A Walk Over the Downs from Stockton
Most guidebooks describe Stockton as a pretty little village, and indeed it is. There are four notable buildings in the village: the Church of St John the Baptist; the Almshouses; Stockton House; and Manor Farm. But I find that the humble buildings of the village itself are the most attractive. Thatched roofs abound and there is no standardisation in the building styles of the cottages. Although knapped flint - that most attractive and characteristic walling of the Wylye Valley - abounds on nearby Stockton House, there is only a small amount in the village itself. Each time I go walking on the downs surrounding the Wylye Valley I see more and more red kites. I cannot say for certain that I saw more than a dozen individual ones, but I had at least a dozen sightings, mainly concentrated in the Gilbert’s Cleeve area. In addition to the red kites there were also many buzzards. It was a real treat. A fascinating walk, full of history, wildlife and fresh air ……..