28-Sep-17

    One additional thing that I will add to Walker's reply noting that you are/were a would-be first timer -- Tisbury lies within the Network Southeast area which means, if you have a Network Railcard (which most regulars have), you would be entitled to 30% off the day return fare without specifying a return train. If you do not have one, they are well worth the investment if you plan to do much walking in the area and are available for purchase at any mainline train station in London.

  • 01-Oct-17

    Eight emerged from the train onto the short Tisbury platform having been transported to wildest Wiltshire to commence a journey through the mysterious sounding Vale of Wardour under some dark and ominous clouds with small patches of blue . The midday shower struck promptly at noon while on the grounds of the new Wardour castle -- but passed before most had donned their wet weather gear. The morning consisted of undulating terrain through very remote landscape with some nice views across the surrounding countryside. Another walker on a later train caught us up at lunch, making for a total of 9 . After lunch our route took us to the top of Win Green Hill with good views all the way to the Isle of Wight even with the lurking clouds and along a pleasant ridge allowing good views around and down into various coombes. The afternoon route also included a couple interesting challenges -- a rather steep decent from the ridge and a small boggy stream crossing which one walker did with exceptional style earning full marks from the spectators. Back in Tisbury the promised rain finally arrived in a more sustained manner as we feverishly collected provisions for the long journey home on the 19:02.

  • Anonymous
    01-Oct-17

    Thank you to the organisers as ever! I really enjoyed this walk (despite not looking adequately before I leapt over the tiny, boggy, stream): lovely views, old woodlands, picturesque hamlets and lots of historical references – with hardly a car seen or heard all day. It was almost like stepping back in time. And the train journey did not seem long. Em :)

Thomas G

SWC Walk 251 – Fine views in the undulating Upper Nadder Valley, Wardour Park and its ruined Castle, a long ascent to Win Green, views to the coast and nearby valleys, White Sheet hill and ridge, a rough descent, a jump over a boggy brook, a bluebell wood (at least one, anyway)
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [shorter option available, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 710 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 10 out of 10
09.20 Exeter St. Davids train from Waterloo (Clapham J. 09.27, Woking 09.46), arrives Tisbury 11.06.
Buy a £15 day return to Tisbury on the SWT-website or at the station ticket office (but not the machines) before midnight the night before.
Returns are at xx.01, last train 22.03.
The walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breathtaking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.
After lunch in Ludwell it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, a boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village.
A Shortcut (17.2 km, 440m ascent), limiting the effort to 5/10, is described.
On the full walk the lunch stop is The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi), just before the ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point.
On the short walk the lunch stop is The Forester Inn in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi), an excellent yet welcoming pub restaurant. Pre-booking is advised.
Back in Tisbury the options are the highly recommended Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop for tea, or one of three pubs – in (my) order of preference: The Boot Inn, The South Western or The Bennett.
For walk directions click here. For summary, route map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
Get Hill Fit for Ullapool – The Schedule
23/04 – SWC 251 Tisbury Circular (via Ludwell and Berwick St. John)
30/04 – SWC 239 Halnaker to Chichester (via Cass Sculpture Park and Goodwood)
07/05 – SWC XXX (New Walk) Haslemere to Midhurst
14/05 – SWC 068 (Revised) Rowlands Castle Circular
T=swc.251
  • 19-Apr-16

    Short cut version of this walk for me (and a few others) with lunch at The Foresters Inn. Very nice walk, and not too challenging, for those who don't feel like doing the the main walk. We say good bye to the main group at the first lunch pub, and will be back in Tisbury to have a drink with them at the end, if they are not too tired.

  • Anonymous
    24-Apr-16

    22 off of the train and then 2 at the early pub having lunch as we arrived so 24 sunny spells quite mild .

    There were some occasional small bluebell patches and primrose displays on the short option on this walk

    7 of us only did 10.7 miles lunching at The Forester Inn which was okay but nothing to shout about.

    Lots of firm mud underfoot churned up by cows so it was ideal break a leg country and thankfully none of us did but we were all so elated to get off of a particularly steep slope that when we came to a very muddy track ( say 400mm deep and full width ) one of our party took a dive into it and had to wash off with bottles of water and then wait for the mud to dry on the clothes. Not sure of it was done for a laugh or just lack of concentration.

    The long walk people met us at the pub at the end having tea - how did they do that ?

    A lovely walk, though even the short version wasa bit too long for me.

    Muddy Brown

  • 24-Apr-16

    25 cold with sunny spells

    21 off the train, 1 had driven from Windsor, 3 on an earlier train (the intention of those haveing been to taste both the short walk and the long walk lunch pub).

    The total includes a couple of first-timers and a couple of very occasional SWC-Walkers, who usually hang out with Met Walkers.

    6 did the short walk, and reported a disappointingly average experience at The Forester lunch pub, let's hope the kitchen just had a bad day...

    Standard length walkers were treated to decent if not outstanding pub food at The Grove Arms and superb far views all day, best I've seen on this route: from Win Green all the way to Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight, 50 km away ...

    Else it proved again to be a challenging and very varied walk in beautiful and remote countryside (no villages were walked through, no church passed, no other walkers encountered). Strenuous yes, but with so many visual delights to keep you going, that both the short walkers and the majority of the standard walkers caught the 18.01 train.

    6 others hung around in Tisbury for a drink or two at the South Western, then working their way up the village for another one at The Benett, and then for a meal at the Boot Inn. 21.01 train for those...

    Bluebells were not as far 'out' as they are in closer-by parts of the Southeast.

    Mud in the main nothing too serious in the scheme of things of this 'wettest winter on record', but for the one pretty shocking stretch of deep, gooey mud along a longish stretch of deeply rutted farm track close to the end. This was passed almost without incident though.

  • Anonymous
    24-Apr-16

    Lovely walk through beautiful countryside and all the walkers I have spoken with at the end of the walk were of the same view. Many thanks Thomas!

Stargazer
Stargazer
SWC Walk 251: Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John (Short Version)

Distance: Approximately 11 Miles
Difficulty: 5 out of 10
Train: Take the 9:20 Exeter St. David’s train from London Waterloo to Tisbury, arriving at 11:06. Return trains to Waterloo are at 05 past the hour until 22:05. Buy a day return to Tisbury. For those planning to spend the night in Tisbury, remember to buy a RETURN ticket (not a day return).
At long last, the much awaited Tisbury weekend is upon us and a nice collection of walkers are planning to spend the night on Saturday in order to partake in a second Tisbury walk on Sunday. For those still contemplating an overnight – I understand that the Compasses Inn is full; but that there is still some availability at the South Western (www.south-western.co.uk) and possibly some other B&Bs in Tisbury.
Saturday’s walk explores the south and westerly portions of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This shorter version of the walk omits the highest point of the main walk, but still includes a number of interesting features and some moderate climbs. The walk instructions and more details are available here.
The lunchtime pub is the Forester Inn in Donhead St.Andrew (tel 1747 828 038), about 4.5 miles into the walk, which serves food until 2:00 PM. The food is highly praised with a combination of upmarket offerings and more traditional pub classics.
Tea and other post walk refreshments can be had at the South Western (near the train station) or at one of the pubs on the Tisbury high street. If completing the walk before 16:30 – you may also be in time to have tea at the Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop, located in the Square.

Enjoy the walk!
  • Anonymous
    13-Oct-15

    On the suggested walk (short version) stop at The Forester pub for a glass or two of Donhead Diva a sparkling dry cider cunningly disguised as Prosecco. The food is exceptional too.

  • 07-Nov-15

    hi there,

    nice idea and it would be good to do this walk. However, I would love to be corrected on this, but according to the train websites, the cost for a day trip is £57 WITH a network railcard. The cost for returning on the Sunday is £63 WITH a railcard.

    Please tell me I have got this wrong! I came back from Cornwall recently for £22.50!

    Why is it costlier to go to Tisbury than Truro? I think I may have to give it a miss!

  • 08-Nov-15

    Hi Poppy, not sure where you got your travel information, but the SWT website says an Off-Peak Day Return is £30.15 and an Off-Peak Return (eg. out Sat, back Sun) is £33.95, both with Railcard.

  • 11-Nov-15

    Thanks. The network rail website has slightly changed. When you click on 'Network Card' option on the scroll down list, you also have to press on the number of cards (i.e 1 network card or 1 gold card etc). That seems to be newish & I haven't done that before anyway. So it was coming up with the full price as it wasn't recognising the network card.

  • Anonymous
    17-Nov-15

    8 on this walk rainy and blustery in morning then better afternoon

  • Anonymous
    22-Nov-15

    I counted 9 on this walk 2 of whom bailed out at the lunch pub - they were locals and had left their car at the pub which seemed eminently sensible to one of our group who seemed to think that the offer of a lift back to Tisbury should be taken seriously but thankfully his guest persuaded him to keep walking.

    A great lunch that was started around 1pm and yet didn't finish until 3pm - a bit of a mistake on our part as we had a good 3 hours of walking left but only an hour or two of daylight

    Rain and grey in the morning but dryer in the avo and very mild

    There were suggestions for short cuts in the afternoon but we forged on on the given route some filling their boots with water in the very wet areas.

    Around 5 pm we split into a group of 4 and another of 3

    Us four stumbled around in the woods for a fairwhile but torches and sat nav gradually got us back on track and out to the road where we met some poachers sorry hunters who were staying at the same pub as us so gave us a lift back with two boys bailing out at the station.

    A great day but must leave the pub earlier next time or have desert and coffee there as well and then stay the night and continue the same walk the next morning.

Sat, 09-May-15 : Third Walk ?
DAC
DAC
Extra Walk - Tisbury Circular (via Ludwell and Berwick St. John)
Length: 26.3 km (16.4 miles).
Toughness: 10/10
(Shortcut option: 17.2 km Toughness: 5/10)

This is the penultimate walk in the Tisbury series. This walk is via Ludwell and Berwick St. John (a circular southern loop). Catch the 9:20 from London Waterloo arrives Tisbury 11:06. Return trains xx:01. (For the first outing of this new walk by Thomas, we will be taking the opportunity to check the walk directions.) From the text: "This is one of the furthest and one of the most strenuous SWC daywalks from London. The walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breathtaking views. Heading west from Tisbury, it initially follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and its romantically ruined 14th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing and pause for lunch in Ludwell. From lunch it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by an exhilarating descent down the escarpment. A few woods, a boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the final descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village." Shortcut option: A Shortcut around lunch cuts 9.1 km (5.7 mi) and the ascent/descent by 267m. This reduces the effort to 5/10. Link to walk directions.
T=swc.251
  • Anonymous
    03-May-15

    Saturday 9 May: Walk 1 = 7/10; Walk 2 = 7/10; Walk 3 = 10/10. Oh dear. Beyond me, I'm afraid.

  • 04-May-15

    Intend going.

  • Fi
    04-May-15

    Would love to join you on this walk but will be workin. Once checked may tackle it with some mates.

  • Anonymous
    06-May-15

    I'm intending to join this walk.

  • Mike
    07-May-15

    Thomas

    My printer is being very disobedient. Would you mind bringing a spare copy of pages 5-9 for me please? If you could confirm this by tomorrow pm I'd be grateful!

    Thanks.

  • 07-May-15

    Mike:

    sure will do, no probs

  • Mike
    08-May-15

    Thomas, no longer necessary, thicko printer is behaving this morning!