Victoria Inn to Lye Common circle

West Marden to Lye Common. Great views, a beautiful church, deer, hares, foxes, badgers, buzzards, and red kites what more could you ask for. This walk is full of great views over the valley, but it is not long and can easily be combined to take in Up Marden church if you would like to stretch yourself a little further.

Directions  Start at West Marden farm and cross the road at the cross roads to Locksash lane. Immediately as you enter the lane you will see “Four Ways house” turn right at the finger post.(Point 2) This will lead you along a short stretch of path with a fence to your right and then into a field.

Walk up the hill following the footpath which is very clear and distinct. (Point 3) Carry on over the farm track and on up the hill for ¼ of a mile, this stretch gradually gets steeper as you enter a small forest. On reaching the other side of the forest its not entirely clear that there is a path there… There is,(Point 4) but it is often ploughed over. None the less you are quite at liberty to walk straight over the field because this is a public foot path. At the other end of the field (Point 5), you will meet a single track road, turn right here and walk down hill until you meet a private road on the left.(Point 6) Turn left and follow this path until it winds to the right (point 7) and turn left here. follow this path until you come to a gate. On the gate is a very ominous sign saying no bridleway. This is quite correct but the footpath is still accessible through the kissing gate on the right (Point 8). Follow this path through the forest as it winds downhill and comes to a left hand bend leading into a field (Point 9). Carry on up the hill to (Point 10) be careful at this point to go straight on don’t turn right. Carry on down and then up the hill to (Point 11). If your feeling a little more energetic at this point you could turn right and follow the edge of the field to Up Marden church. (this would add 1.5 miles to the walk. For this walk however, turn left here and follow the path downhill until you reach (Point 12) where you will be turning right and walking through the forest and down hill across the field to (Point 13). Walk up the hill to (Point 14) going through Locksash farm with the hedge to your right. At this point if your energy serves you could turn right and work your way to Compton for a cup of tea in the tea rooms. As it is, keep walking straight on down the hill to (Point 15). Where again if energy serves you could turn right to get to Compton. However, continuing with this walk it’s just a case of following the road until you eventually return to West Marden.

This walk is sponsored by

A free laminated map is available at the pub. All we ask is that you return it when you have finished with it or pass it on to a friend. It would be a crime to bury it away in a drawer and forget it.