[1] Exit Cathedral Close through Harnham Gate and turn right. Cross bridge over two rivers and turn right onto Harnham Road. Continue to junction. Turn right, then almost immediately left up Old Blandford Road following left pavement. Go up flight of steps, then follow tarmac path onto Bouverie Avenue South. Continue uphill, which becomes a fenced path to steps down to main road. Cross road and up steps opposite, signposted Dogdean Farm. Follow between houses, then across field. Through kissing gate to footpath crossroads; continue ahead, following grassy field edge to another kissing gate; straight on, following edge of next field.

[2] At farm track, turn left. After barns, turn right. Follow wide grassy path downhill. Go over stile, then turn right. Follow path to reach small road. Turn left. Cross humpback bridge over River Ebble into Homington. At crossroads, turn right, past bus shelter and village information board.

[3] At village green (triangle of grass with tree in centre) turn left. Cross road and follow unnamed tarmac lane uphill. After a mile, reach a farm where the path continues as rough grassy track. At unsigned T junction, either turn right and skip to 4 or, if you have permission, turn left to reach Great Yews Woodland –
the track can be muddy in places.

Great Yews is a designated SSSI and a conservation area. A signed gate prohibits entry without permission. This can be requested prior to your visit by contacting Longford Estates (longfordestates.co.uk) or by calling the land agent on 01722 411616. After exploring the ancient trees, retrace your steps to the T-junction and continue straight on.

[4] After half a mile, track becomes a tarmac lane. Continue downhill along lane with views of downs. After nearly a mile, go left on bridleway. Shortly, at junction, take smaller path, which continues straight on (Shutts Lane). Pass Coombe Bissett's village hall and school. At road junction, turn left through the village. After shop, turn right to cross River Ebble, a clear chalk stream, on wooden footbridge. The Fox & Hounds pub is just ahead on right. Continue past it, following gravel path which soon peters out to right of road.

[5] Turn right on Marsh Lane. A house at end of lane, Cress Edge House, is a clue that watercress beds once thrived here. Just before a road gate with private sign, enter the pedestrian gate and steps to left. Head up through woods to tiny orchard. Take small gate to left of house. At old crossroads waymarker, continue straight ahead, signed (faintly) 'Homington Down'. After half a mile, turn right downhill, through gate, across small stream, into marshy field. Go through gate and into another field. Do not head towards arched footbridge; instead, veer slightly right to another small wooden gate and another footbridge over river. Follow path to road. Turn left and walk through village, past church. Continue towards bus shelter and retrace steps to Salisbury.

If you have timed it right, you can catch one of the infrequent buses back to Salisbury from here, instead of re-tracing your steps for a further three miles.