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Walking in Berkshire
West
Berkshire, famous for the open expanse of the high chalk Berkshire Downs,
provides invigorating walking with freedom, space and wide vistas. The
Ridgeway National Trail, an ancient path dating back to iron age times,
provides a good route from which to explore the Downs and their facinating
history. Notable sites include the Iron Age hill fort at Segsbury Camp,
remains of the mysterious Grim's Ditch and the burial mound of Scutchamer
Knob as well as bronze age barrows and Roman field systems. Lambourn,
home to some of England's finest thoroughbred horses, is a good base
from which to visit many of these pre-historic sites, including The
Seven Barrows just to the north. You can follow the Ridgeway east across
North Berkshire via East Ilsley, Compton, Aldworth and Streatley, following
in the footsteps of neolithic ramblers.
Further
south the landscape falls from grassy chalk downs, through birch and
oak woodland and across commons to the Kennet Valley. Here the countryside
is soft and tranquil with green meadows edged with willow. This is a
more populated area dominated by the historic market town of Newbury,
with the Kennet and Avon canal running through its centre. Newbury has
a special claim to historic fame as being the location for two important
battles in the Civil War. Donnington Castle, not far north of the town,
was beseiged during the War for nearly two years during which time Oliver
Cromwell's forces destroyed much of the castle, although the royalist
Sir John Boys held out. Only the 14th century Gatehouse remains, which
can be visited in a walk from Snelsmore Common Country Park, returning
via the picturesque Watermill Theatre on the river Lambourne. A relaxing
day can be spent walking along part of the Kennet and Avon Canal discovering
some of the villages and open countryside of the area and enjoying lunch
at one of the canal-side pubs. For example take a circular route such
as one from Woolhampton and including Midgham.
South of the Kennet Valley the chalk escarpment rises again to new
heights, reaching nearly 1,000ft. at Inkpen Hill and nearby Walbury
Hill. From here there are spectacular views across the Kennet Valley,
but they would not have been appreciated by felons hanging from Combe
Gibbet, the grisly landmark used to hang highwaymen in earlier times.
From Inkpen Beacon the Wayfarer's Walk heads south into Hampshire.
East
Berkshire, from Reading to Windsor, is a landscape in which the River
Thames features prominantly. Here the mature river has a beauty and
stature worthy of its destination, flowing through the nation's capital.
Walking a part of the Thames Path National Trail past pleasant meadows,
beechwoods, locks and weirs is relaxing and interesting. Cookham is
especially charming, with its lock set among woods and attractive backwaters,
and its village green surrounded by pretty houses. The hanging beechwoods
of Clivedon Reach nearby crowd the waters edge and are magnificent in
autumn.
South of the River Thames Windsor Great Park and adjacent Windsor Forest
offer lovely scenery and walking opportunities. Near Wokingham the Finchampstead
Ridges (NT) provide splendid walking with views over Berkshire, Hampshire
and Surrey, with heath, woodland and the Blackwater Valley. Bradenham
and West Wycombe are good centres for walking through some of the beautiful
local beechwoods.
Kintbury - Kintbury is a village located
on the River Kennet and although there are some modern estates built
above the valley to the south, the old part has retained its ancient
charm. In the middle ages Kintbury's main industries were centered around
the mills of the River Kennet. At one time it held a weekly market and
compared with Hungerford in importance. The opening of the canal in
1810 brought new industry to Kintbury including iron working, although
the town's main source of income was still agriculture, controlled by
the large manor houses in the surrounding countryside. St Mary's church
dates from the thirteenth century, although an extensive restoration
in 1859 effectively made it into a Victorian church. From Kintbury there
are good walks along the Kennet and Avon Canal and south of the village
to Inkpen, Templeton, Hamstead Marshall and St Cassian's.
OS Maps: Explorer 158
A Walk from Kintbury [385673]
This walk explores the pastoral farmland between Kintbury and Newbury
before returning along the Kennet and Avon Canal. As well as views across
to Walbury Hill, the walk includes Hamstead Marshall where the pairs
of gateposts standing in the middle of a field are the only remains
of the seventeenth century Hamstead Lodge. Kintbury is famous for the
Kintbury Witch and the legend of the 'Kintbury Great Bell'.
Best Pubs for this walk
Dundas Arms, Kintbury Tel: 01488 658263 (Good Pub Guide)
Lovely pub with riverside terrace. Partly panelled bar popular with
locals. Good choice of excellent bar food.
The Red House, Marsh Benham Tel: 01635 582017 (Good Pub Guide)
Smart thatched dining pub, although there is a comfortable bar and terrace.
Excellent food in restaurant.
This walk is fully described in the guidebook 'Walking in Berkshire'
by Robert Wilson
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Walking in Berkshire
ISBN 1852843357

Drive and Stroll in Berkshire
ISBN 9781853069529

A Boot Up the Berkshire Downs
ISBN 9781906887711

Kiddiwalks in Berkshire
ISBN 9781846742392

Rambling Around Reading 1st Series
ISBN 9781874258223

Rambling Around Reading 2nd Series
ISBN 9781874258230

Kennet Valley and Watership Down
ISBN 1874258139

Rambling in east Berkshire
ISBN 1874258198

Walking in the Thames Valley
ISBN 9781852845704

Pocket Pub Walks in the Thames Valley
ISBN 9781846740138

Chilterns and Thames Valley walks
ISBN 0711706743

Thames Valley Teashop Walks
ISBN 9781853065477

Rambling Along the Thames
ISBN 187425821X

50 Walks in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
ISBN 074953334X

Pub Walks for Motorists Berkshire and Oxfordshire
ISBN 1853068977
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