8: St Paul’s to the White Horse
A circular 4 mile walking route out into the countryside exploring conservation headlands near the White Horse. There are two sets of difficult steps to contend with, compensated for by magnificent views if the weather is right. There are half a dozen stiles and some kissing gates and it can be muddy underfoot, especially at the ford.
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Start next to St Paul’s Church in the Hackett, where there is limited parking.
(From the T1 Cheviot Drive Bus Stop, cross the road and take the path through Crossways Wood. At the far side, bear right to a kissing gate and either go through the gate and turn left to the church or follow the yellow path to the right.)
From the Church gate turn right and follow the Hackett to find the kissing gate on the right just before you reach a house.Through the gate, turn left and follow the “yellow brick road”.
Continue past the wood and then a drainage ditch on the right and a farm and a hedge on the left.When you have passed four turnings on the right, turn left on a new yellow path.
Keep going down the hill to ford through a shallow stream, then head up the path on the other side towards a kissing gate onto the Hackett in the top left corner of the field.
Turn left on the road and then left again at a junction and immediately right to a kissing gate into a field.Follow the path between the paddocks to a gate into the next field and follow the long path along the contour. At the end of the field, descend the steps to Whitewall Lane and turn right and then left up Hobbs Path.
If you are going to the White Horse, Turn right up some steps into the field and follow the diagonal path up to a stile leading onto the A38. Turn left and follow the pavement to the pub.
After you have visited the pub, turn left and left again to find a stile on a permissive path leading down the left hand side of the field to a kissing gate leading to the path down through trees mentioned below.
(If you are not visiting the pub. Keep going along Hobbs Path. Turn left down to some stables and follow the diverted path across the paddock to a kissing gate leading to the aforementioned path down through the trees. At the end of the enclosed path, continue to the stiles and footbridge over a ditch. On the far side, turn right and follow the ditch to another footbridge. On the other side, turn left.)
At the end of the field, turn left again down a track on the far side of a hedge.
At the bottom of this field, go through a gap and continue on with a hedge now on your right.
At the end, turn right through the hedge and follow the headland past an interesting pond. In the next field, look for a footbridge on the left.
In the next field, the right of way cuts the corners to a gate next to a former chapel. It is usually more convenient to follow the right hand edge of the field round to the Bristol gate.
Turn left in Crossways Lane. and look for a kissing gate next to a field gate on your right. Go through “Gerry’s Meadow” to a pedestrian gate and stile under a power line.
Descend the next field to a Bristol gate and footbridge. Beware there is a hole next to the bridge to trap the unwary.
The right of way shadows the right hand hedge to a kissing gate into a narrow field. Bear left to a stile leading into the Badger Road Country Park.
Follow the left hand hedge down the hill to a complex junction.
Take what would be the second exit if this were a roundabout. This leads you to a footbridge over a little brook. Follow the winding path to another footbridge that comes out opposite an attenuation pond. Turn left and follow the path uphill until you reach a road that rejoices in the name – Shrew Gardens.
Turn left and follow the path past the allotments into Crossways Lane. Turn right. Follow the lane down to Morton Way. Cross the road into Knapp Road.
Follow the right hand path down to a subway. On the other side follow the path until you come to a footbridge over the stream on your left,
Follow the path between the houses until you reach Morton Way. If you got here by bus, the T1 Chiltern Drive bus stop is on the left. If you have left a car at the church, head for the kissing gate ahead and follow the yellow path alongside Crossways Wood. At the junction, turn left to find the kissing gate you went through at the start.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this leaflet is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. However, paths, access, and conditions may change over time due to weather, maintenance, or other factors beyond the control of the author or publisher. Walkers follow this route entirely at their own risk. Walkers are advised to take appropriate care, use suitable clothing and equipment, and check current conditions before setting out.
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