Walking in the Thames Valley. Steve Davison

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      About the Author

      Steve Davison is a freelance writer and photographer and has lived in Berkshire for the past 20 years. He has written for a number of outdoor magazines and other publications including local and national newspapers, specialising in hillwalking and European travel, with interests in nature, geology and the countryside. A keen hillwalker for many years and holder of a Mountain Leader (summer) Certificate, Steve has also worked as a part-time outdoor education instructor. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

      WALKING IN THE THAMES VALLEY

      by

       Steve Davison

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      © Steve Davison 2008

      First published 2008

      ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 570 4

      All photographs by the author.

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      

This project includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright 2002. All rights reserved.

      Licence number PU100012932

      Advice to Readers

      Readers are advised that while every effort is taken by the author to ensure the accuracy of this guidebook, changes can occur which may affect the contents. It is advisable to check locally on such things as transport, accommodation and shops but even rights of way can be altered.

      The publisher would welcome notes of any such changes.

      Front cover: All Saints Church, Cuddesdon (Walk 19)

      CONTENTS

       INTRODUCTION

       Getting Around

       Food and Drink

       Accommodation

       When to Walk

       Kit Suggestions

       Walking with Children

       Using the Guide

       Maps

       Access and Rights of Way

       Long-Distance Routes

       THE WALKS

       Walk 1 Lechlade and a Thames Meander

       Walk 2 Wiltshire Ridges and Liddington Castle

       Walk 3 The Bedwyns

       Walk 4 Fosbury Hill and the Chutes

       Walk 5 Faringdon’s Folly

       Walk 6 Lambourn Downs: Striding out with horses and dragons

       Walk 7 Thames Village Meander

       Walk 8 Hanging Around on Walbury Hill

       Walk 9 The Letcombe Gallop

       Walk 10 Wantage and the Village Challenge

       Walk 11 Farnborough: A poet’s hideaway

       Walk 12 Cold Ash and Hermitage: A writer’s retreat

       Walk 13 Blewbury and its Hillfort

       Walk 14 Watership Down: A land of rabbits

       Walk 15 The Pang Valley: A river runs through it

       Walk 16 Dorchester-on-Thames: An ancient place of worship

       Walk 17 The Aldworth Giants and Thurle Down

       Walk 18 The Goring Challenge

       Walk 19 Oxford Hills and the River Thame

       Walk 20 Historic Ewelme and Swyncombe

       Walk 21 Roman around Silchester

       Walk 22 Chiltern Patchwork

       Walk 23 Thames and Chilterns Meander

       Walk 24 Hambledon Valley and a Royal Regatta

       Walk 25 Cookham and Stanley Spencer

       APPENDIX 1 A Brief History

       APPENDIX 2 Local Geology

       APPENDIX 3 Useful Contacts

       APPENDIX 4 Further Reading

      The River Thames at Lechlade (Walk 1)

INTRODUCTION

      This guidebook offers a collection of 25 adventurous circular walks in the Thames Valley, covering the Southern Chilterns, Berkshire, Lambourn and North Hampshire Downs and Southern Oxfordshire, all within easy reach of places such as Reading, Swindon, Newbury, Abingdon and surrounding towns.

      All the walks – which vary in length from 10 to 18 miles (16 to 29km) and include a two-day (26-mile/42km) weekend walk over the Lambourn Downs – have a detailed route description that includes information on points of interest along the way, and are accompanied by a map based on Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 series maps. Many of the routes also have shorter (around 7–10-mile/11–16km) options, for those times when you want a less strenuous day out.

      Some of the walks visit the ancient sites of Iron Age hillforts while others pass more modern features such as Wilton Windmill and the Kennet and Avon Canal. Many pass through picturesque villages with cosy pubs, thatched cottages and fascinating old churches. Some follow sections of the Ridgeway National Trail, which links some of the oldest ‘green’ roads in Britain, while others