Walking in the North Wessex Downs. Steve Davison

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      WALKING IN THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS

      by Steve Davison

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Steve Davison is a freelance writer and photographer who has lived in Berkshire for over 25 years. He has written several guidebooks, as well as articles for a number of outdoor magazines and other publications, including local and national newspapers. He specialises in hill walking and European travel, with interests in nature, geology and the countryside. A keen hill walker for many years and a Mountain Leader, Steve has also worked as a part-time outdoor education instructor. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. Find out more about him at www.steve-davison.co.uk.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      The Great Stones Way

      Walking in the Chilterns

      The Ridgeway National Trail

      Walking in the New Forest

      Walking in the Thames Valley

      © Steve Davison 2015

      First edition 2015

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 728 9

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

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

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

       This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number PU100012932.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/728/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: The Wansdyke stretching out over Tan Hill (Walk 21)

      CONTENTS

       Overview map

       Map key

       Introduction

       Geology

       Brief history

       Plants and wildlife

       Where to stay

       Getting around

       Food and drink

       Long-distance routes

       Maps

       Walking in the North Wessex Downs

       Waymarking, access and rights of way

       Protecting the countryside

       Using this guide

       Berkshire Downs East

       Walk 1 Chapel Row, Bucklebury and Stanford Dingley

       Walk 2 Ashampstead and Yattendon

       Walk 3 Aldworth

       Walk 4 Shillingford, Wittenham Clumps and Dorchester on Thames

       Walk 5 Blewbury and the Astons

       Lambourn Downs

       Walk 6 West Ilsley and Farnborough

       Walk 7 Ardington and the Hendreds

       Walk 8 Great Shefford, Chaddleworth and East Garston

       Walk 9 Lambourn and Eastbury

       Walk 10 The Ridgeway and the Letcombe villages

       Walk 11 Compton Beauchamp, Woolstone and the Uffington White Horse

       Walk 12 Ashbury and Bishopstone

       Marlborough Downs

       Walk 13 Ramsbury and Littlecote

       Walk 14 Mildenhall and the River Kennet

       Walk 15 Marlborough and Savernake Forest

       Walk 16 Ogbourne St Andrew, Rockley and Barbury Castle

       Walk 17 Fyfield Down and the Devil’s Den

       Walk 18 Avebury

       Vale of Pewsey

       Walk 19 Cherhill and Oldbury Castle

       Walk 20 Heddington, Oliver’s Castle, Roundway Down and Morgan’s Hill

       Walk 21 Alton Barnes and the Wansdyke