STAGE 6
Start: Amesbury River Avon car park (SU 112 536)
Finish: Old Sarum (SU 140 326)
Distance: 10 km (6¼ miles)
Take the signed path from the car park heading south west and cross the River Avon yet again on a footbridge. Turn right past a house and on to a four way track junction. Go straight on through a gate, following a hedge to another junction. Go across the field to a gate in the corner with the Avon on your right. Go ahead on the enclosed track before bearing left (with Ham Wood on your right) to a lane that winds through Great Durnford. The village has an interesting church and the Black Horse pub.
From the pub follow the road briefly before turning right to Durnford Mill. The footpath takes an attractive route round the mill to a path junction. Turn half left up a slope and keep the field boundary on your left. Keep ahead on a track that leads to the main street of Upper Woodford. Turn left and follow the road through the village until you reach The Bridge pub, where you turn left and cross the Avon once again. Continue on the road, forking right into and through Netton. As the road bears right after the last house in the village, watch out for a footpath on your left going into a small wood. Climb on this path out of the wood and follow the path by a fence until you come to a track with a seat and good views down the valley. Turn left for a short distance uphill before bearing right and heading south. Cross the Monarch’s Way trail and head for a thatched cottage at Keeper’s Corner. Keep straight ahead to Shepherd’s Corner and then your track to Old Sarum is clear. There are great views of the ancient site as you complete your walk.