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Walking from Salisbury out through the estate of Clarendon Park, the footpath
leads up a gentle slope through this medieval deer park and it's an easy stroll
to a fascinating and largely forgotten former Royal Palace.
Henry II,
Eleanor of Aquitaine and Thomas a Beckett would all have been here in times past,
we met with Professor Tom James who gave us some background information.
English
Heritage and the Clarendon Estate are involved in the reclamation and preservation
of this site under Tom's expert guidance, and the ruins, setting, and wonderful
views over Salisbury and the surrounding countryside make this one of the best
kept secrets of the whole of Wiltshire and the South.
 | | Salisbury
Cathedral |
The well marked footpath leads through beautiful forest and over to the village
of Pitton, with car parking and a lovely country pub for refreshment.
Moving
on, the path follows the route of a Roman Road, along stretches of which it is
said the ghostly footfalls of the legions can sometimes still be heard.
The
characteristically dead straight road leads across the county border into Hampshire
through gently rolling hills and farmland with ancient trees and woodland and
sightings of buzzards, chiffchaff, kestrels, foxes and crocuses just beginning
to herald the onset of spring.
Well away from busy roads, this stretch
of the walk is rewarding for its serenity and gentle, quintessentially English
beauty.
Onwards a couple of miles and the footpath descends into the village
of Houghton where the Clarendon Way crosses the River Test in its glorious valley.
 | | The
former Royal palace, home of Henry II |
The
footpath crosses the Test over a sheep bridge very close to The Boot pub and along
more Roman road towards the Farley Country Park and Nature reserve, passing through
fabulous water meadows and buzzing with wildlife.
In the centre of the
country park is Farley Mount with its striking Pyramid- like structure on top.
Visible for miles around, this structure marks the grave of a very special horse
with a most unusual name- the legend is told on a plaque at the site and is worth
a visit to read - I'll not give the story away here.
The commanding position
of Farley Mount gives us the first glimpse of Winchester, our destination, in
the distance, and also of St Catherine's Hill, the next section of our journey.
The path to the top of St
Catherine's Hill can be quite taxing, depending upon which route is taken,
but the rewards for the intrepid are wonderful.
The place is steeped in
legends and mysticism and there are stories which tell of King Arthur making camp
there. There is also a miz-maze cut into the top of the hill, said to be an act
of devotion by its architect - though clearly it offered him no comfort or release,
as it's also said that he hung himself from a nearby tree soon after his task
was complete!
Perhaps it was that steep walk up the hill every day….
 | | Farley
Mount |
Onwards
through the wonderfully named housing estate of Oliver's Battery, where Cromwell
placed his artillery when laying siege to Winchester and its Cathedral Close during
the Civil War, we proceed, downhill all the way, to the Banks of the River Itchen
and the beautiful Cathedral of Winchester.
This Cathedral does not have
the soaring spire of Salisbury, but is no less steeped in history, boasting as
it does, what is said to be King Arthur's legendary Round Table, amongst its many
other historical and ecclesiastical riches.
At all of 24 miles, the Clarendon
Way is a wonderful walk to take a weekend over, or else to take in smaller chunks
with the aid of a car and some easy navigation.
Taking in, as it does,
so many interesting and lesser known places, it offers so much for the walker
that I urge all of you to grab your boots and get out there! You'll not be sorry.
Have you walked The Clarendon Way? Tell us your tips and highlights.
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