Walking in the North Wessex Downs. Steve Davison

in the North Wessex Downs

      The walks in this guide range from 6.4 to 20.6km (4 to 12¾ miles) and cover fairly low-level terrain (below 297m), and although some have several, sometimes steep, climbs and descents, they should be suitable for most walkers. The routes follow well-defined tracks and paths, although some follow narrow, and at times indistinct, paths – especially through woods, where careful navigation may be required.

      Memorial stone on Walbury Hill (Walk 26) to soldiers who trained here in 1944

      As for the weather, summers tend to be fairly dry and mild. Spring and autumn offer some of the best walking conditions – spring and early summer herald new life in the North Wessex Downs with colourful displays of flowers, abundant birdsong and many butterflies, while cool autumn nights clothe the countryside in shades of russet, gold and brown. During the winter months, spells of rain can make some routes quite muddy. However, walking on a clear, frosty winter’s day can be a magical experience.

      Always choose clothing suitable for the season, along with a waterproof jacket, comfortable and waterproof footwear and a comfortable rucksack. On wet days gaiters or waterproof trousers can also be very useful. It’s also worth carrying a basic first aid kit to deal with minor incidents.

      Make every effort to avoid disturbing the wildlife and keep dogs under close control at all times. Finally, always take care when either walking along or crossing roads.

Waymarking, access and rights of way

      Rights of way throughout the North Wessex Downs are typically well signposted using a mix of fingerposts, marker posts and waymarks on fences and gateposts. The descriptions in this guide, in combination with the map extracts and the signage on the ground, should make route finding straightforward; however, it is still advisable to carry the relevant OS Explorer map and a compass.

      Rights of way are usually well signposted

      The walks in this guide follow official rights of way, whether that is footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways or byways. Some routes also pass areas of open access land (marked on OS Explorer maps) where walkers can freely roam.

      Rights of way are indicated on signage as follows:

       Footpaths yellow arrow – walkers only

       Bridleways blue arrow – walkers, cyclists and horse riders

       Restricted byways purple arrow – walkers, cyclists, horse riders and carriage drivers

       Byways red arrow – same as for a restricted byway plus motorcycles and motorised vehicles.

Protecting the countryside

      When out walking, please respect the countryside and follow the Countryside Code:

       Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs

       Leave gates and property as you find them

       Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home

       Keep dogs under close control

       Consider other people.

      Many of the walks pass through fields where cattle may be present. Follow the latest advice – do not walk between cows and young calves; if you feel threatened move away calmly – do not panic or make sudden noises; if possible find an alternative route.

Using this guide

      This guide is divided into five sections, starting with walks in the eastern half of the Berkshire Downs. It then heads west through West Berkshire to cover the Lambourn Downs. Continuing west, and crossing into Wiltshire, the next two sections describe walks in the Marlborough Downs and, to the south, the Vale of Pewsey. The final walks are in the North Hampshire Downs, tucked into the upper western corner of Hampshire.

      The route descriptions all follow the same format. The information box gives the start/finish location accompanied by a grid reference and brief parking details (if parking is limited, details of any alternative parking/start points are also given here); walk distance (kilometres/miles); ascent (metres); minimum walk time; relevant map details; places that offer refreshments (pubs, cafés and shops); and brief public transport information.

      This is followed by a short introduction to the route, identifying any major points of interest, including villages. The route is then described in detail, with background information on features or places of interest given in green paragraphs and boxes.

      The map extracts are from the 1:50,000 OS Landranger series, increased to 1:40,000 for greater clarity. Key features on the map that are also mentioned in the route are highlighted in bold to help with route finding.

      The route summary table in Appendix A provides the key statistics for all the walks. Appendix B lists contact points for further information that may be useful when planning walks or a stay in the area. Finally, a selection of books that provide interesting further reading on the region are given in Appendix C.

      Times and distances

      The distances quoted for each walk – metric first, with approximate imperial conversions rounded to the nearest ¼, ½, ¾ or whole number – have been measured from OS Explorer maps. Note that the heights given on the maps are in metres and the grid lines are spaced at intervals of 1km. The walking time for each walk has been worked out using a walking speed of 4km/hr (2½ miles/hr), plus 10 minutes for every 100m of ascent. This should be treated as the minimum amount of walking time required to undertake the walk. It does not include any time for rests, photography, consulting the map or guidebook, or simply admiring the view – all of which can add substantially to the day’s activity.

      BERKSHIRE DOWNS EAST

      The first part of Walk 3 follows a section of the Ridgeway

WALK 1

      Chapel Row, Bucklebury and Stanford Dingley

Start/Finish	Junction of The Avenue and Hatch Lane at Chapel Row (SU 571 696); limited parking. Alternative parking/start: Bucklebury recreation ground (SU 552 708)
Distance	11.6km (7¼ miles)
Ascent	230m
Time	3¼hrs
Map	OS Explorer 158
Refreshments	Blackbird Café (0118 9712332) and The Bladebone (0118 9712326) at Chapel Row; The Pot Kiln (01635 201366) at Frilsham; The Bull Inn (0118 9744582) and The Old Boot Inn (0118 9744292) at Stanford Dingley
Public transport	Bus services to Chapel Row from Newbury and Tilehurst (excluding Sundays)

      After leaving Chapel Row the route heads down towards the River Pang and the picturesque village of Bucklebury before meandering through woods to the ideally located Pot Kiln pub. The return continues through woods and open fields to call in at peaceful Stanford Dingley before a gradual ascent back to Chapel Row.

      From Chapel Row head west along the main road (Thatcham direction), passing The Bladebone pub, and after 250m turn right across the road. Follow the track, signposted to Scotland Corner, through the trees of Chapelrow Common.

      Keep left at the split to a junction and turn left for 50m to another junction just after passing a house (right). Turn right and follow the bridleway down through the trees to a lane. Turn left up the lane for 100m, and just after passing a house turn right over a stile in the hedge. Head northwards down through the field with a view across the valley and cross a stile in the lower-right corner. Keep ahead through the next field following the left-hand margin to a four-way path junction beside a footbridge. Do not cross the footbridge, but turn left along the grass