There isn’t much hidden about Cley Hill. How many people travel past it every day and gaze up at this peculiar lump of a hill. Or maybe they don’t look at it all as it’s so familiar. I must admit every time I’ve driven past it I’ve thought that I really must go up there one day. So on this walk I had the opportunity to do just that.

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.

Looking for inspiration my walking buddy and neighbour Stu mentioned a walk he’d seen in Country Walking Magazine. The starting point was the village of Giddeahall, a place neither of us had heard of. Having studied the map we knew exactly where it was but neither of us could remember seeing a village, despite having driven past many times. We recalled seeing a pub at the side of the A420 west of Chippenham but nothing else. Intrigued we set off on a bright, fresh September m