Martin and Damerham DISTANCE: 8 miles MAP: OS Landranger 184 - Salisbury and the Plain START: The car park by All Saints Church, Martin. The church is along the lane opposite the village hall and telephone box in the village of Martin at grid reference 070196. For a full page road map showing the start point, click here.   THE WALK: Begin by entering the churchyard and walking to the left of the building to leave the churchyard through a kissing gate at its bottom end. Cross the field to pass through a second kissing gate at the far side and continue along a footpath between paddocks. Pass through another kissing gate and continue half right ahead to descend through a kissing gate to emerge onto a lane opposite farm buildings. Turn right and follow this lane down to the main road.   Turn left towards Damerham and go over a bridge ahead. Turn left just after the bridge and follow the footpath. This can be very wet after rain so instead walk along the right-hand edge of the field next to the footpath. At the corner of the field, turn right by a fingerpost and climb southeasterly to the left of the hedge line to reach a lane. Turn left, and at the top of the rise, just before farm buildings, turn right. The footpath leads you between fields and continues up the slope and leads you to the left-hand side of the trees ahead. Turn left at a way marker which guides you along the left-hand side of the field with Knapp Barrow and Grans Barrow ahead of you. Follow the field edge as it turns right to go under the pylon lines and reach a crossroads of paths. Turn right and take the path which strikes off across the centre of the field. Follow the track down to leave the field to the right of woods and take the path which continues downhill bearing away from the trees. As the track turns sharp left, stay on it, ignoring the signposted footpath, and continue ahead now uphill. Over the hill, continue along the track to reach Knoll Farm.   Pass the farm and continue ahead at the crossroads of tracks. Remain on the track as it eventually turns right and goes downhill. At the bottom, turn left and follow the track to reach a road. Carry on in the same direction through North End, Damerham to reach a main road opposite the Compasses Inn. Turn right to cross the Allen River and then right again onto the road to Martin. After about 400 yards, take the first turning left and continue on the road uphill to reach the main road you left earlier. Turn right, and then right again to follow the footpath under the pylon lines. Pass through a gate and walk uphill. Near the top of the second hill turn left and descend towards farm buildings. Take the first track on the right and follow it around most of the buildings and turn right at the next track junction. Follow this straight track until you come out at a road.   Cross straight over the road and follow the bridle way opposite. As the track starts to climb and turn left, go through the signposted gate on the right. Walk along the right-hand side of the field without going down the hill on the right until you see a gate in the fence ahead of you to the right. Now go downhill and through this gate. Follow the track as it climbs the side of the hill ahead to lead you to the top and out of a gate on the top of Tidpit Down by Grim's Ditch. Bear right through the gate and continue along this path as it starts to descend with the steeple of Martin's church visible directly ahead of you. Remain on this path as you continue downhill to emerge back in the village. Turn left here back to the village hall and telephone box opposite the lane to the church. Home / Salisbury & Wessex / New Forest / Guestbook / Links / Your page / Other Interests