Saltwood Circuit Directions - route runs anti-clockwise:
SSW - Saxon Shore Way | EVW - Elham Valley Way | NDW - North Downs Way | ECP - England Coast Path | FP - Footpath | TR - Turn right | KG - Kissing Gate | TL - Turn left
1. Begin the walk at Portland Road car park. Leave by the ‘no entry’ exit, cross the road, TR and walk along the road or towpath with the Royal Military Canal on your left past the Tin Tabernacle on your right until you reach the main road.
2. Cross the road and continue along the canal path until you reach the first bridge. Pass Ladies’ Walk and keep going straight with the canal on your left until you reach the main road where you TL and cross the bridge over the canal.
3. When you reach another main road, with The Bell PH ahead of you, cross over into Bell Inn Road with the Water Mill ahead of you. Cross Mill Lane, enter what appears to be the entrance to the mill and take the unadopted footpath to the right. Up the steps at the top, cross the main road and continue along the FP behind the houses on your right. Climb the steps at the end of the path.
4. TL, head down the slope, cross the stile and keep to the right-hand side of the field as you cross it with the line of trees on your right. Keep straight along the farm track, go through the gate at the end and continue straight. On the left there are good views of Saltwood Castle. Continue round to the left on the bridleway, go through the gate at the end and TR onto the road.
5. After a short distance take the FP on the LH side, through the farm yard and carry straight on up the slope between the farm buildings. Pass through the gate, cross the field and pass through the gate on the far side in front of Saltwood Church. Walk along the cobbled path through the churchyard until you reach the gate at the far end.
6. TR onto the road – avoiding the Church car park -and after a short distance take the right fork up the slope keeping the hedge to your right and the white garage door to your left. At the top do not follow the road around to the houses but continue up to the FP which turns right running parallel to the road. Continue along the FP to the top of the hill.
7. At the top, go through the gate on your left and go straight along the FP. Pass the gate to your right and go down the hill. Go through the next gate, continue on and emerge onto Sandling Road. Cross the road turning left and take the footpath to your right marked the Saxon Shore Way.
8. Go through the gate and take the path up the hill to Chesterfield Wood. Go over the brow of the hill, through the gate and go straight on or take the left fork down the slope to where both paths meet. Cross the bridge at the bottom.
9. After some distance, the path forks: take the left, narrower path up the slope. Go through the KG at the top and bear left to the corner of the wood. Turn left, cross the drain and walk diagonally across the field towards a gateway in the corner with Harp Wood on the right.
10. Pass through the gateway and go straight across the field towards the next wood. Pass through the gate and continue along the track. When you reach the bottom of the descent, cross the bridge over a stream, 10 yards further on cross a second bridge, then take the right fork when the path divides and head through the trees.
11. Keep to the path on the edge of the stream. Climb five steps, continue along to the end of the path and TL left towards the play park. Walk straight up the slope to the road. TR onto the road and follow it down, bearing round to the right to the main road. TL onto the main road, cross over and continue on the other side. Follow the pavement round to the right, cross Green Lane and the bridge over the canal, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing at the pedestrian crossing and enter Holman's Field.
12. Follow the path, with the canal to your left, passing the plaque to John Charles Holman. At the end of the path turn left into Dymchurch Road and after a few yards cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Take the path between the building on your right and the canal on your left. Where the path meets Portland Road, cross the road and arrive at the starting point car park.
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