Notes from the Parish Council Meeting 6th October - Christow News

A Walk a Month-Number 9-Up to Kiln Down
Distance: 4miles Time: 1.5hours Footpaths: Christow 7, 6, 36& 22
This is the perfect autumn and winter walk as, for most of the time; you will be sheltered from the
prevailing winds. It takes you up path 7, which you have already tackled if you have completed walk
number 5 .It is wet in places so good boots or well fitting wellies are essential.
1. From the Artichoke take the road past the shop and on the left hand verge look for the sign,
alongside the stream for Bowden Farm. Take this zig-zag path through the trees, with the stream on
your right, following the yellow signs over two stiles until you reach a barbed wire fence and a ford
across the stream. Cross the stream and scale the ladder stile into the field and turn left.
2. Follow the left hand hedge to a stile and climb with the stream on your right to the next stile. At the
top you will find another stile and emerge on to the track (bridle way 4) between Bennah Hill and
Bowden Farm. Turn right and continue to Bowden Farm.
3. With dogs on leads cross the farmyard and in 50yds look for a metal gate ahead with a yellow disk.
Pass through the gate, into the field, and keep the hedge on your left round a corner to another metal
gate. The field, before the gate is often wet and muddy (our Ranger hopes to remedy this soon with
hard core) so you may have to pick your way to the right before passing through the gate.
4. Follow the track up the next field to yet another gate
and note the finger post on your left. Pass through
the gate and bear right towards the gate on your
right. Stop at the gate and turn left.
5. Continue with the hedge on your right and look for
the yellow disks, and paint marks on the trees,
marking the way through what is a very old copse.
After half a mile you leave the shelter of the trees
and arrive on Kiln Down where there was a signal
fire in 1935 to celebrate the coronation of George
the Vth.
6. Keep walking up hill and look out for a yellowtopped
post in the middle of the slope. From this post
head uphill and slightly left to the hedge and a metal gate
with wooden stile leading to Bennah Hill Lane.
7. . To shorten the walk you can turn left and descend
Bennah Hill to Butts Lane and return to the Artichoke.
However we prefer to keep straight on onto By-Way 36.
8. Follow the byway to the junction with path 22 and turn
left. You are now in an old Devon Lane with Higher
Plantation on your right. Continue until you reach a metal
gate with a ladder stile on your left.
9. In the field keep the field boundary on your right. Leave
the field by a new wooden gate and take the grass track through newly planted woodland. Watch for
deer tracks as this is a favourite haunt. At the far hedge turn right and in less than 20yds left through a
wooden gate into another field.
10. Continue with the hedge on your right to the next gate. You are now back on Bennah Hill so turn
right and descend to Butts Lane. Turn left and return to the Artichoke. Mike Wharton
Photographs: above left Kiln Down, (Sheila has yellow topped post on her left) Right : By way 36.
All of Mike Wharton’s walks can be found on the website www.christownews.com there are more
photographs of each walk including this one, and in colour too.
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