Misty Vales

The Vale of Pewsey lies between the Marlborough Downs to the north and Salisbury Plain to the south. Part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is a charming landscape with much to interest photographers. With its floor about 100m above sea level, the Vale is around 100m below the chalk escarpments that rise, like battlements, to its north and south. This is because the underlying geology is greensand, a much softer rock which erodes more quickly.

Although greensand creates mostly subdued topography, there are harder areas that have formed rounded hills. Woodborough Hill and Picked Hill, though not as high as the nearby chalk escarpment, make well-placed focal points for landscape photography. With a river and canal flowing through, the Vale of Pewsey is prone to mist.