The Vile long circular walk at Rhosili
This walk takes you through the Vile at Rhosili, an area that we're transforming through our project to create new habitats and encourage wildlife back to the Vile.
The fields in this area are one of the best examples of the traditional open strip field farming system in the country. We’re farming in a wildlife friendly way by creating new hay meadows and sowing traditional crops, creating perfect habitats for arable plants, birds and pollinators.
Map
Start:
National Trust car park at Rhosili, SS 414880
1
From the car park, walk towards the bottom left hand corner of the overflow field. Look out for a gateway marked ‘Caer Ditch’. Go through gate and turn right, following the path alongside the hay meadow. You’ll also see an oak post with a green arrow marking the way. Continue on the path through ‘Higher Castlepark’, into another meadow and walk along the path until you reach the gate onto the cliff path.
What’s in a name?
Notice the field names as you walk through the Vile. These have remained unchanged for years and are clues to the way the field was managed or crops grown.
2
Go through the gate and turn left onto the cliff path, walk along the track, looking out for a gate on your left marked ‘Limedland’.
Old Castle Camp
Notice the series of mounds to the right of the path, these are the remains of an ancient Iron Age fort, Old Castle Camp. The magnificent views from here meant that the inhabitants could see their enemies for miles around.
3
Re-enter the Vile by going through the gate into Limedland and continue on the path, making your way into Linseedland, keeping an eye out for a gate on your left marked ‘Withyland’.
Stop, look and listen
Take in the wonderful array of colours from the wildlife friendly crops and the dazzling display of flowers in the hay meadows which are buzzing with pollinators.
4
Go through gate into Withyland and turn right immediately, following the green arrow
5
You’ll be following the green arrows through another gate, turning right onto a track (you’ll see the NCI lookout station and Worms Head in the distance) follow this track around to the left.
6
When you come to a cross roads in the track, take the left track, so that you are looking up the track towards the houses in the village.
7
Continue on the track until you see a gate on your right onto a more grassy track, go through the gate and walk along the track
8
You’ll reach another gate, which’ll be on your left, go through the gate and walk along the edge of the field
9
Continue until you reach this gate and turn right onto the track again. After about 60m you’ll reach another metal gate, continue until you reach the next gate to return to the car park.
End:
National Trust car park at Rhosili, SS 414880
