nigel vile’s walk ..............................
MAP
OS Explorer 143 Warminster & Trowbridge
DISTANCE
4 miles
TIME
At least 2 hours
TERRAIN
One ascent on to Salisbury Plain
START
Edington Priory (GR 926533 or postcode BA13 4QN)
When driving into the Wiltshire village of edington, there is a welcome sign that also carries the appendage ‘ethandun 878 AD.’ This is a reference to a battle when an army of the Anglosaxon kingdom of Wessex under Alfred the Great defeated the Great heathen Army (better known as the Danes) led by Guthrum. edington lays claim to being the battlefield site, as do many other locations including other edingtons in Somerset and Berkshire, as well as Slaughterford and West Yatton, both in Wiltshire. Most visitors to edington, however, come in search of edington Priory Church. The church towers over this enchanting village, with a perfect location below Salisbury Plain’s north facing escarpment. Built in the 14th century by former Bishop of Winchester William of edington, this Grade I-listed building is now Wiltshire’s only perfect monastic church. The Priory is best known these days for its choral music offerings, including an evensong each summer which is broadcast live on Radio 3. From edington, a quiet byway climbs some 300 feet on to the fringes of Salisbury Plain. The climb is worth every bead of perspiration, however, with views that are arguably unrivalled in this neck of the woods. To the west are the distant Mendip hills, and below lies the Avon Vale with Freezing hill and Kelston Round hill being but two far-off landmarks high above Bath. To the east is the Vale of Pewsey, with the north Wessex Downs rising high above this clay vale. As the hilltop path runs above Luccombe Bottom, below lies the site of another battle. henry Pelly, a wealthy London property developer and friend of Prince harry, bought Luccombe Mill a few years back for £1.25 million and proceeded to close a footpath through his estate. Following a fierce campaign by local residents and ramblers, the courts have recently deemed the path a rightof-way. One resident was quoted as saying that it was a case of “the landowner versus the peasants and the peasants have won”. Something to ponder, perhaps, at the journey’s end when thoughts turn to rest and refreshment. In edington, make for the Three Daggers (postcode BA13 4PG). not only will you find a welcoming village pub, but there is also fine restaurant dining. Across the way is a micro-brewery producing Daggers Ale and Black, as well as a farm shop located in a beautiful oak timber frame structure which is ‘flooded with light as well as being packed full of amazing fresh foods and local produce.’
GETTING THERE
edington lies on the B3098 four miles east of Westbury. Coming from Westbury, the fourth left turn in the village will bring you to edington Priory with its large parking area.
EDINGTON PRIORY
With your back to edington Priory Church, follow the road to the left alongside the churchyard. have passed a lefthand bend, take the first right into the weir. In 250 yards, continue into Greenhills, following a Tarmac path ahead through to a road junction. Turn right and follow the road uphill to the B3098. Turn left and then right into Long hollow. In a few paces, turn left into Salisbury hollow. Follow this lane, it soon becomes a rutted track, uphill for ½ mile to an Imber Range marker post almost on the hilltop.
HILLTOP VIEWS
Turn right into an open space, walk ahead and, just past a gate on the right, cross a stile and enter a hilltop field. Walk ahead and follow a path across the right edge of this field, with fine views to the right. In ¾ mile, at the far end of the field, cross a stile and follow a path down to a lane. Turn right and, in 25 yards, turn left to follow what is the Imber Range Path to some barns. Keep ahead beyond these barns, a grassy airstrip on the left, to a junction in 200 yards. Turn right and follow a track above Luccombe Bottom.
THE B3098
Keep on the track as it bears left and right before dropping downhill to join the B3098 in ½ mile. Turn left and, in 25 yards, cross to a gate opposite. enter a field, turn right and walk around the right edge of this field to a gate in its bottom right corner. Continue along a path to a road, turn left to a junction with Lower Road and turn right. In 150 yards, by Boxwood Cottage, bear left down to a road called Inmead. Turn left and, in a few paces, right on a footpath that leads back to edington Priory.