Footpath No.25 – “The Shambles”: Bottom of Barley Mow Hill to Hearn Vale

Updated August 2020

Notes: The name “The Shambles” for this path is reputed to be because animals were slaughtered here and the carcasses taken down into Arford where there was a tannery. There is still a house there called ‘Fellmongers’, which means a dealer in hides and skins.

During WW2 there were armoured regiments stationed on the paddocks and in the houses here. In particular, the Calgary Regiment were supplied here in November 1941 with the Churchill tanks they later used in the ill-fated Dieppe raid in August 1942

1
There is a finger post at the bottom of Barley Mow Hill, next to Cranborne drive.

 

2
The path rises through woodland and up a steep earth track (photo in reverse direction) ...

 

3
... passing the junction with FP26 (and guide post) on right.

 

4
The path levels out with West Mount on right and paddocks on left, and becomes Langton Drive, an accommodation road for the properties here. Where the road bears right, the footpath goes straight ahead with finger post.

 

5
After a while it becomes a wide sandy track with a row of houses on left and a concreted surface – this is Hearn Vale which leads to Churt Road.

 

6
Entrance to Hearn Vale from other direction.