{"id":"6984796f533dbb4b73118b77","title":"Walk 56 Tan Hill Way And Vale Of Pewsey","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2013/volume-4-apr-to-jun-2013/walk-56-tan-hill-way-and-vale-of-pewsey","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 56 - Tan Hill Way and Vale of Pewsey\n\nThis was one of those walks where I wonder is it really worth driving for an hour and a quarter to walk seven miles. On this occasion the answer is most definitely yes.\n\nWe met in the car park at Knap Hill for an 11am start. Five of us set off heading east along the Tan Hill Way. A quick glance at the map shows many closely spaced contour lines. However the path took us up a short, gentle slope to the top of the ridge.\n\nOne of our number was from Austria. He was investigating stones and Ley lines and was very interesting to talk to. I think we had met up with him quite by accident as one of us noticed his car number plates and took the opportunity to practise his German. After half an hour or so he left us to retrace his steps and continue his investigations.\n\n![On the Tan Hill Way, shortly before the lunch stop.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume4/images/tan_hill_way1.jpg)\n\nWe pressed onwards with magnificent views to both sides of the ridge. Skirting Gopher wood we took a drink stop at the crossing of many paths. The horse flies made their first appearance and a lone walker later in the day commented on now keen they were.\n\nThe Tan Hill Way and the White Horse Trail coincided for a while as we headed towards Martinsell Hill and then doubled back on ourselves. Stopping for lunch we could look northwards and trace the path we had taken earlier.\n\nRefreshed we headed downhill, the only steepish section of the walk, towards Oare and a welcome pub stop.\n\n![Stopping for lunch on the Tan Hill Way.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume4/images/tan_hill_way2.jpg)\n\nAt some point after lunch we passed through a field inhabited by a herd of very friendly, inquisitive young cattle. Our leader, safeguarding his group, was last to cross the stile. Pausing by the stile, one of us offered them handfuls of grass but they seemed more interested in nettles on the other side of the fence.\n\nOnwards towards Huish, where we encountered an elderly local, walking his dog. He had lived in the area all his life. We chatted for a while, putting the world to rights and bemoaning the over reliance on computers and mobile phones. Stopping to chat like this is unusual when walking with a large group, but one of the things which at least for me enhances a walk. He told us about the less steep route to take to the top of the ridge, where we would also benefit from some shade.\n\nAt the top of the ridge I did not initially recognise that we had rejoined the Tan Hill Way. Retracing our steps we quickly returned to the car park at the end of a very pleasant walk.\n\n![Our leader keeping back the cattle while we passed.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume4/images/tan_hill_way3.jpg)\n\n*Thank you to Christine for taking the photographs and writing up this walk.*\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 4\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 56 - Tan Hill Way and Vale of Pewsey

\n

This was one of those walks where I wonder is it really worth driving for an hour and a quarter to walk seven miles. On this occasion the answer is most definitely yes.

\n

We met in the car park at Knap Hill for an 11am start. Five of us set off heading east along the Tan Hill Way. A quick glance at the map shows many closely spaced contour lines. However the path took us up a short, gentle slope to the top of the ridge.

\n

One of our number was from Austria. He was investigating stones and Ley lines and was very interesting to talk to. I think we had met up with him quite by accident as one of us noticed his car number plates and took the opportunity to practise his German. After half an hour or so he left us to retrace his steps and continue his investigations.

\n

\"On

\n

We pressed onwards with magnificent views to both sides of the ridge. Skirting Gopher wood we took a drink stop at the crossing of many paths. The horse flies made their first appearance and a lone walker later in the day commented on now keen they were.

\n

The Tan Hill Way and the White Horse Trail coincided for a while as we headed towards Martinsell Hill and then doubled back on ourselves. Stopping for lunch we could look northwards and trace the path we had taken earlier.

\n

Refreshed we headed downhill, the only steepish section of the walk, towards Oare and a welcome pub stop.

\n

\"Stopping

\n

At some point after lunch we passed through a field inhabited by a herd of very friendly, inquisitive young cattle. Our leader, safeguarding his group, was last to cross the stile. Pausing by the stile, one of us offered them handfuls of grass but they seemed more interested in nettles on the other side of the fence.

\n

Onwards towards Huish, where we encountered an elderly local, walking his dog. He had lived in the area all his life. We chatted for a while, putting the world to rights and bemoaning the over reliance on computers and mobile phones. Stopping to chat like this is unusual when walking with a large group, but one of the things which at least for me enhances a walk. He told us about the less steep route to take to the top of the ridge, where we would also benefit from some shade.

\n

At the top of the ridge I did not initially recognise that we had rejoined the Tan Hill Way. Retracing our steps we quickly returned to the car park at the end of a very pleasant walk.

\n

\"Our

\n

Thank you to Christine for taking the photographs and writing up this walk.

\n

📸 Back to Volume 4

\n

Return to volume index

\n"}