Compton Down

Sometimes it's really good to get away from it all, especially on a bank holiday when the roads are jammed. This walk around the downs to the west of the pretty village of Compton covers paths that are relatively lightly used and well away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. It's about five miles long with a few gentle ascents, wonderful views and a great sense of tranquility.

The start is in the village square where you can get a coffee if you need one to get moving. Take the road to West Marden south for a few hundred yards where you will find the first path well signposted. This leads through some pleasant fields and a small wood before meeting the lane along the field boundary and a junction with two other paths. Take the right hand path which leads  up the hill and around an area  of woodland.

If you have a dog it's a sensible precaution here to keep it on a lead as there are several areas of cover planted for pheasants with feeders; it's not a good move to get on the bad books  of the local keeper!

The day we went for this walk was at the end of August (Bank holiday Monday!) and was warm and sunny, ideal for butterflies which were flitting around along the margins of the path.

As you come round the top of the wood it's made clear that the path ahead is out of bounds with the footpath continuing to the right dropping

down to a junction with a bridleway in some woods. Care has to be taken here as there's a short footpath that cuts across two bridleways that can be confusing. The woods make a pleasant change, especially on a sunny day, the cool moist air is refreshing after walking over the hot fields.

The path then heads across several fields gently rising to to a trig point at the summit of the Down. These fields are particularly well managed for wild life with extensive field margins and plenty of trees at the boundaries as well as hedges. Plenty of small mammals attracts many raptors which can be seen soaring on the Downs here, not only Kestrels and Buzzards
but Sparrow Hawks too.

The view at the summit is limited as the trig point is away from the path and the south west obscured. Other directions are much better,  with outstanding views. Ditcham Park School stands out on the hillside to the north west as does Uppark to the north east.

It's an easy walk along the road past the only habitation on the
walk, Ekkensfield for half a mile or so. The route then follows a path across some fields that, in late summer, had just been ploughed up and rolled. In most places its not too difficult to see where to go on the other side but care needs to be taken.

Assuming that you can find the path, you'll pass over two narrow roads and arrive at the foot of Compton Down which is quite dramatic when compared with the downs we've walk over. It's always good to see a hill or two!

From then onwards it's a short descent to the road and then into the village where we started. If it's warm you might appreciate a pint from the excellent selection of beers that the landlord at the Coach and Horses maintains is this classic village pub that seems to evoke an age some time ago which was more leisurely. The food is good too and in winter a roaring fire would be just right after a cold walk.