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 walk passes 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 routes are presented in 6 stages of between 10.5km and 19.3km, plus three additional variant loops, while the Cranborne Droves Way is presented in two 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 for the Sarsen Way and the Cranborne Droves Way are also included
• Clear step-by-step directions supported by 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey mapping for accurate navigation across chalk downland and rural paths
• Stages include 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 the Great Chalk Way
• GPX files for the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way available to download for use with GPS devices and smartphone app

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.

Sarsen Way – Quick Facts

Trail name: Walking the Sarsen Way (including the Cranborne Droves Way)  
Location: Southern England — Wiltshire (Coate Water Park → Salisbury) and Cranborne Chase (Salisbury → Win Green)  
Total distance: Sarsen Way ~79 km / ~49 miles; Cranborne Droves Way ~28 km / ~17 miles  
Typical duration: Can be walked in a week or within several days (itineraries 2‑8 days suggested)  
Start / Finish: Coate Water Park (near Swindon) to Salisbury; then Salisbury to Win Green (Cranborne Droves Way)  
Route type: Long‑distance walking routes along part of the Great Chalk Way  
Stages: 8 stages for the Sarsen Way, each ~10.5–17.3 km; plus Cranborne Droves Way stages  
Terrain & features: Gently rolling chalk landscape with prehistoric sites, valleys and historic towns/villages  
Navigation: Step‑by‑step descriptions with 1:50 000 OS mapping; GPX files available  
Difficulty: Suitable for all abilities with mostly easy terrain

Author Highlight

“The Sarsen Way takes you on a journey through this prehistoric landscape, passing Neolithic henges and stone circles, Bronze Age barrows and Iron Age hill forts. But that’s not all, there are also ancient churches and the majestic medieval cathedral at Salisbury to visit along the way, as well as far-reaching views, tranquil riverside scenes, picturesque villages and cosy pubs to enjoy.”

- Steve Davison, author of Walking the Sarsen Way

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

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.

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