Devizes to Chiseldon
I woke up to another beautiful morning. With a clear sky it was once again chilly overnight and I had frost on my tent, but it soon warmed up.
I was soon back in my t-shirt and ready to set off on another day. At almost 3 weeks in, the routine feels so natural now. Wake, walk, sleep (with lots of eating in between) has become my norm and it feels like it’s the way I’m meant to be. The thought of 3 months to go, feels so amazing and I’m so lucky!
I took the canal into Devizes. I passed Caen Hill Locks which was a series of 29 locks, it was incredible and felt like it just kept going! As I joined the canal, there was a boat at the bottom, so I watched them navigate one lock, it was really interesting to see.
After the canal, I walked through the park to join a lane out of Devizes and up to Roundway Hill. In the distance, I could see one of the White Horses.
After a steady climb up the hill, I was rewarded by a lovely view across Wiltshire and a rest on a bench! Today was quite hazy, which gave all of the distant hills a slightly blue tinge. I really love looking out when it’s like this, I think it makes the hills feel more magical, and look like ripples in water.
I then joined my first BOAT (byway open to all traffic) of the day. The gravel path was nice and flat which made for easy walking.
At the end of the BOAT, I crossed a golf course. I had a nice chat with some of the golfers and told them about my trip, before heading up the hill, to another lovely view!
I then joined the Wessex Ridgeway to take me to Cherhill Hill. It was a lovely grassy track, that was really nice underfoot.
Walking along the track, I could see Cherhill Monument in the distance, and knew that was where I was heading.
Once on Cherhill Hill, I could see Cherhill Monument in the distance. It’s 38m tall and was erected in 1845. The views of the surrounding countryside were lovely. It’s amazing to look out and see so far.
I continued along the Wessex Ridgeway and paused for my lunch. I had a lovely lunch spot with a great view. However, on picking my bag up I realised that the clasp had ended up in dog muck! 🤢 After a moment of “Ew!”. It was definitely not what I wanted to deal with, but one thing about solo walking is that you have to deal with everything that arises, so I did. I got it all cleaned up and was back on my way.
I then took a series of BOATs into Avebury.
In Avebury, I paused at the village shop for a pear juice and a mint Magnum. They felt well earned and I enjoyed them a lot!
Outside the village shop was a brilliant postbox topper. The topper shows a UFO capturing sheep and pulling them upwards. There were even some sheep suspended in the UFO’s beam!
Before leaving Avebury, I had a brief explore of the stone circle. There was a huge collection of standing stones, which seemed to go around half the village. It was amazing to think about how they must have been moved there!
I then headed out of Avebury to join the Ridgeway. The Ridgeway is a national trail which I will take to Ivinghoe over the next few days. It felt really momentous to get there. Once I finish the Ridgeway, I’ll take the Icknield Way and I’ll be almost at Ness Point!
I really enjoyed my first afternoon along the Ridgeway. The route followed a broad, grassy ridge, with fields falling away either side. Ridges are my favourite type of walking, I get a real sense of freedom from being up high, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a similar feeling as I walked along.
At Barbury Castle, I took a detour from the national trail, to follow the route of the Old Ridgeway into Chiseldon (where I am staying this evening).
The route consisted of another BOAT, which eventually became a road and took me straight into Chiseldon. Along the way, I spoke to my sister. It was lovely to catch up on her day, before she went to work for the evening.
I was soon at my Airbnb. It was a really lovely surprise to arrive to a lovely note and a pack of Jelly Babies. It was so lovely and kind of my hosts. I will definitely enjoy them over the days to come!
I then made my tea, before popping across the road to the Asda Express to stock up on some more snacks (especially malt loaf) for the next couple of days.
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