Contents
Introduction
The Great Stones Way
History
Geology and nature
Planning your walk
Getting to and from the Way
When to walk
Where to stay
Food and drink
Waymarking, access and rights of way
Using this guide
The Great Stones Way
Stage 1 Coate Water to Barbury Castle
Stage 2 Barbury Castle to Overton Hill
Stage 3 Overton Hill to Casterley Camp
Stage 4 Casterley Camp to Netheravon
Stage 5 Netheravon to Great Durnford
Stage 6 Great Durnford to Old Sarum (or Salisbury)
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contact information
Appendix C Itinerary planner
Appendix D Accommodation near the route
The Great Stones Way is perfect for a long weekend or a leisurely week
In 36 miles the Great Stones Way runs through the Wiltshire Downs from Barbury Castle near Swindon to Old Sarum on the outskirts of Salisbury. It’s perfect for a long weekend or a leisurely week, with good transport links at each end. Broken down into 6 sections there are also some additional loops that would take you via some special interest places such as the Alton Barnes White Horse and prehistoric sites including Avebury and Stonehenge. The Great Stones Way has been developed by the Friends of the Ridgeway using existing rights of way.
Life In magazine
This guide is essential for anyone who wants to do the The Great Stones Way
The Great Stones Way (GSW) was not conceived as an all-the-year-round alternative to the Sarsen Trail, but as an ambitious project by the Friends of the Ridgeway (FoR) to resurrect the whole of the ancient coast-to coast Ridgeway, initially by extending it southwards from the end of the present Ridgeway National Trail (RNT) at Overton Hill on the A4. This route is indeed shown as the Ridgeway on Ordnance Survey maps going up to the Wansdyke, then down to the village of Alton Priors, and the FoR theorised that it pointed straight at Stonehenge.
The attempt to revive the entire route proved to be well beyond the means of the FoR, but they persevered with the concept, settling on the GSW as being the first stage. The GSW officially starts at Barbury Castle on the RNT, but this guide actually starts at Coate Water in Swindon, much easier to get to by public transport. It ends at the Iron Age hill fort of Old Sarum, with an optional continuation to Salisbury cathedral. The route makes much use of three existing long distance paths, namely the RNT, the White Horse Trail and the Pewsey Avon Trail.
Optional side trips (or loops) can be taken along the way, to Avebury and the Alton Barnes White Horse, and you have to choose which route you would like to take on several occasions, including a key decision in stage 5: to visit Stonehenge or avoid it (the official route avoids it). The walk is some 53 miles long if all the loops and longer alternative routes are chosen. It has been split into six sections, varying in length from 5.25 miles (stage 4) to 13.25 (stage 3 if taking the White Horse Trail or MardenHenge routes).
The introduction describes the history of the GSW and the archaeological treasure trove it passes through, gives pointers on the geology and flora and fauna along the way, and has paragraphs on planning the walk, getting to and from the GSW, where to stay, and food and drink. Appendices contain a route summary table, useful contact information, an itinerary planner, and a list of accommodation near the route. At the beginning of each section are facts and figures on distance, ascent, time and maps needed, refreshments, public transport and nearby towns and villages where accommodation can be found.
Places of interest are dealt with in considerable detail. As well as background details of the towns and villages, and their churches, encountered along the route, these include the Iron Age hill fort of Barbury Castle, Avebury henge and associated sites, the Kennet and Avon Canal, Salisbury Plain, Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, Stonehenge and Old Sarum. Photos of all these places, and more besides, are scattered throughout the guide.
The FoR had wanted the Ridgeway extension to be developed to National Trail standards and commissioned a professional feasibility study to raise funds for this purpose. Unfortunately the very high visitor estimates for the route made in this study gave rise to considerable opposition to it from the residents of (in particular) the Pewsey Vale. Various attempts to appease said residents have not been successful, with the result that not one GSW waymark is to be seen on stage 3, and waymarking is less than comprehensive on the other stages too. As a result, use of the guide is essential for anyone who wants to do the GSW. Steve Davison candidly admits that' .... at the time of publication the route has not been officially accepted and is not signed using the Great Stones Way logo'. In fact there are a few waymarks along the way, but many more are needed.
The version of the guide reviewed here is the second edition and Steve Davison has taken the opportunity to update and amplify both some of the directions and the background information, such as accommodation and watering holes. Unfortunately this has resulted in a couple of typos! Further, exactly the same map appears on two separate pages (49 and 55), which seems unnecessary. However these are very minor quibbles, and certainly do not prevent me from recommending this guide to all walkers, whether long distance or purely recreational.
Tim Lewis, Strider magazine
"The best guide to the Great Stones Way"
Country Walking magazine
"Packed with colour photographs, easy-to-follow maps and clear, useful information this small, slim volume is easy to consult and light to carry. Steve Davison has added appendices that include a route summary table, an itinerary planner, relevant contact information and details of accommodation near the route. So, instead of watching Tony Robinson walking through history in his BBC television series, why not put on your boots and do it yourself? Maybe I will see you along the Way."
Lindsay Fulcher, Minerva magazine
