STARTING POINT - "George A Dragon" Potterne (Ref. 5T995594)

This is a circular walk of about 8 miles which can be shortened to either 5½ or 6½ miles as required.

Take the road opposite the George & Dragon - Coxhill Lane - after about 300 metres you came to Woodbridge House on your left, continue to follow Coxhill Lane which now becomes a Byway (PP No.50), after about 150 yards you pass Sugarwell Farm (Note-1) on your right, continue to follow Coxhill Lane as it passes between steep wooded banks to a crossroads where you take the byway going down to the right, this is Stroud Hill (PP No.52).
Follow this byway as it passes down between the steep banks to emerge on the Urchfont road by Stroud Hill Farm, a little way below the farm on your left is a post and rail stile, ignore this stile in favour of the next post and rail stile on your left which you will come to after about 200 metres, here is a grass 'forecourt' leading to a farm gate with the stile situated to its left, this stile is the beginning of PP No.19.

The path runs diagonally to the right (the path marker on the stile step shows the direction) to another post and rail stile which can be seen in the far hedge, this is a double stile with a small bridge over a drainage ditch. Over the second stile the path inclines to the left (again indicated with a path marker) to the fence ahead, where at this moment in time there is no stile.

Note:-

As stated above the official footpath continues to the fence after which it crosses the river, but there as no means of crossing the river at the present and it could be several years before W.C.C. are in a position to span the river with a bridge. Until that time the two neighbouring farmers have given permission for the footpath to cross their land and farm bridges.

To the left of the official path is a field gate giving access to a farm bridge crossing a drainage ditch, this is the path you must now follow over the bridge and then following the hedge to your right continue round to a post and rail stile which gives access to another bridge, this stile is the parish boundary between Potterne and Stert. Cross the bridge diagonally to another post and rail stile which gives access to a large field, from this stile the path passes to the left of a single tree a few metres ahead and growing by the old dried up river bed, here you regain the original path which is Stert path No.27, passing this tree and looking along the hedgerow to your left you will see yet another post and rail stile. From here the path heads a little to the right of Crookwood Mill Farm which can be seen in the distance, keeping in a straight line cross the next two fields to arrive at a stile in the bottom lefthand corner of the second field this gives access to the field to the rear of the farm.

You now follow the farm boundary turning left down the side of their kitchen garden to emerge on the farm opposite the old mill, now a modernised residence.
Here the official footpath descends the steps to pass the front door of the mill but this is not the easiest of paths to follow, it is better to use the permissive path which follows the drive to the right.

Permissive Path - Instead of descending the steps turn right and follow the farm road for a few metres to where a wide drive turn off to the left and runs back towards the mill, follow to the right of the trees growing on the lawn to regain the official path which crosses the old mill stream to reach the stile which forms the boundary between the two parishes.

1. The 'Short' way home.
   Having passed through the field gate turn sharp left into the neighbouring field (PP No.39) and head for the row of tall pine trees that run along the top of the hill, the later part of this path keeps the hedge close to your left. On reaching the top of this path, at its junction with the bridleway (PP No.38) there is a hunting gate to your left by the row of pines which you now keep to your left.
   Continue to follow this path through the various hunting gates and with Potterne Wood on your left until you emerge onto the Byway, Sleight Lane (PP No. 50).
   Continue straight ahead (on PP No.50) and keeping Potterne Wood to your left follow Sleight Lane as it becomes Coxhill Lane and leads you back to your starting point at the George and Dragon.

2. The 'Medium' way home.
   Having passed through the hunting gate you will find yourself in a wide farm lane where turning sharp left there is another hunting gate. Passing through this gate and keeping the hedge to your left follow the bridleway to join up with Potterne Path No. 38 at its junction with PP No.39 by the pine trees for your way home. [See above- (i)The 'Short' way home.]
3. The 'Long' way home.
   Having passed through the hunting gate into the wide farm Lane (Stert path No.6) follow the bridleway to its junction with the metalled farm road, Stert Valley Lane (Path No.128) turn left here and follow the lane through Stert valley to its junction with Sleight Lane where again you turn lefthanded to re-enter Potterne parish by Sleight Farm Cottages.
   Continue to follow the byway, Sleight Lane (PP No.50) passing the byway which later turns off to the right until you reach Potterne Wood where path No.38 comes over the field alongside the wood and joins you from the left [See above- (i)The 'Short' way home.]
   Having negotiated the 90 degree righthand bend in Sleight Lane which at this point can be deeply rutted and very muddy continue ahead (on PP No.50) and keeping Potterne Wood to your left follow Sleight Lane as it becomes Coxhill Lane and leads you back to your starting point at the George and Dragon.

Map for Walk 10