Sutton to West Burton

you can view this walk here https://youtu.be/QOSEUR7gpO8

Sutton West Burton

Sutton to West Burton. When I was a boy my father said he used to walk 3 miles to school and 3 miles back. It was uphill both ways. That is a very apt description for this walk. Before you run away with the idea that this is short and simple it is most definitely not. There is a 1 ¼ mile hill which at points is a 60 deg incline. Even the end is uphill and with tired legs this is quite a trial. All that said there are some great views and beautiful properties, a folly and even a pill pond. I started this walk weighing 14 st and finished weighing 13 st 12 lb. Its worth it just for your waist line alone.

Stand at the cross roads with the White Horse behind you. Look to your right and you will see a path going steeply up a short hill. Go up that path and on to a small footbridge. Carry on across the field a to a gate with a stile alongside. (POINT 1)

Usually you can just walk through the gate but if not climb the stile and go down the hill. Go over the footbridge and the path dictates the direction to follow. Eventually you will go through a gate and meet a road, (POINT 2). Turn right here and go down the hill. Follow the road to a cross roads(POINT 3) Take the road straight ahead, eventually you will see a finger post to the right (POINT 4) walk that way. The path leads diagonally through a field. Ignore any planting here, it is a genuine public path. This is quite a long straight path that is only faintly visible in places. Follow it till you eventually cross a small foot bridge. (POINT 5) Turn left after the bridge and walk for a few yards with the hedge to your left. You will come to a finger post at which point (POINT 6) you bear left. There you will find a pill pond. Continue on the path until you come to some very pleasant cottages, turn right after the first one (POINT 7) This is the start of the 1 ¼ mile hill so pace yourself. At one stage you will see a folly on your left (POINT 8). It may well be difficult to see in the summer because of the hedge. The first part of this hill climb is on a farm track which wants to take you to the right at (POINT 9). Chose the path leading straight on and up you go. At the top there are several paths to chose from (POINT 10). Take the one to your right going slightly up hill this is a made up path and fairly comfortable underfoot. As you walk along you will see the farm track that you left earlier,(POINT 11). You will ask why didn’t I take that path? Its even steeper in places than the one you just come up. (we know we’ve experienced both). Turn right here but not down the farm track that we have just mentioned. Follow this path and you will be met by a path coming from your left. (POINT 12)

If you had any energy left at (point 10). You could carry on up the hill and follow the path to “Toby’s Stone”. Turn right that path would lead you to (POINT 12) as well.

From (POINT 12) follow the path to (POINT 13). Where you will join the road leading to Jays farm at (POINT 3). From here its a case of re-tracing your footsteps back to the pub. Brace yourself for the climb up through the field. And be careful on the footbridges (Tired legs and all that.) Now you have definitely earned a pint.