A Walk from Catkin Lodge to Stonehenge

Just 200 metres from Catkin Lodge is the start of a bridleway (footpath) to Stonehenge. This is a scenic walk of about 1.5 miles each way or can be a circular walk of about 4 miles to include Woodhenge and the Cursus.

From Catkin Lodge walk right down the road to the signpost marked King Barrows, this is where the footpath begins. The first part of the this track is a gravel path which has views across the surrounding countryside. The fields on each side are very different according to the season, and may be bright green with winter wheat, golden with the ripening harvest in autumn, or even fluorescent yellow with oilseed rape and sky blue when the linseed is in flower in the summer.Look out for the wildlife. You will most likely spot rabbits (and sometimes hares) and usually see deer grazing nearby. Often buzzards will be circling in the thermals and kestrels are a common site, also skylarks and lapwing. After about 3/4 of a mile the track doglegs right and then left and in another 50 metres you will come to the first of a series of information boards. This is King Barrow Ridge and from here you can catch your first glimpse of Stonehenge. Take a few minutes to absorb the view and the information. Carry on along this track there is another info board,( note the style on the right of the track) and in about 100 metres you will reach the King Barrows.The info board will give you an idea of what is known about the Barrows and a suggestion of how they may have looked originally. From here there are two options,either retrace your steps about 100 metres and go over the style and walk directly across the field to Stonehenge. (note that this is a footpath although not always clearly delineated and some people are put off because of the sheep in the field) but you do get a photogenic view of the Stones as you emerge from the valley. Or from the King Barrows continue through the gate and turn right down the verge of the A303 and to the Stones in that direction.

On your return from Stonehenge walk back to this gate. (if you wish you can cross the A303 here and continue into Amesbury. If you decide to do the circular trip or wish to return the way you came, pass through the King Barrow gate and retrace your steps to the first information board that you came to on the out ward leg and follow the track back a further 50 metres to the T junction. Here you can turn right to retrace your steps back to Catkin Lodge the way you came or turn left where the sign points in the direction of the cursus and Larkhill. On the left are more barrows with beech trees growing on top and around and after about 100 metres you will reach a crossroads (cross tracks actually) turn left and after 25 metres you will see the info board with an artists impression on the Cursus as it would have been originally. On a good day when the light is right the line of the cursus is readily apparent on less bright days some imagination may be required. Retrace your steps to the cross tracks and go straight ahead keeping the large houses on the left. the track comes out into another wider track that was once a railway track, and in front of you is a beech wood. Take the track into the woods and keep on going until it turns right , continue to the edge of the woods where the path meets a track with fields beyond (usually with horses in). Turn left here and then at the road turn right. Continue down this road until you get to Woodhenge.Take a stroll around woodhenge and try to imagine how it would have looked with enormous posts where the markers are. Was it like a wooden Stonehenge? did it have a roof? Like Stonehenge, it is as much the mystery which makes it fascinating as it is what we actually see. Looking north across the road from woodhenge is Durrington Walls . This is the largest Neolithic henge (mound and ditch circular earthworks) in the country. Although much of it has been lost to the plough the bank can still be seen in the field directly opposite woodhenge and in the fields on the other side of the A345 which bisects the circle. Recent excavations have shown that this site was contemporary with Stonehenge and that there were two wooden circles similar to Woodhenge within the Walls. Also discovered at that time was a Neolithic road from the site stretching down to the river and it is thought that ceremonial precessions went from here to stonehenge via the river which was more navigable at that time.

From Woodhenge take the road to the right and just where it bears left to reach the A345 there is a road leading straight ahead often with white concrete cones at the entrance. Take this road and through the gap in the hedge which will bring you back onto the A345 (Countess Road) bear right and follow back to Catkin Lodge for a cup of tea and a short rest ready for the rest of your day.

Also nearby is the very scenic woodford Valley through which you can drive, cycle or walk.