The Tan Hill Way is easy to overlook. It is not even signposted as such along its short 12 mile length. However it offers some of the most consistently stunning scenery in Wiltshire as it follows the heights of the downs.
The Tan Hill Way starts near Clench Common to the north east of Pewsey but there are no fingerposts to point the way. It is shown on the Ordnance Survey maps, at least as far as Knapp Hill, which is the area I am going to cover here. After that it merges into the Wansdyke Path which I have previously written about.
The views are great from the car park (a good wild camping spot!) from where the track leads westwards, going gently uphill alongside violet edged woods. With wide embracing views to the south, the path reaches a faint junction at the end of the trees. The Tan Hill Way keeps to the right up Martinsell Hill, the northern expanses of Wiltshire now visible.
Although it was early in the walk, a left bearing at the junction led to the hill’s 289m high point (actually the 3rd highest point in Wiltshire), situated within the outlines of an iron age fort. It was worth the detour. We enjoyed a beautifully sited bench with a great view, before cutting back to rejoin the Way only slightly above where we left it.
Following a field edge, the track next ducked into Withy Copse, ariot with beautiful bluebells in the spring. We emerged onto a rough track which swung along the contours of Oare Hill above Rainscombe House.
Crossing the busy Pewsey road, we took the drive to Huish Hill House and a pause at another one of my favourite scenic benches just below it, this one with a wonderful view over Oare.
Heading unerringly westwards, the Way leads on along the escarpment, dropping down to a junction of tracks just before Gopher Wood – another fabulous bluebell spotting area. If you chose to do a minor detour through the flowers, keep to the uppermost right-hand track which will lead out onto the downs just below the actual waymarked route, which will have climbed gently uphill above the wood.
Amongst big open spaces now, there are superb views. A fingerpost at the top is a good place to pause: far below, the Pavilion at Oare House is visible. It was built by I. M. Pei who was also responsible for the pyramid at the Louvre.
The path heads on on the northern side of the fence, although we preferred to stick closer to the edge of the escarpment on its southern side. A little way along there is yet another thoughtfully sited bench, before a traverse of sheep nibbled pastures leads on to Knapp Hill, a neolithic enclosure that dates back to around 3700 B. C.
Numerous excavations have revealed continuous use of the area and indeed a glance at a map will reveal the long chain of tumuli, earthworks and barrows that run along the height of the downs: they must have been quite busy 5000 years ago.
The views are as good here as anywhere en route: the hill drops particularly steeply down on the south eastern side with Pewsey visible in the distance. The Pewsey White Horse can also be glimpsed on the hills above the village.
An easy 10 minute descent will lead to the car park on the Lockeridge road below and an end to an incredibly scenic walk. To continue, cross the road and head up to the second part of the Wansdyke Path.
Notes
Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 157 Marlborough & Savernake Forest
Coordinates for parking at the start of the walk by Martinsell Hill:
51°22′45.1″N 01°44′15.95″W
Coordinates for the parking below Knapp Hill:
51°22′23.23″N 01°50′05.54″W
