A 4-mile easy circular walk form Pewsey. Click map below to enlarge. Click here for an aerial view. Click here for a downloadable PDF guide of this page. (There is a GPX route option here for phone/tablet download – some browsers need “save as”. But only follow this link after watching this GPX help video). Friendly warning: all files relating to walks are published here in good faith but on the understanding that users must be responsible for their own safety and wellbeing.
Start: 773
1: Exit the Co-op car park perhaps by the footbridge over water follow River / Church onto drove path and towards white horse 1.7Km
2: Turn left onto a rough footpath (upper marked route is wisest and follow to junction with second drove 641m
3: Follow drove path until it meets quiet road 1.4Km
4: Continue walking forward until Y junction and veer leftwards 586m
5: Follow path back to start 405m
The pictures below are in the order things were seen on this walk. Clicking on any one will enlarge it (and the slideshow)
The Walk
If you arrive by car (although there is mainline station) our suggestion is that you park at the Co-op – it seems to be free, not over-used and perhaps offer you shopping catch-up opportunities. Then you have to find your way to either River Street or Church Street (they join), perhaps by the footpath that crosses the river/stream at the edge of the main parking area. The walk is minimalist in form – just a rectangle with the White Horse at its right far corner. Two sides of the rectangle are drove paths and so straight and easy. The slightly awkward part is between points 2 and 3. The pathway is clear but the day we went (not much recent rain) it was very uneven under foot. The only hazard is careless footing. At the entry point (2) there will appear to be to tracked paths – advice is to take the upper. You can also walk up to the white horse (its steep but quite stepped) but – frankly – it’s not that charming. What you should definitely do is drop into the parish church and generally admire the streets of the town.
Pewsey town
The town is small but has some agreeable old housing and is pleasing to walk around. It was quite empty on the May weekday that we visited. But it does attract some tourist visitors, perhaps because they have come to walk in the Vale or are visiting Avebury which is not so far away. The Kennet and Avon canal is to the north of the town, and you might enjoy a walk along its towpath.
The Pewsey Heritage Centre is worth visiting. It is not very big, but it has an interesting section on the Pewsey Carnival. This was always said to the finest carnival parade and celebration in Wiltshire. Unfortunately, it has lost some of its lustre since Covid.
They Pewsey (so-called) white horse (one of 8 remaining in the county) is a bit of a disappointment. It was cut in 1937, although it does replace an older model. It is more chocolate brown than white and is the smallest hillside specimen in Wiltshire. It is fenced in (to keep grazing animals out) but you can walk up. Probably the reward of that would be the view away from it. This video is an easier way to admire the animal.
There are a couple of pubs in the town. The oldest is the Royal Oak – it has an outdoor area and serves food. Rather more rewarding we thought was The Shed opposite – but you need to be keen on well kept beer.
On our walk route you pass the parish church. This is worth a visit and will probably be open.
Whie this walk may not be the most challenging or varied in landscape, ,the quiet open countryside it passes into is refreshing and the town has a pleasant ambience.