Take the parkland views walk
The circular walk encapsulates the local landscape with its outstanding view points to the churches with tall steeples, the mile long Terrace and the Grade 1* listed Parkland of Farnborough Hall.
Map
Start:
Grid reference 429495
1
Take a right turn out of the car park towards Sourlands Pool, turning sharp left over the bridge and past the lower Weir. Walk along the side of the Pool until you reach the end of the Pool at an obvious left turn next to the second weir. Walk down the steps and follow the woodland track through the narrow belt of trees to the road. Wildlife you should look out for - Kingfisher, swans, moorhens and mallards, long tailed tits, gold crests, and tree creepers.
2
Turn right and walk along the road for 400m until you reach the public footpath sign on the right hand side and an over grown stile, walk diagonally to the left across the arable land to reach the top of the hill aiming for a hidden stile which is located past the trees half way along the fence line.
Before leaving the field stop and look back to take in the views of the mile long terrace with its hidden temples and tall obelisk. Look out for Buzzards circulating above.
3
Proceed straight on across the arable land to reach the next stile and gorse field beyond, which will be sweet smelling in the spring, keeping tight to the upper tree line walk straight on until you reach the next stile in the corner of the field. Looking right follow the obvious path to an obsolete stile before reaching a metal gate. Follow the pathway through the long grass and towards the back of a metal shed briskly turning left and then right to walk along the side of the shed and left again to walk down the track reaching the road through the village of Avon.
Wildlife watch; look out for gold crests, blue tits and butterflies
4
Turn right at the road and head up the Hill in the village towards the Church taking care to keep to the footpath. Walk up to the church and take the small public footpath on the right hand side directly after the grave yard. Carry on uphill until you reach the end of the hidden pathway and reach the small back road. Turn right and climb the stile over the gate into the field. This is also a nice place to stop and have a drink.
5
Turn left in the field and walk along the fence line edge to a hidden gate way in the far left hand corner. Walk straight on along the track and through the next gate into the pasture land. Walk straight on passing a small over grown quarry on the left to the next stile to the right of the House at the boundary hedge. Cross over the road with care and join the permissive footpath across the next arable field and through the obvious gap in the hedgerow and then walking up hill diagonally to the left through the field until you reach the hedgerow. Turn right along the field boundary walking up hill to reach an obvious view point looking down towards Fenny Compton on the left and to the right Priors Marston in the distance. Good place for a picnic.
Time on your hands? You have the option to include a stroll to Fenny Compton Church passing by the local Hornton Stone cottages. Walk over the bridge and turn left walking along the road for 400m until you reach a public footpath sign on the right hand side. Go over the style and walk diagonally across the field to the stile in the left hand corner follow the track around to the right to get to the church. Reverse your footsteps to get back onto to the route.
6
Carry on down the hill crossing two arable fields turning sharp right at the boundary next to a small bridge. For a great view, look around to see the Dassett Hills. Turn right and walk back diagonally across the second field finally reaching another small bridge next to a large Oak tree halfway along the field set in the hedge row marked with a public footpath sign. Turning left walk diagonally again until you reach the far right hand corner of the field, go through the obvious gap in the hedgerow and walk up the field until you reach the grass field hedgerow, turn left and walk along the boundary to the corner of the field and cross over the bridge into the field.
7
Leave the bridge and walk straight ahead towards the rear side of the water hole turn left and follow the boundary hedge passing by the obvious dry bridge and onwards to the stile in the right hand corner of the field with Windmill hill ahead. Carry straight on to the brow of the hill passing Gorse on the right hand side and a small plantation of trees on the left hand side. The view down to Farnborough village will now appear as you reach the top of the hill. Walk down the hill and through the metal gate passing to the right of the water hole before reaching another stile at the bottom of the field. Follow the small hidden path way to the village.
8
Turn right in the village and make your way past the village pub and along the quiet road out of the village keeping to the right passing by Farnborough Hall on the left and then with care follow a narrow road around to the right with high walls on the left and right hand sides before arriving back at Sourlands Pool and the car park.
End:
National Trust Car Park, Farnborough Hall
