Walk through the heart of England’s chalk landscapes on the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way, two connected long-distance paths forming part of the Great Chalk Way. The 79km Sarsen Way runs from Coate Water Park near Swindon to Salisbury, while the 28km Cranborne Droves Way continues south to join the Wessex Ridgeway at Win Green. Together, these historic routes follow ancient trackways across downland, farmland, and prehistoric landscapes shaped by sarsen stones and centuries of human movement.
Suitable for walkers of all abilities, both routes can be comfortably completed within a week. The walk passes through villages and historic sites including Chiseldon, Avebury, Durrington, Amesbury, Old Sarum, and Salisbury, with frequent opportunities to explore Neolithic monuments, Iron Age earthworks, and cathedral cities. The Sarsen Way is presented in routes are presented in 6 stages of between 10.5km and 19.3km, plus three additional variant loops, while the Cranborne Droves Way is presented in two stages (17.3km and 10.7km).
- 8 stage-by-stage route descriptions covering the Sarsen Way from Coate Water Park to Salisbury and the Cranborne Droves Way to Win Green on the Wessex Ridgeway
- Reverse route descriptions for the Sarsen Way and the Cranborne Droves Way are also included
- Clear step-by-step directions supported by 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey mapping for accurate navigation across chalk downland and rural paths
- Stages include distance, walking time, ascent, terrain notes, and information on key places such as Swindon, Avebury, Durrington, Old Sarum, and Salisbury
- Comprehensive planning information with notes on archaeological sites, historic landmarks, and points of interest along the Great Chalk Way
- GPX files for the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way available to download for use with GPS devices and smartphone app
Plan your walk along the Sarsen Way and Cranborne Droves Way with confidence, and explore one of southern England’s most atmospheric chalkland routes with this practical and informative guidebook.
