Walk 1

STARTING POINT - "George & Dragon" Potterne (Ref. ST995594)

This is a circular walk which can be shortened to a less strenuous walk when taking children.

The long walk being approximately 5 miles long.
The short walk being approximately 3 miles long.

Both of these walks start at the George and Dragon Inn. Take the road to the right of the George and Dragon and walk up Court Hill (Westerly direction) on the elevated footpath.
At the top of Court Hill is the 18th. century two storey red brick Court Hill House, here take the bridleway passing to the left of Court Hill House, this is Kitmoor Lane (PP No.114), follow this bridleway to where the way ahead is closed by a five bar gate and the bridleway turns 90 degrees to the right (North Easterly).
At this point instead of following Kitmoor Lane to the right go straight ahead through the gate, crossing the concrete access road to the new sewerage works and enter the field opposite keeping close to the hedge on your left (PP No.94) continue (North Westerly) to the field boundary.
Crossing by means of a stile into the next field continue on the same line until, having crossed about 2/3 of the field you join with a footpath coming into this field from a stile in the corner to your right (this is PP No.93), turn left (South Westerly) along this path to the stile which is midway along the field boundary to your left.
Having crossed this stile into the next field, head diagonally left to the corner of the field by the old barn which can be seen in the distance, here the path crosses into the neighbouring field and turns right to follow the hedge to a field gate in the lower corner, passing through this gate you are now at the Five Lanes Cross Roads where you have a choice of paths for your return to the George and Dragon Inn.

The Short Walk.

Turn left handed (South East) up Pound Hill, a bridleway (PP No.108) which leads into Worton Road by Abbots Ball Farm. Turn left keeping to the hard road and passing the old Manor House on your right (now the Head Quarters of Wiltshire Fire Brigade) continue to rejoin your outward track by Court Hill House for an easy down hill walk to your starting point at the George and Dragon.

The Long Walk.

At Five Lanes Junction take the second opening on your left (PP No.109)-Note that the third opening is a private road to Five Lanes Farm. After about 700 yards this byway has its junction with Joiners Lane (PP No.113) and Worton Road at West End, turn right and follow the Worton Road to Cuckold's Green, just before reaching Turnpike Cottage (on your left) a farm track (PP No.53) runs off to the left, here at its junction with the Worton Road a finger post points your direction along the field path (PP No.60).
Take this path, which heads diagonally (North North West -making an angle of about 30 degrees with the hedge on your left) to the bridge over the stream, crossing the stream head North Westerly aiming at a point slightly to the right of the farm buildings in the distance. Cross the farm track at this point and continue up the fenced path into the open field. Cross this field keeping close to the hedge on your left, this is a triangular shaped field with a stile in the far apex, here on your left you can see the well kept garden at the rear of the old Manor House. The stile here at the apex takes you into a leafy bower, another fenced path long known as Lovers Lane.
Leaving Lovers Lane by means of another stile we cross Barbones field with the Barbones Plantation. After leaving Lovers Lane head towards the houses at the top of the field, a stile in the wire fence gives access to a small paddock from which another stile adjacent to a five bar gate gives access to the Worton Road, turn right here onto the Worton Road and, watching out for oncoming traffic continue to rejoin your outward track by Court Hill House from where an easy, down hill walk will take you back to the George and Dragon where refreshments may be purchased.

Map for Walk 1