Walk 5 - Shire Brook

A fonger 6 miles) for-which you –will need strong shoes or boots

Start at the Playing Field car park, and make your way to the Happy Land/Cricklade Road junction Following the footpath sign "Waterhay 3/4m / Lake 59* walk diagonally across 2 fields. You emerge into a moon landscape of mineral diggings where the path is gravelled but can be extremely wet. This artificial landscape has its nature interest though - sandmartins in the exposed faces and the little ringed plover on the bare ground. The route is roughly straight on, but should be fenced and waymarked Make sure that children and animals slay on the path, as there are dangerous sheer drops on either side. Amazingly, you are on the Thames Path here, although the ditch that was formally recognised as the course of the Thames has all but disappeared. You will pass a footpath (to Rixon Gate) on your left.

When you meet the bridle way, turn left, and then tarn right at the next junction

signposted "Thames Path" lo Cricklade. Walking this long stretch will lake you past a Wiltshire Ornithological Society hide on your left. This overlooks two sill lagoons, relics of graining, which introduced habitat for many species of water birds, especially waders. This may soon become a nature reserve. You will pass a trout farm on your right where

Canada and greylag geese are to be seen. Watch out for rabbit holes in the path. When a gate ahead indicated a private road, turn right and soon meet up with the river Thames meandering behind a line of tall poplars. Curlews are to be seen in the meadows across the river. Enjoy the quiet of this out-of-the-way spot. In summer you may see hobbies catching dragonflies.

At the second "Private Road" sign turn sharp right over Shire brook which marks the Glos/Wilts border. Hailstone House imposes from the hill on the right. Turn left at the next junction towards South Cerney, and then again at the following junction, both of which are signposted. Both great-spotted and green woodpecker arc in residence here. Approximately 300 yards down this lane you should take a turning to your right and then within a few yards turn left onto the old railway track. Straight across (instead of turning left here) and diagonally across the field would take you, via the road, turning right to Cerney Wick.

Follow the railway track under the bridge carrying the Ashton Keynes/Cerney Wick road, until you see a signpost on your left, indicating Ashton Keynes. 2 miles, over a footbridge. (Approximately 300 yards after the road bridge you will have noticed a signpost to Cerney Wick lakes on your right. This is the point at which yon would rejoin this route if you detoured to The Crown at Cerney Wick for refreshments! Return by a footpath almost directly opposite the Pub. Turn right when you meet the course of the old railway line) Once over the footbridge, head for the gate opposite, which is slightly to the right. Climb over the stile and keeping to the edge of the field with the ditch on your right, proceed until a stile brings you out into a tarmacked lane.

Turn right onto the lime and then left after approximately 20 yards. Go over the stile and following the hedge on your left (there are little owls in the copse here), yon win come to another stile in the corner of the field You have no option but to turn right here. Keeping Shire brook on your left, and bearing left and later right as the brook takes you, keep walking with a lake on your right, until you come to a bridge marked with a yellow arrow at a tree, noticeable in the hedge. Cross over the bridge and walk diagonally across the field until you come to the road.

Turn left at the road and follow the pavement for approximately 50 yards. Cross over the

road and the stile to join the bridle-path. Turn left. Follow the bridle-path until it meets a track. Cross the track and bicycle trap, and turn sharp right down a grassy lane, signposted to Ashton Keynes. Huge flocks of lapwing and golden plovers congregate on the cereal fields on your right; further on there are skylarks and yellowhammers on the seta-side. Following the yellow arrows, go over 2 stone stiles, and keep walking straight until you come to a hedge and a signpost showing right to South Cerney 2 miles. Turn left here, not marked to Ashton Keynes, and then follow the path through Little Kent End and out into Back Street

Turning left (Kent End) and then right into Fore Street, you will find the Village Shop and Post Office. From Fore Street the Playing Field car park can be regained by walking along Park Place and High Road.