There and back again in the beautiful Woodford and Bourne Valleys
- Elaine Perkins
- Oct 12
- 6 min read
Those of you who are fans of Tolkien will recognise that I have borrowed part of the title of this blog from Mr. Bilbo Baggins, formerly of Bag End, Hobbiton. Now, I’m not saying that this blog really relates to such an epic journey as that undertaken by the famous hobbit, but in some small way it does, or maybe it does in reverse. You see, Bilbo Baggins was taken out of his beloved Hobbiton only to return to find both himself and the settlement changed. He could not quite regain his sense of belonging there. For me, perhaps the opposite is true. Having left the village I grew up in many years ago, I realise that I have since found myself in a netherworld of detachment from my surroundings and location. My “abandoned” village was always where the connection was strongest, no doubt due to the number of generations of ancestors that take up room in its ever burgeoning churchyard, or perhaps it was because I knew all of the nooks and crannies of the village. The footpaths had names. There were the Ironstone, the Drift and “Down by the Gamekeepers”, all instantly understood as to where they were and no doubt could be walked blindfolded, each turn, climb and descent all ingrained in both memory and psyche.
With time that memory of the original place has faded, leaving me with a sense of disconnection from any location pretty much until now.
So what has brought about this change in my sense of belonging? Well, oddly enough, it has been volunteering to log assets for Wiltshire Council’s Rights of Way & Countryside team and choosing the parishes along the two river valleys that run close to where I live. Namely the rivers Avon and Bourne. This has meant I have needed to walk all of the public rights of way associated with each parish. All in all I have, so far, walked six parishes; Woodford, Durnford, Wilsford cum Lake, Newton Tony, Allington and Cholderton.
Why log assets, you may ask? Well, as far as I can tell, it is so that the council will know what is out there and walkers in the future will have access to this information to locate stiles and kissing gates, etc. This has proved successful for Dorset Council and Wiltshire has wished to follow suit. But first, the assets need to be logged in their precise positions. This has meant that I have needed to explore all of the footpaths relating to my local parishes and, well, log on a special app whatever assets that exist, be they signage, gates, stiles and the such like, even gaps in the path apply. This would mean that I would also get the opportunity to walk along many paths, some less used and, by walking them, I could find any issues such as blocked paths, etc., which could lead to the loss of the rights of way. We at Hidden Wiltshire are passionate about keeping all the rights of way available for all users to walk, etc., for now and in the future.
Although initially I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t walking the paths particularly to highlight and get fixed any issues (and I have encountered quite a few of various severity), I have been happy to do the asset logging, and along with Mr. P., I have enjoyed the geocaching nature of the task (Mr. P. being particularly happy if, on a rare occasion, he spots an asset I have missed). However, the main aspect for me is that I have really enjoyed getting to know the local parishes better and walking the paths I have long been curious about but not walked, as many now effectively lead to nowhere due to them ending up at a busy road. I have walked almost every footpath there and back, and the landmarks, etc., have been viewed from all directions. I may not have learnt the local names of the routes, but I now feel sure I could be parachuted in and tell you the exact footpath I was on. As a consequence of this knowledge, I find that I also have developed a greater sense of belonging.
Everywhere had spectacular views. For the Woodford parish, the landmarks were the views of Salisbury, a magnificent Scots pine and the Little Durnford Estate. Here the fields echoed with the sound of birds, including the stone curlew. For Durnford, there were the sounds of the Chemring factory, the views of Ogbury, the magnificent farm buildings and the sense of peace and tranquillity (unless, of course, you were near the factory).
For Wilsford cum Lake, the views catapult you from the Elizabethan manor of Lake House to the windswept barrows on Normanton Down and the chance to get up and personal with the Bush Barrow. This barrow was the final resting place of a once great man. His burial contained many gold goods and precious items, all available to see at the Wiltshire Museum. It is truly amazing to live so close to such prehistory and walk through the landscape that the ancients knew.
For the Bourne Valley, the natural landmarks are the River Bourne, especially when its riverbed is dry, and the hills. Quarley Hill, Beacon Hill and Tower Hill are all uniquely recognisable and visible from most locations.
So, although a lot of walks consisted of going there and back, it was by doing so that every aspect could be explored and the more familiar it became. With each walk it was as though we were greeted by old friends as the familiar landmarks appeared. It was definitely food for the heart and soul and something to be savoured and recommended.
Well, that was the good bit. There were, of course, bad aspects. When walking the paths up to the main roads, many were either difficult to walk or impassable the closer we got to the road. Some had crops growing over the right of way, others put barbed wire over the stiles. Three rights of way hadn’t been maintained at all, and it was as if they didn’t exist. We have logged many assets, but not all of them were really Wiltshire Council ones. Often they were put in place by the local landowners or English Heritage, and it was a disappointment that in some areas there were no council signs to mark the footpaths and, if you like, “claim them” as a true right of way. I have reported around 19 issues as MyWilts cases, some as minor as a lost finger pointer, others the full loss of a right of way, with hedgerows grown over exits and gardens planted. I really don’t know when any of the issues will be addressed, as I have waited years in some cases for my reports to be fully actioned. However, by working with the team, I have also learnt that they are completely under resourced and rely heavily on volunteers to help them get things done. Indeed, with the help of the “Heavy Gang”, a number of issues have been resolved. I do hope that, in the future, those with the purse strings help resource this better. After all, it is well known that a walk in the countryside does wonders for both the physical and mental health of individuals, and therefore supporting the maintenance of the public rights of way makes a lot of sense.
When we have been asset logging, we have met landowners, all helpful but some wary of us and some feeling fed up, so there are likely two sides to a story. We have met foreign nationals who have commended the footpaths, and you know they are right. It is great that we have so many lovely areas to walk, and I aim to continue to walk them and enjoy them and, well, also highlight issues when I find them. I have walked miles and miles in glorious countryside, and I hope the asset logging is helpful to others.
Finally, I encourage everyone to get out, and even if it is only there and back again on a single path, hopefully, like me, you will be rewarded by knowing just that little bit more about the area you walk in and feel that little bit closer to it. At the same time you will be ensuring these paths stay open for all to use, and if you encounter any issues, do report them to Wiltshire Council.
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