Footpath
From the Salisbury – Shaftesbury Trunk Road, A.30, at New Barn Cottages, leading south-east past New Barn, and continuing south-east and south to the Herepath, path No. 18 at Fovant Hut. Approximate length: 1609 metres. Part subject to ploughing.
North to South
The path starts on the A30, opposite Dean Lane [1], where there is a metal Public Footpath finger post (996281). Take the wide farm track passing a pair of cottages before coming to farm buildings. A waymark has been fixed to sleepers there.
Go through the farmyard and then take the track leading towards the Downs between two cultivated fields [2]. On reaching a small tree on the right, head towards a stile at the western end of a hedgerow at the foot of the downs. The direct route is often affected by cultivation, but the line of the path is usually reinstated by the farmer.
The stile (001271) is in a wire fence running south at the foot of the Downs and is marked with footpath arrows on each side (although they may be broken) [3]. This is one of the entries to the newly designated Open Access countryside, but if you wish to stick to the path. you should follow the sunken road that traverses the hill and which leads to the north-west boundary of Fovant Hut. The more trodden path is on the west shoulder of the sunken road.
There are now no waymarking arrows on the fence of Fovant Hut but the way to go is to follow around the old boundary hedges [4]. This is where outbuildings used to be in the Turnpike days.You will have to cross a small patch of rough ground before climbing over a stile [5] on the Herepath (Path 18) near a telephone pole to leave the Open Access area (002266).
South to North
The path starts at a telephone pole to the east of Fovant Hut [5] where there is a waymarked stile (002266). This is one of the entries to the newly designated Open Access countryside. Cross this stile and some rough ground, making for the old hawthorn hedges around the area where outbuildings of Fovant Hut [4] used to be in Turnpike days. If you wish to keep to the path, follow the hedge around the corner until the sunken road down the hill comes into view. You will find that the more trodden path is on the west shoulder of the sunken road. At the foot of the Downs [3], where you will leave the Open Access area, cross the stile (001271) and head for a small tree in the distance, bearing slightly left. This route is often affected by cultivation, but the line of the path is usually reinstated by the farmer.
From the small tree you can take the track [2] which heads towards the farm buildings. Go through the farmyard on to a wide farm track passing a gate and two cottages. You will then be on the A30 [1], opposite Dean Lane, where the path ends (996281).
M.C.L.H.
June 2004