Castle Hill has always been seen as a strategic, and picturesque, viewpoint. The fine views over the Avon Valley and the easy access to the Forest has led to Castle Hill being a tourist attraction for the last 200 years. Godshill is a dispersed settlement of about 210 households with a village hall, St Giles church and ‘The Fighting Cocks’ pub. It also incorporates the Sandy Balls holiday park but most of the large parish of Godshill is Crown land and open forest.
Directions
| Walk Start and End | Junction of Castle Hill and Godshill roads. Start the walk by taking the road to Castle Hill. |
| Castle Hill | Follow the road over Castle Hill down to Folds Farm |
| Folds Farm | Pass over the Cattle Grid into Folds Farm. Turn left onto a rising track just past the greenhouses. |
| Godshill Wood | Follow winding track up onto ridge with views across Godshill Wood to the left. |
| Long Ground Copse | Bear slightly right on same track past house between tall hedges. |
| Sandy Balls camping field | Go through gate into camping field when track swings right to Sandy Balls. |
| Gate into field | Leave camping field through gate into field. Follow fence line on right to road. |
| Godshill road | Turn right up road. |
| The Fighting Cocks | Turn left onto track (Purlieu Lane) behind Fighting Cocks. Detour permitted to pub! |
| Open Forest | Continue on track and through gate onto Open Forest. Turn left and follow fence line on left. |
| Millersford Brook | Cross bridge and continue up slope along well-worn path. |
| Small wood | Just past start of small wood on right, bear right and continue up slope. Head towards main track (Lady’s Mile). There are many tracks to choose from! |
| Godshill Inclosure | Follow Lady’s Mile and turn left through gate into Inclosure. Path in wood can be muddy. |
| Cycle Track | Path meets cycle track. Turn right and then left on wide track. |
| Track crossroads | As track levels out and swings right, take less distinct footpath straight on. Gate takes you out onto road and your starting point. |