Walk Number 3 Hoggington

Map 2 3.5 miles 2 hours

Village Hall, Frame Road, Blue Barn Farm, Hoopers Pool, Peckerwood, Monkley Lane, Poplar Tree Lane, Hoggington Lane to Frame Road (or fields and Frame Road Shop).

Commentary: A gentle walk (very muddy and overgrown at times) to the south-west and north of the village across many fields and stiles to the magnificent views from Odessa Cottage, once the furthest outlying farm of Southwick Manor.

1. From the Village Hall proceed along the Frame Road
pavement in the direction of Frame and on past the site of
the Blind House. Cross the Wesley Lane junction and after
a further 50 metres, find on your left the stile into the field
by the SOmph sign,

2. Cross the field to a stile 20metres south of the large oak
tree, cross the next field to the gate on to the lane. Go
straight across the lane. Cross the field to the stile. Cut
across the next field towards the telegraph pole, near the
house on the right and then to a gate at the end of a
grassed path between two houses. Proceed left along
Hoopers Pool lane towards Whittaker's Farm.

Short Cut - or read on from paragraph 3.

If you wish to do the short walk carry on another 50 yards to Frame Road. Cross the road and walk down Green Lane, going straight over at the cross roads and up past Odessa Cottage and on to the T junction. After admiring the views turn right and continue the walk from Point 6.

Full Route

3. Immediately before the Whittaker's farmhouse you will see the footpath sign which leads you across a field to a stile erected by the West Wilts Ramblers. Follow the boundary hedge on your right to a gate into the next field. Cross this field bearing slightly left (SW) and on a clear day there is a good view of Westbury White Horse to the south. This leads you to a stile at the end of a very overgrown path.

4 Make your way along the track to Peckerwood House, in
Somerset, and then turn right down Monkley Lane to the
main road (beware of very fast moving traffic at this point).

5 Turn right back towards Southwick and in a couple of
hundred yards cross the road into Poplar Tree Lane. Go
down Poplar Tree Lane and at the sharp left-hand bend
leave the road and go straight on down the green lane.
(Shoe alert: this track is very muddy in the Spring). Follow
the lane to the end and turn right. At this point you get a
good view of Wingfield straight ahead through the hedge.

6 Continue along the track until you eventually meet a
metalled road - Hoggington Lane. Proceed along
Hoggington Lane for about half a mile back to the village
or for a slightly longer walk follow paragraph 7.

7 Almost opposite the turning to Manor Farm cross the stile
into the field and walk across this field to a gap in the
hedge where you will find a plank to walk! Cross the fields
and you should end up at the back of the Newsagents to
emerge on to the Frome Road once more where you can
either head for home or return to the Village Hall.

C