Walking the Sarsen Way

Walk through the heart of England’s chalk landscapes on the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way, two connected long-distance paths forming part of the Great Chalk Way. The 79km Sarsen Way runs from Coate Water Park near Swindon to Salisbury, while the 28km Cranborne Droves Way continues south to join the Wessex Ridgeway at Win Green. Together, these historic routes follow ancient trackways across downland, farmland, and prehistoric landscapes shaped by sarsen stones and centuries of human movement.

Suitable for walkers of all abilities, both routes can be comfortably completed within a week. The walks pass through villages and historic sites, including Chiseldon, Avebury, Durrington, Amesbury, Old Sarum, and Salisbury, with frequent opportunities to explore Neolithic monuments, Iron Age earthworks, and cathedral cities. The Sarsen Way is presented in 6 stages of between 10.5km and 19.3km, plus three additional variant loops, while the Cranborne Droves Way is presented in 2 stages (17.3km and 10.7km).

• 8 stage-by-stage route descriptions covering the Sarsen Way from Coate Water Park to Salisbury and the Cranborne Droves Way to Win Green on the Wessex Ridgeway.
• Reverse route descriptions provided for both the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way, allowing you to plan in either direction along each route.
• Clear step-by-step directions for both the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way, with 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey mapping for accurate navigation across chalk downland and rural paths.
• Each stage on the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way includes distance, walking time, ascent, terrain notes, and information on key places such as Swindon, Avebury, Durrington, Old Sarum, and Salisbury.
• Comprehensive planning information, with notes on archaeological sites, historic landmarks, and points of interest along both the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way sections of the Great Chalk Way.
• Downloadable GPX files for both the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way make it easy to follow your chosen route using GPS devices or smartphone apps.

Plan your walk along the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way with confidence, and explore one of southern England’s most atmospheric chalkland routes with this practical and informative guidebook.

Seasons

The two routes can be undertaken at any time of the year, although between early spring and the end of autumn offers the chance of more settled weather and better walking conditions. Routes can get muddy in winter.

Centres

Swindon, Chiseldon, Avebury, Durrington, Amesbury, Great Durnford, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Shaftesbury.

Difficulty

Fairly low level walking to suit most ages and abilities; no difficulties apart from some short steep uphill and downhill sections, can be muddy in winter, some road crossings and sections along quiet country roads and lanes that require care.

Must See

The Sarsen Way from Coate Water Country Park on the outskirts of Swindon to Salisbury, home to a stunning medieval cathedral, passing Barbury Castle, the Vale of Pewsey, Salisbury Plain, Old Sarum and a number of picturesque villages. Optional loops take in visits of the stunning prehistoric sites at Avebury and Stonehenge (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Cranborne Droves Way from Salisbury to Win Green meandering through Cranborne Chase with an optional ending at Shaftesbury, home to the famed Gold Hill.

CONTENTS

Route summary table

Map key

Introduction

The Sarsen Way, Cranborne Droves Way and the Great Chalk Way

Geology and nature

History

When to walk and equipment

Getting to and staying along the route

Maps and GPS

Safety

Waymarking and access

Using this guide

Planning your walk

The Sarsen Way

Stage 1 Coate Water to Barbury Castle

Stage 2 Barbury Castle to Overton Hill

Stage 3 Overton Hill to Upavon

Stage 4 Upavon to Netheravon

Stage 5 Netheravon to Amesbury

Stage 6 Amesbury to Salisbury Cathedral

The Cranborne Droves Way

Stage 1 Salisbury Cathedral to Cow Down Hill

Stage 2 Cow Down Hill to Win Green or Shaftesbury

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Selected accommodation near the route

Appendix C Further reading

Appendix D Stage facilities planner