Burton – West Kington Circular Route

credit: Jo Davies

Blog by Peter Broadhurst

This walk has three options: full, medium, short.

Full: approx. 70 – 90 mins Road/Field

Leaving Burton by the chestnut tree triangle head west along the B4039 towards Acton Turville, after 200m fork left onto Toll Down road. Follow the road past the turn to Edgecorner lane and past the left back-fork towards Westfield farm and continue on for another 400m. Take the gravel road off to the left and follow this path, heading due south, towards West Kington. Follow the track to the right of Kington Down Farm and on past the front of the farmhouse and the various barns situated on the left. After the farm the path becomes a tarmaced road which leads to a sharp right turn. Follow this road, Holloway Hill, for another 400m until the road starts to descend down into West Kington village. Carry on down the hill to the T-junction. Two options here; so turn left and either take the footpath on the left side of the river and follow it until you reach the bridge or take the road on the opposite side of the bridge, follow it up the incline to a staggered crossroads, turn left down the slope to arrive at the same place by the bridge. The choice may depend on the amount of recent rainfall.

Approaching from the latter direction cross the bridge, carry on between the cottages up the path straight ahead to West Kington Church passing through two gateways, either side of a paddock, before arriving at the church car park area.

Leaving the church follow the gravel track around the menage and through the middle of the farmyard and stud until meeting the tarmaced driveway leading to the through road which is Wood Lane. Keep left on the lane for about 200m, turning left at the first junction. Follow on until passing Nettleton Lodge on your left, with large wooden gates and a ‘post box’, for another 50m until you see a saddle stone with Green Cottage written on it next to a footpath sign. Take this narrow path, which is often wet under foot, until meeting the road. Turn left on this road, exiting the village of Nettleton, down the slope to the brook after which there is a staggered crossroads.

Turn right along Dark Lane towards the road junction and turn left up the pathway in front of Old School House following the path and road past the chicken and dairy farms back down to the village triangle once again.

Mid: approx. 60– 80 mins Road/Field

Leaving Burton triangle head west along the B4039 towards Acton Turville, forking left after 200m onto Toll Down road. Follow the road past the turn to Edgecorner lane and past the left back-fork towards Westfield farm and on for another 400m. Take the gravel road off to the left and follow this path, heading due south, towards West Kington. Follow the track to the right of Kington Down Farm and on past the front of the farmhouse and the various barns situated on the left. After the farm the path becomes a tarmaced road which leads to a sharp right turn. Follow this road, Holloway Hill, for another 400m until the road starts to descend down into West Kington village. After the bungalow at the start of the slope there is a signpost indicating a bridleway to the left. Follow this bridleway keeping to the right side of the fields until arriving at a gate. Pass through the gate across the paddock to the West Kington Church car park. Leaving the church follow the gravel track around the menage and through the middle of the farmyard and stud until meeting the tarmaced driveway leading to the through road which is Wood Lane. Keeping left on the lane for about 200m, turn left at the first junction. Follow on until passing Nettleton Lodge on your left, with large wooden gates and a ‘post box’, for another 50m until you see a saddle stone with Green Cottage written on it next to a footpath sign. Take this narrow path, which is often wet under foot, until meeting the road. Turn left on this road, exiting the village of Nettleton, down the slope to the brook after which there is a staggered crossroads.

Short: approx. 45– 60 mins Road/Field

On this bend take the gate on the left (not the one straight ahead) and keep to the right side of the field on the path, passing through the gate straight ahead. Proceed ahead diagonally left across the field to a gate midway along the bottom hedge, keeping on the same line to a gate in the far corner of the field. Follow the right edge of the next field to a more modern gate, keeping to the track leading to yet another gate onto the road opposite the recently developed Westfield Farm. Turn right on the road for about 1200m to a staggered crossroads.

Carry on straight across into Dark Lane towards the road junction and turn left up the pathway in front of Old School House following the path and road past the chicken and dairy farms back down to the village triangle once again.