Last week, David, Alastair and Emma from the Foot Trails team were out in wonderful Wiltshire, updating a walk steeped in history.
As we started our hike in a small Wiltshire village, we were met by a chill in the air and a countryside wrapped in early morning mist, creating a wonderfully wintry atmosphere. Passing flint and thatched cottages typical of this corner of rural Wiltshire, we soon headed into open countryside. Our route led past a mill and weir in a watery landscape, then through a working farmyard and into woodland. As the sun grew stronger, it started to show through the mist, casting mysterious long shadows through the leafless trees.
Emerging into open fields, we followed hedgerows and footpaths, the rising sun warming us. Our trail then climbed to an ancient Iron Age hillfort, later occupied by Romans, Saxons and Normans, and used well into the Middle Ages before being abandoned in the 1300s. Walking among the remains of old stone walls, we were struck by the depth of history layered into the landscape here.
Continuing on, the spire of Salisbury Cathedral slowly appeared through the thinning mist, dominating the skyline as it has done since the 14th century. Crossing fields and meadows, we followed views little changed since medieval pilgrims once walked these paths.
Entering Salisbury, we followed the river into the cathedral close, pausing to admire the Gothic façade and cloisters before seeking a warm soup and a hot drink in the cathedral café.
This trail is part of our Kings & Kingdoms trip, a journey through some of South West England’s most historic and beautiful landscapes. To find out more, visit our trip page or send us an email.
