the Lambourn Valley Way and the Ridgeway. Some of these paths intersect with walks in this guide (see below), and offer the opportunity for walkers to create their own longer route.
Lambourn Valley Way A 32km (20-mile) route from the Ridgeway at the Whitehorse Hill car park along the Lambourn Valley to Newbury, passing through Lambourn, Eastbury, East Garston, Great Shefford and Boxford. Crosses Walks 8 and 9.
Ridgeway National Trail The southern section of the trail from Overton Hill near Avebury to the River Thames at Streatley travels for 68km (42¼ miles) along the northern scarp of the North Wessex Downs. Crosses Walks 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18.
Test Way Follows the Test Valley from Eling Wharf on the outskirts of Southampton to end at Inkpen Beacon (73km/45 miles). Crosses Walks 26 and 28.
Wayfarer’s Walk A route through Hampshire from Inkpen Beacon to Emsworth (114km/71 miles). Crosses Walks 26, 27, 29 and 30.
White Horse Trail A route visiting all eight white-horse hill figures within Wiltshire, seven of which are within the North Wessex Downs (145km/90 miles). Crosses Walks 15, 16, 17 and 18, 19, 20, 21 and 23.
Great Stones Way A route from Barbury Castle to Old Sarum, with detours to Avebury, Stonehenge and Salisbury (58.5km/36 miles or 85.7km/53 miles). Crosses Walks 17, 18 and 21.
Brenda Parker Way A 126km (78 mile) route developed by the North Hampshire Ramblers Group running between Andover and Aldershot. Crosses Walks 27 and 28.
Maps
The Ordnance Survey (OS) offer two series of maps – the 1:50,000 (2cm to 1km) Landranger series and the more detailed 1:25,000 (4cm to 1km) Explorer series. The OS maps covering the North Wessex Downs AONB are:
Landranger: 173, 174, 175 and 185
Explorer: 130, 131, 144, 157, 158, 159 and 170
This guide features extracts of the OS 1:50,000 Landranger series of maps, increased to 1:40,000 for greater clarity, with overlays showing the route, along with any detours or short-cuts. It is advisable to always carry the relevant Explorer map with you when walking.
Walking 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
