Overcourt Farm

3 hours

Walk Number 8

Map 7 5.5 miles

North Bradley - Poles Hole Farm (Southwick) - Hoopers Pool - Brokerswood - Druces Farm

Commentary: This is one of the longer walks in our booklet covering some of the most isolated countryside within Southwick. It passes close to the wooded quarry within Witch Pit Wood where the Baptists used to meet when, in earlier centuries they were banned from meeting within villages.

Copyright for the walk remains with the West Wilts Ramblers' Association who previously published it in "Walking in West Wiltshire (Book 2)". We thank them for allowing us to copy it.

1. Leaving the North Bradley Church on your right walk round
to the main (Southwick) road. Cross the road and turn left
to reach a sign in the hedge reading "The Rank". Cross
into the field and immediately over a second stile into
another field. Turn half left and follow the path until a track
is reached. Here turn left. Continue 400 metres to a T
junction and a stile opposite.

2. Here turn left and walk this track - Axe and Cleaver Lane -
until the road is again reached, ignoring a track on your
right.

3. At the road turn right. Continue to just beyond the sharp
corner where there are footpath signs to Poles Hole Farm.
(Paul's Hall). Cross the road and stile, walk across the field
towards the farm. Half way there is a gate - which pass
through. Continue towards the farm and find a stile in the
hedge left of the farm.

4. Climb the stile, turn right along the lane, then almost
immediately go over the stile on the left of the farmhouse.
Keeping to the right-hand hedge continue over 2 stiles.
When Mutton Marsh Farm is on your left, cross a stile
leading into a small field on your right. Cross this field and
arrive at a lane opposite a bungalow. Go through the gate
to the right of the bungalow to a bridge and stile in the left-
hand comer of the field. Hoopers Pool is now in view.
Keep near the left-hand hedge until it bears left, and then
head for a gateway to the right of the white cottage.

5. Turn right on to the lane and soon cross the bridge over the
stream. Immediately, take the footpath' on the left,
following the line of the stream. After some 150 metres,
cross the stream through a gap near an oak tree. Turn half
right across the field to a double stile. Cross this stile and
keep to the hedge on the right. There is a stile and bridge
in the comer which cross. Follow the hedge on your right
through a gate and then follow a wire fence for some 400
metres. At the end turn right to the corner where find a
gate and turn left with the hedge on your right.

6. Norris Hill Farm is on the rising ground ahead. Keep the
hedges on your right while passing through a stile and a
gate. Climb a little way and pass through a gate at the top
of the slope. Continue through the farm emerging on to a
lane. Follow this to a junction and then turn left and enter
Overcourt Farm.

7. After the cow byres turn left and then right through various
gates in the farmyard emerging into open country by a
large oak tree. There are views to Southwick on your left.
Continue for about 1 kilometre following the obvious track

to Druces Farm. Here cross the road and go through the gate almost opposite on the left of the farm. Turn right to cross a stile and then turn left. Cross 3 more stiles keeping the hedge on your left.

8. At the 4^th stile, where the ground ahead rises, turn half right crossing the field diagonally to a stile in the corner. Go straight across the next narrow field, over another stile, keeping the hedge on your left. Emerge to the right of the red brick rounded house into Gray's Leaze. Turn right and the church is on your left.