Sue Gearing takes in the two Wardour Castles during this circle in Wiltshire

This is an easy circle with only gentle hills in Wiltshire's picturesque Cranborne Chase through park-like countryside, visiting an old and a "new" castle, a thatched-roofed village and pub. It's 5.5 miles, about 2.5 hours walking. Use the map OS Explorer 118, Shaftesbury grid ref: 939 263. Park at the car park for Old Wardour Castle. Parking is free, but when you visit the castle there is a modest charge (well worth it).

Wardour lies on the edge of Cranbourne Chase, north of the A30 Shaftesbury, reached on small lanes from the A30 near Ansty or from the north from the A350, going through Semley. Follow English Heritage signs for the castle.

T his is a circle that immerses the walker in the glories of the English countryside on the edge of Cranbourne Chase in Wiltshire.

Enjoy green undulating landscape, parkland, ponds, woods, spectacular trees and two castles – one a romantic old ruin that you can visit.

Using the Wessex Ridgeway and good dry tracks most of the time, the circle goes through a pretty Wiltshire village with a great pub.

There are only two or three gentle hills, otherwise it is very easy walking and ideal for a dog.

START

Take the marked track which goes alongside the castle.

Old Wardour Castle was built at the end of the 14th century for John, the 5th Lord Lovel, more as a large baronial mansion than as a defensive castle.

In 1547, the castle was sold to Sir Thomas Arundell of Lanherne. The castle was confiscated when Sir Thomas was executed for treason in 1552, but was later acquired by his son, Sir Matthew Arundell, in 1570.

During the Civil War, the Arundells were loyal to the king and in May 1643, the castle was attacked by Sir Edward Hungerford, a Parliamentarian commander. After a short siege the castle was surrendered to him.

In December, Henry Arundell led a Royalist counter-siege. Whether by design or misfortune, gunpowder mines laid in a drainage tunnel beneath the castle produced an explosion powerful enough to cause a large part of the castle to collapse. The damage was deemed beyond repair and the ruined castle later become the focal point of the landscaped grounds of the new castle. It is now cared for by English Heritage.

The track passes several buildings associated with the castle and then rises gently, giving beautiful views over the park-like country with magnificent trees. You can also see across to New Wardour Castle.

When the track forks, stay to the right and eventually come into a field. Keep to the right side of the field, maintaining direction.

1. POND

Reach a track which takes you through woodland and close by Pale Park Pond. Then come into a field through a wooden squeeze stile. Go straight up the field, bearing very slightly right and go through a gate on the far side. Enter Wardour Wood.

The path goes up and soon joins a larger track. Bear right on this and follow the track straight on, leaving the wood, passing houses and continuing to a lane.

2. LANE

Turn left on this quiet lane which runs above the village. See the Wiltshire Downs in the distance. Turn right down the first lane, at the side of a cottage called Crofters Lodge, which drops down into the valley of the River Nadder, which is small at this point.

Cross a bridge and continue to a T-junction with a concrete farm track. Turn left and climb gently and bend round. Continue on when it becomes an unsurfaced track.

3. GREEN LANE

At the top come to a crossing track, Green Lane, and turn right on this hedged and sunken old thoroughfare. There may be some mud to negotiate after prolonged rain.

Drop down and then join a drive which continues down to the road in Donhead St Andrew.

4. DONHEAD ST ANDREW

Turn right and after a couple of minutes reach the popular Forester, a 15th-century thatched pub. Go on past it through the village a little further and turn left up Mill Lane. At the end take the footpath to the left of Kelloways Mill.

5. BRIDGE

Cross a bridge over the mill stream. Come alongside the stream and there is a choice of paths. To visit the parish church, make a short detour left along the footpath. To continue our circle, go straight on.

Cross two stiles and then go ahead up the field, close by a telegraph pole. There are good views back over the valley and village. At the top by an oak, the official right of way goes straight on over a stile. Then continue ahead along the field edge and come out over on to a lane. Turn right.

After a few minutes take the first turn right – called Pigtrough Lane. A short way down here on the right, turn right over a stile, cross a small field and then enter the large field you were in earlier. Turn left and follow the left edge down and round, going through a rougher, rather marshy area.

Tucked away in the bottom left corner, cross a stile and then another and come out on to the lane on the other side of the village.

6. MILL

Turn right and pass Ricketts Mill and shortly on the far side of a thatched cottage, turn left. Along here on the right cross a stile and turn left, going down the full length of the field. Aim for the farm buildings. Cross a stile.

7. FARM

You are at Park Gate Farm. Turn left and immediately right through the yard. Continue on along a fenced path and go through a gate at the end into a field.

For nearly three quarters of a mile, just continue on through this meadowland. The River Nadder is over on your left. On the way, reach woodland on the right and a stile. You can cross this if you like to go up on to the bank of one of Wardour Estate's ponds, Park Pond, but you need to come back to rejoin the footpath.

Continue on and climb up, going to the left of a pair of farm cottages.

8. FARM TRACK

Go over a stile on to a farm track and take the stile opposite. Climb uphill through a magnificent collection of ancient limes, probably planted when New Wardour Castle was built in 1776.

A stile brings you on to a path through woodland, which was carpeted with wild garlic in flower when I came.

The path bends round left past a converted stable block, Wardour Court. At a junction of paths, go straight on and stay on this, avoiding side turns.

Come very shortly on to the Tarmac drive at the back of Wardour Castle.

9. NEW WARDOUR CASTLE

This was built of limestone in the Palladian style for the 8th Lord Arundell and was the family home until 1944. For a while it became a girls' boarding school but is now converted into luxury flats.

Go ahead alongside the house and turn left on the drive/track at the end. After a few yards, take the second grass path on the right – as the track bends. It leads to a gate marked with a footpath arrow.

Cross the stile at the side and now simply follow this old route which linked the two castles. There is a good view of the front of New Wardour Castle behind you and ahead begin to see the old castle.

10. ARK FARM

Reach a stile ahead. Cross and turn left on the track and pass farm buildings at Ark Farm. Join another track and go left and this takes you round and back to the old castle.

Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6RR. Open daily except for Christmas and New Year's Day. Adults £3.60; concessions £3.10; children 5-15 £1.80. Tel: 01747 870487.

The Forester, Donhead St Andrew, SP7 9EE. Tel: 01747 828038.

Please call to confirm opening times before setting out.