Stage 5 - Wessex Ridgeway - Lower Ansty to Iwerne Courtney - 9th May 2025
- John Tippetts
- May 21
- 5 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
Official Stage Statistics
Route distance – 11.50 miles
Total ascent – 1399 feet
Highest point – 880 feet
Logistics
Drive to Premier Inn Salisbury South Milford SP1 2FF & stay overnight - 8th May
Drive to Blandford Forum & park car - Langton Road Car Park DT11 7EN
Get taxi to Lower Ansty - Oakwood Taxis - 01258 455555
Walk to Iwerne Courtney or Shroton - The Cricketers
Catch CR7 bus to Blandford Forum - 15:31 17:07 or 18:42
Pick up car & drive to The Talbot Iwerne Minster DT11 8QN. Stay overnight
My Walk
After a week back home, it was time for another 4 stages. My aim over the next 4 days was to complete the Wessex Ridgeway section, the Cranborne Droves Way and reach Amesbury on the Sarsen Way. As I didn’t want to have to lug overnight stuff around with me on my walks in addition to my camera and drone stuff, I devised what I thought should be a foolproof plan. All will eventually become clear!
I started on the Thursday morning by driving down from home to Salisbury and parked in the large city centre car park near Sainsbury’s. With the afternoon to spare I did an out of sequence short walk along the Sarsen Way to Amesbury – see later. I then drove to the Salisbury South Milford Premier Inn and stayed the night. Next morning at reception I left a holdall containing overnight stuff I’d need for Sunday night for them to look after for me. I explained that even though it was now Friday, I’d collect the bag on Sunday. They were very happy to do this for me. Unlike Travelodge, Premier Inn will look after luggage for you; another reason why I like Premier Inn so much.
I drove to Blandford Forum and parked my car. I then got a taxi back to Lower Ansty to begin Stage 5. Thanks to Paul and Bruce, the 2 taxi drivers from Oakwood Taxis Blandford Forum who transported me from and to Lower Ansty.
Today’s walk would take me up Bulbarrow Hill; at almost 900 feet it’s the 3rd highest point of the Wessex Ridgeway. 5 miles of walking along the ridge would then give way to a really steep descent through Shillingstone Woods into Shillingstone. Another couple of miles and having crossed the River Stour I’d be climbing to the top of Hambledon Hill, a tiddler of about 630 feet. The stage would finish with a descent into Iwerne Courtney or Shroton as it’s also known as!
On yet another gorgeous spring day I rejoined the Wessex Ridgeway by Crockers Farm, Stoke Wake and began the steep climb past Rawlsbury Camp to the top of Bulbarrow Hill. The views of the countryside were fabulous. The hill is recognised as a take-off site for paragliding and hang gliding but from what I’ve read, it is rarely used now. It has gained a reputation as a poor site suffering from turbulence at times and no bottom landing. However, it is used by aeromodellers and on this day, by a drone flyer! For anyone old enough to remember the ITV programmes ‘How’ and ‘Out Of Town’ from the 1960s, Jack Hargreaves had his ashes scattered from the top of the hill. When his wife died 4 years later, she also had her ashes scattered from here. Two large radio towers on top of the hill have been in use since 1942 and can be seen for miles around.
The route continued along the road past Woolland Hill and Ibberton before branching off to the right and continuing through some stunning countryside over Bell Hill and Okeford Hill, before reaching Shillingstone Hill. It really made you feel good to be alive!
There then followed a very steep descent through Shillingstone Woods. I was so happy I was walking the trail in this direction as I really didn’t fancy having to climb up through the woods! The woods ended in the pretty village of Shillingstone. I followed the path through the village and across a footbridge over the River Stour. I could see Hambledon Hill ahead of me and was expecting a steep climb up to it. However, this would come a little later. The path took me through Hanford Farm.
Next to the farm was Hanford Girls Independent Prep School, a boarding school for girls aged 7 to 13. Wow – from looking at their website I would say the pupils are very lucky to be there!
Beyond Hanford came the inevitable climb up the side of Hambledon Hill and then a gentler walk to the summit. It may ‘only’ be 630 feet high but what fabulous far-reaching views! It’s also one of the best preserved and most notable Iron Age hill forts in Britain.
From Hambledon Hill the path dropped down into Iwerne (pronounced Ewan) Courtney and the end of this stage. Shroton was the original name of the village and apparently is still preferred locally. I didn’t have a minute to explore the village because having found the bus stop, my bus back to Blandford Forum turned up.
This had been a really enjoyable walk and best of all, having ditched printed walking directions, I didn't get lost once!
Back in Blanford, I drove to The Talbot in Iwerne Minster where I was going to spend a couple of nights. Obviously, I would have preferred to stay in a Premier Inn but the nearest one was 20 miles away! For anyone paying attention, I had a second set of overnight stuff with me in the car – the first set being in Salisbury. I chose The Talbot because Iwerne Minster is less than 2 miles from Iwerne Courtney, so making it ideal for an early start for my next stage on Saturday morning.
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