Tiswil two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I've walked this route a few times over the years and it has good and bad points. Navigation is easy and the track on the top of the downs (Ox Drove) is easy walking but can be waterlogged as there are lots of ruts created by 4x4 vehicles. There are few options here and you cannot get lost. However this track can be a bit tedious as views are often restricted and it can become a bit of a plod. The route down into Wilton does offer great Wiltshire downland views. My favourite part of the route is the section from Tisbury to the Ox Drove. There are lots of changing features from open fields to rocky gulleys and ancient forest. The climb up to the top of the drove is relatively steep but is on a track so walking is ok. It would not be suitable for wheels except that much of it is actually bridleway and I have cycled (mountain bike) much of the route and enoyed it. That said there are lots of options to change the route at both the start and the finish in order to make access more suitable for all. Be warned that while you are never far away from civilisation it can get quite tricky to negoitate in poor weather especially high winds. Some of the field crossings are tricky after wet weather as they are rights of away across farmland which is seasonally ploughed and this might contribute to some access issues are certain times of the year.

You should see plenty of wildlife including kites and buzzards, hares and rabbits, muntac and roe deer are plentiful. The drove is blessed with high hedges (which do spoil the view) full of insects and birds.

A dry summer day is an ideal time to take the whole walk especially to enoy a sunset view on the descent into Wilton.

I completed Tiswil Two as part of this year's summer waycheck, following the route as mapped from Tisbury starting point to Wilton. Based on the previous positive reviews and the straightforward nature of the plot I had high expectations of this route with an eye to mark another Slow Ways connection as verified. However, upon embarking I was quickly taken aback of how challenging the early sections were.

Owing to this I feel that at best I can award this route 3 Stars and a 'Maybe' recommendation. I hesitate to give a more definitive recommendation as, at the time of writing, Tiswil One hasn't been pioneered so a relative comparison cannot be made. I hope this review together with the example photo survey I provided helps inform others whether it is suitable for them.

Impressions and Observations:

Almost all the aspects that afford this rating can be attributed to just the first 4km of the route, from Tisbury through the other side of Castle Ditches. As I hope the example photo survey will attest, in this section I counted at least a dozen instances that might constitute either challenging terrain or a serious obstacle for some.

Of particular note was the steep incline up toward the Castle Ditches perimeter. No small amount of care was needed to keep balanced on this very rough footpath, and would exercise additional caution in wet weather as I'd imagine it gets quite slippery. Further potential issues on the perimeter itself is a narrow gap closely avoiding some barbed wire, and a heavy livestock gate sitting at an angle that requires lifting from the catch to pass through. Leaving Castle Ditches behind the footpath up toward an open field is at a very steep incline, and at its summit before exiting there is a significant drop on the left-hand side.

As such I wouldn't be confident in saying that this is a route without its potential danger spots. That said, the rest of the route is quite juxtaposed to this first leg, and the terrain that follows is largely typical of what is to be found elsewhere in South Wiltshire.

For me the section overlooking Sutton Down has to be this route's crown. The view is breathtaking with the Fovant Badges partly visible in the distance. Here I appreciated what felt like a well-earned stop for lunch, taking in the landscape and the hum of bees enjoying the wildflowers and the occasional chirping of grasshoppers all around.

Next is Old Shaftesbury Drove which the route follows for 9km. To the contributor's credit I feel the majority of this track is one of the best that the local area has to offer in terms of overall upkeep and condition, and is well aligned with the Slow Ways methodology.

That said for this leg in particular I think the other reviewers were onto something in taking a friend. I found following Old Shaftsbury Drove for the most part exceptionally dull – the majority of the track is hemmed in with trees and hedges on both sides only allowing occasional glimpses of what feels like a more interesting world outside. (Of course this might not be the case in the autumn and winter once the trees have lost their leaves.) If not a friend, I might suggest an audiobook or a similar suitable pastime, though do ensure to remain aware of surroundings as I encountered dozens of cyclists on this route coming from behind – not all of which made their presence known – as well as a polite motorcyclist.

It wasn't all monotonous along Old Shaftsbury Drove, however. For example, the break in cover overlooking Gurston Holes was a spectacular view to happen upon. Likewise, toward the end of the drove section it gives way to interesting and varying tree cover before turning into Bishopstone Down and onto Wilton.

In sum, I wouldn't want this review to be taken as disparaging the route in and of itself. Indeed, it had some wonderful moments that I hope the review photos illustrate and I look forward to incorporating some parts of it in personal walks in the near future. Rather it is through the specific lens of its suitability as a Slow Ways route that I feel the potential challenges must be given their due attention.

Photographs:

Approaching the northern perimeter of Castle Ditches
Following the northern perimeter of Castle Ditches
Landscape overlooking Sutton Down with Fovant Badges visible in the distance
Landscape overlooking Gurston Holes from Old Shaftsbury Drove
Glimpse of the outside world on Old Shaftsbury Drove (1)
Entering tree cover on Old Shaftsbury Drove
Glimpse of the outside world on Old Shaftsbury Drove (2)
Partial tree cover on Old Shaftsbury Drove
Dramatic tree cover on Old Shaftsbury Drove
Entering Bishopstone Down
Landscape view leaving Bishopstone Down descending toward Wilton.

I've shared this route option after walking it myself. This is a brilliant Slow Way that I thoroughly enjoyed hiking. I was with a good friend and the easy navigation meant that we could focus on the flow of our conversation.

The route has beautiful views and we enjoyed breaking for lunch under the trees at the spot height and cross-roads on Bishopstone Down... something others would have enjoyed for many generations before us.

The route does include steps and a railway crossing.

I 100% recommend this route.

(Photos to follow).

I’ve walked this route. Fantastic route, easy way finding, no danger spots and plenty of great views.

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