Once again I am indebted to Louise Powell of Circular Wiltshire Walks for this route. Usually I adapt her routes but on this occasion I have followed it turn by turn as it was exactly what I was looking for. I’ve been meaning to visit St Katherine’s church for a long time and when I was asked to photograph it as part of a bigger project, Louise’s route was the perfect way to combine this with a walk in Savernake Forest.

This is a wonderful and diverse walk with lots of interest and varied history across the ages. It explores the village of Netherhampton and its famous hoard, Salisbury Racecourse and the lost tragic village of Washern.

I very nearly didn’t write this blog for reasons that will become apparent. I’ve long intended to visit the New Forest in autumn but since it is mostly in Hampshire my commitment to writing for Hidden Wiltshire meant it was always on the back burner. But then it dawned on me that part of the forest does just creep into Wiltshire.