Wiltshire

Lockeridge Dene walking trail

Strike out on an adventurous circular walk through Lockeridge Dene that takes in beech woodland and a valley filled with intriguing sarsen boulders. You'll follow the Wansdyke medieval earthwork for part of the trail and have the chance to look out over the surrounding downland and spot birds such as buzzards and nuthatches.

Near to

Lockeridge Dene and Piggledene

Start point

West Woods forestry commission car park, (off Ryles Lane/Hillside Lockeridge). Nearest postcode SN8 4ED. Grid ref: SU 15238 67257

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6 (km: 9.6)

Duration3 hours

Dog friendly***

*Undulating trail on hard tracks, muddy woodland paths and public bridleways. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Uneven, natural surfaces with some steep sections, stiles and gates. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs on leads welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

See bluebells in springtime

West Woods is famous locally for the carpets of bluebells stretching in every direction amongst the 800 acres of beech trees in late April and May.

Address
West Woods forestry commission car park, (off Ryles Lane/Hillside Lockeridge). Nearest postcode SN8 4ED.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Swindon train station 16 miles from Lockeridge; Chippenham train station 17 miles from Lockeridge.
On foot
Footpaths run from from West Woods to Lockeridge.
By bus
Connect 2 Wiltshire TL3 Marlborough to Devizes. Stop at the Who'd A Thought It pub and walk 0.5km south for Lockeridge Dene.
Cycling
Lockeridge Dene lies on the Sustrans National Cycle Network link route between routes 45 and 403.
Sustrans website
By road
Lockeridge is south of the A4; from Marlborough take the signed, second left-hand turn shortly after Fyfield petrol station. The site is on the right-hand side of the road on the edge of Lockeridge.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead as the site is grazed by livestock.
Car park
West Woods forestry commission car park for the start of the trail. Limited roadside parking is also available close to the pedestrian gate in Lockeridge.
Toilet
Public toilets are available next to the pub in Avebury (4½ miles away) or in the main car park in Marlborough (2½ miles away).
Café
National Trust café in Avebury (4½ miles away).
This is a trail over varied natural surfaces such as woodland paths and bridleways and there are also tracks with loose gravel. There are stiles and pedestrian gates along the route and some steep sections. This trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or powered mobility vehicles and may be challenging for people with reduced mobility.
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets are available next to the pub in Avebury (4½ miles away) or in the main car park in Marlborough (2½ miles away).
Steps/uneven terrain
Total stages: 16
Total stages: 16
Start point
West Woods forestry commission car park, (off Ryles Lane/Hillside Lockeridge). Nearest postcode SN8 4ED. Grid ref: SU 15238 67257
Stage 1
The car park is located at the end of an unnamed no-through road at the junction where Ryles Lane becomes Hillside. From the car park turn back the way you drove in and, just after the entrance, turn left onto an adjoining hardcore track signposted as a bridleway. Just before you reach the house in front of you, right on the bend you will see a gate with a stile next to it. Climb over the stile and cross the orchard diagonally to the right, climbing over another stile next to the stone wall and into a field. Please keep dogs on a lead as sheep graze this field. Keeping the fence on your left, make your way down the hill and over the stile at the bottom.
Stage 2
Walk through this small wooded area, keeping the fence and outbuildings on your left. The path can get quite narrow and overgrown in places. You will eventually emerge on the driveway of a private house. Continue down the drive and out onto the road where you will turn left towards Lockeridge village. Please take care when walking down this road as there are no pavements.
Stage 3
When you reach the play area on your right cut through it diagonally to the left and cross the minor road to reach the entrance gate to Lockeridge Dene. Lockeridge Dene contains what is known as a sarsen stream – a valley filled with sarsen stone boulders – which provides the perfect habitat for rare lichens and mosses. Take a moment to read the interpretation panel at the entrance, then follow the well-trodden path along the valley and up the slope behind the house in the middle of the site. As you reach the top of the slope you will find yourself in the middle of a large well-used badger sett. If you're lucky you might spot some trails of old bedding (dried grass) or even badger fur caught up on the fences. Turn left and pass through the gate into the other half of the Dene.
Sarsen boulders
The sarsen boulders in Lockeridge Dene are the remains of a sandstone layer which built up over 30 million years ago. This layer was broken up and the boulders were deposited here in a 'sarsen stream' during the last Ice Age. Sarsen stones were used in the construction of Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and avenues. As you walk past you can still see evidence of where the stones have been split and worked on in the past. They are now a haven for rare lichens and mosses.
Stage 4
Carry straight on following the path along the slope, which has fantastic views of the sarsen boulders in the valley below. You will eventually drop down onto the valley floor – turn left immediately, as if you're going back on yourself, and follow the well-trodden paths along the valley back towards the house. Just before the house, bear right towards the road and a gate with a stile. Climb over the stile, carefully cross the road and turn left, walking back along the road for around 100 yards (91 metres).
Stage 5
Just beyond the 'Lockeridge Please Drive Carefully' sign, turn right onto a bridleway signposted 'Huish' and follow the narrow path up the hill. When you reach a large metal gate, pass through it, keeping to the left of the field to continue up the hill. Pass through another gate with a bridleway sign and continue straight on.
Stage 6
When you reach a major junction with a hardcore track, turn right onto this track which is signposted as a bridleway. Keep following the hardcore track until a crossroads where the hardcore ends and it becomes a trackway. Continue over the crossroads and follow the trackway until it begins to bear round to the right.
Stage 7
At this point cut through a gap in the vegetation on your left to join the main byway which runs along the southern perimeter of the woods and turn left onto it. Follow this path through beech and bluebell woodland, listening to the calls of the pheasants and bird song or smelling the scent of wild garlic in the air.
Stage 8
At the crossroads where the byway, the Wansdyke and a bridleway all join, continue straight on (it's signposted 'Byway Open to All Traffic' and 'White Horse Trail'). Continue straight on round the bend – the Wansdyke should now be on your left with fields to the right.
Stage 9
At the next junction turn left to pass through a row of wooden bollards, then turn immediately right onto a path signposted 'Public bridleway' and 'Wansdyke Path'. Continue on this path with the Wansdyke on your left.
Stage 10
When you get to a waymark post at a T-junction turn left, still following the Wansdyke Path. Around 10 yards (9 metres) further on, turn right and continue along the Wansdyke Path with the Wansdyke now on your right. Continue on past the junction with the Easy Access Trail, following the bridleway sign. Just past the second bench on your right, the Wansdyke veers off at 90 degrees to the right – carry straight on at this point.
Stage 11
When you reach a T-junction you leave the Wansdyke Path and turn left. Carry on down the hill, following the bridleway signs, until you reach a tarmac road.
Stage 12
Turn right onto the road and 50 yards (46 metres) further along you will see a picnic area – the perfect place to stop for lunch or a snack. Continue on along the tarmac road, past the picnic area on your left until you come to a bridleway sign.
Stage 13
Turn left here and pass through the pedestrian gate into a grassy field. Cross the field diagonally to the left and continue uphill until you spot a gate in the top left-hand corner.
Stage 14
Go through the gate and bear right at the first bridleway sign. Continue following the bridleway signs through this part of the wood and you should eventually start to descend down a steep and slippery hill. Continue following the bridleway signs down the hill until you reach the bottom.
Stage 15
At the bottom, turn left onto a track, ignoring the bridleway sign ahead of you. Continue along this track, straight across at a crossroads, until you reach a hardcore road.
Stage 16
Turn right onto the hardcore road and follow it up the hill, passing through a kissing gate at the top and into the car par where you began the walk.
End point
West Woods forestry commission car park, (off Ryles Lane/Hillside Lockeridge). Nearest postcode SN8 4ED. Grid ref: SU 15238 67257
Trail map
Map for Lockeridge Dene walking trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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This sarsen field provides a home to rare lichens and sheltered habitats for birds, flowers and insects.

Trail

Piggledene trail

This varied and interesting walk takes in part of the iconic Ridgeway National Trail, fields strewn with sarsen boulders, ancient barrows, monuments and quaint villages.