Wiltshire Valleys: Ford - Castle Combe - Long Dean

Dennis Jeanes

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This beautiful walk is a mixture of woodland, meadows and one of the most beautiful villages in England. Because it has climbs to ridges and descents to valleys, there are excellent views.

In spring the trees are in fresh green foliage and the wildflowers are in full bloom. In the shaded woods in mid-May there are wonderful displays of the beautiful wild garlic. I think this might be the best in England.

Then the village of Castle Combe is claimed, on the website, as being the prettiest in England. It is outstandingly beautiful. It also bans parking in the main street, so that you can take photos with the cottages as they are, without lots of parked cars. It also has restaurants and cafes.

In the woods you can catch sight of occasional deer. A special feature of this walk is that, after climbing up the narrow footpath from the village, the path turns right round to the opposite direction but curves round above the Castle Combe and gradually descends back into the valley. I found this one of the most enjoyable country walks I have done.

England - South England - Wiltshire - Countryside

Features

Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Woodland

7/23/2020 - Sharon Marshman

Lovely walk we parked at Castle Combe car park and walked from there - distance was 5.6 miles including a detour to the White Hart in Ford.

7/19/2020 - Ian Runcie

Very pleasant short walk through deciduous woodland and species rich wildflower meadows. Some of the stiles are now gates.

10/23/2012 - Jill Larby

21/10/12 This is one of the very best walks we have had the privilege to take in, it is a magical area especially at this time of year when the autumn colours are at their best.

4/28/2012 - Melvyn Jones

This is a very enjoyable walk, despite the fact that my wife and I completed it during the wettest week of the year (so far) and subsequently it was quite muddy in places. One thing to mention, at "9" there were cows with young calves in the field. We had 2 dogs with us and know how dangerous this can be from past experience. If you do not wish to go through the field you can simply follow the hedge round to the right and it will emerge onto the road. Simply turn left here and follow it back to the start. Apart from this it was very dog friendly.

10/11/2011 - Steve Laurenson

Excellent walk through beech woods and down into the beautiful Castle Combe with far fewer tourists there at this time of year.

4/24/2009 - Wendy Adams

This was one of the best walks we have done so far.

9/11/2007 - ian poyton

So good I went back and did it again two days later.