Our Scrapbook of Previous Walks

Walk 743 - Enbourne, Hamstead Marshall and Speen Moors

On Sunday 30^th November, 22 Ramblers met at Goldwell Park, Newbury for a 9½ mile circular walk. The beautiful blue sky was a welcome bonus after such wet days leading up to the walk.

After a warm welcome to the group by Anne, we set off along a short stretch of The Kennet & Avon Canal which looked stunning in the winter sunshine.

Taking footpaths to the south of Newbury, we headed uphill towards Wash Common where we paused at the site of the 1^st Battle of Newbury (1643) to take in the views across the valley to the north. The battle was part of the English Civil War between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. In the distance we could clearly see the ruins of Donnington Castle where the 2^nd Battle of Newbury took place the following year.

Carrying on towards Skinners Green we had spectacular views towards the Wayfarers Walk. This was the muddiest part of the walk as we entered fields where cows were present but they showed little interest in us.In the middle of the field there was a ’tree swing’ and Zak very bravely climbed on - it was tricky as the swing was quite high but he managed it well.

We skirted Avery’s Pightle Nature Reserve. This is one of Berkshire's few remaining unspoiled ancient meadows where 137 different species of plants have been recorded. It would be worth another visit in the summer months to see the wild flowers, herbs and grasses.

Passing the All Angels Vineyard we entered Hamstead Park which dates back to the 13^th Century. Signs of medieval occupancy can still be seen today with three motte and bailey castles dotted around the estate. In the park we found a suitable spot in the sunshine for our lunch stop and sweet treats!

After lunch we joined the Kennet and Avon Canal once more and headed back in the direction of Newbury. At Guyer’s Lock we left the towpath and took a permissive footpath through Speen Moors. The moors cross the River Kennet and the route took us under the Lambourn Valley Railway bridge which carried the railway from 1898 until 1973. The railway ran between villages from Lamboun to Newbury.

Shortly after leaving Speen Moors we arrived back at our start point where several of us changed out of muddy boots and headed into town for a drink at The Lock Stock and Barrel pub which sits at the edge of the canal and river. Thank you all for joining Anne and I on this walk, it was a very enjoyable day.

Thanks go to Anne and Hazel for leading this walk and to Hazel for writing it up.

Walk 738 - Burghclere and Sandham Memorial

A glorious autumnal morning greeted sixteen of us as we met at Beacon Hill car park for a walk which would take us optionally up the hill then merrily on our way to Sandham Memorial Chapel, a distance of approximately eight miles.

After our ascent of the hill, and with such favourable weather, we were able to see Highclere Castle from the top, the setting for the television series Downton Abbey, and we also encountered the grave of Lord Carnarvon who, along with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt in 1922. Fortunately the group didn’t appear to be cursed and we all made it back down the hill safely.

Once back down the hill three more intrepid ramblers joined the group after the optional hill part of the walk and we ventured eastward towards Old Burghclere where we turned northward on to a footpath following the same direction as a disused railway line. This was previously the Newbury to Whitchurch line, part of the former Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&SR). The line served the area until its closure to freight in 1960 and passenger traffic in 1962.

Forging on in a northerly direction we made our way into Burghclere and stopped at the National Trust property, Sandham Memorial Chapel, where the murals of renowned artist Stanley Spencer reside. When pre-walking the route we had spoken with the staff at the chapel to ask permission to have our lunch stop here to which they very kindly agreed. Some of our group who are NT members scanned their membership cards, which the property very much appreciated, and viewed the impressive artworks in the chapel.

After lunch, we left Sandham to proceed in a southerly direction back towards Old Burghclere and with the weather continuing to be very kind to us we took in some tremendous views of the surrounding area.

Once back in Old Burghclere we retraced our steps on a westerly bearing past All Saints church towards our start point at the Beacon Hill walk car park. After recording the walk the distance appeared to be just under eight miles with 891 feet of ascent. See our route on OS Maps

Some of the group then enjoyed a well deserved after walk drink at the nearby Carnarvon Arms where it was still warm enough to sit outside as we caught the last of the sunshine on what had been a great day for a walk.

Thanks to all who came along and made leading such a pleasure, we both look forward to seeing you again on another BWW walk soon.

Thanks go to Steve for leading this walk and for writing it up.

Walk 734 - Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Ladle Hill

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of North Hampshire, with the prospect of a lengthy walk taking in the autumnal landscape of Sydmonton Park Estate and the Downs, a good-sized crowd assembled outside the war memorial in the village of Ecchinswell on Sunday 12^th October. After several head counts, we settled on 21, but no one was missing at the end of the walk, so the leaders Simon and Becky had managed to steer everyone home safely.

The walk first took us in a southerly loop away from the village along a path by the stream and out into fields. The turnips and the thick grass along the side of a field of now largely drooped sunflowers was heavily laden with dew and boots were good and wet after the first mile. The route next took us up a pretty valley and along the edge of Nuthanger Copse. Autumn colours were a little less vibrant than hoped, but views of Watership Down were still possible despite being tempered a little by the foggy conditions.

One of our leaders recounted that this is reputed to be the countryside that inspired the novel of the same name by Richard Adams about a group of rabbits forced to move after the destruction of their warren. As we approached Nuthanger Farm we could hear the drone of a light aircraft, the owners of Ham Hill were out for an early morning flight. Descending from Nuthanger Hill past the hanger from whence the plane had alighted, we were afforded fine views to the north across the Kennet Valley.

Leaving the edge of the village of Ecchinswell for a second time, we entered Sydmonton Park Estate owned by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber and equestrian entrepreneur Madeleine Gurdon. A series of wide gravel drives guided us through the vast estate, passing first through Watership Farm offered for hire for film shoots, past horse paddocks and stabling and out through some lovely, groomed parkland.

Passing out through the wider estate and out on to country lanes at Wergs Farm, the walk next took us up a wooded pathway to Ladle Hill and onto the Wayfarers Way. After a lengthy uphill stretch, we emerged from a wooded path to be greeted by fine views across to Beacon Hill and the Highclere Estate. The group paused to take in the views and debate whether they could see the spires of Highclere Castle on the distant skyline.

Continuing along the Wayfarers Way we came to Ladle Hill Iron Age hillfort and with the clock pushing toward 1pm, a spot of lunch was taken sat on the earthworks of this 2300-year-old structure looking out across Sydmonton Park Estate and the wider Berkshire countryside to the north. Everyone layered up a little to avoid the cooling effect of a light breeze.

After lunch we continued along the Downs escarpment and then descended the hillside via a wooded gully passing into the village of Sydmonton. Completing the second loop, we again entered the groomed parkland around the home of the Lloyd-Webber’s. Bedecked in security cameras it was evident that Big Brother (or maybe The Phantom of the Opera!) was watching as an electric gate miraculously opened and then shut behind the group as we left the extended gardens of the mansion house.

The final leg of the walk took us up past a row of picture postcard tithe cottages (Laundry Cottages) with our final approach back into Ecchinswell along the edge of the playing fields to the village hall. Many of the group enjoyed a drink in the beer garden of the Star Inn in Kingsclere afterwards.

Thanks go to Simon and Becky for leading this walk and for writing it up.

Walk 733 - Beech Hill and Stratfield Mortimer

On Sunday 5^th October, we had a good turnout of 19 in total, with one walker joining us from Loddon Valley Ramblers.

We were fortunate following Storm Amy to enjoy a lovely day for walking with a moderate breeze and sunshine. We were rewarded with fine views of the open countryside. The only 'incident' encountered was avoiding the train coming through as half the group made their way across the tracks!

Ten of us booked on to the pub lunch afterwards and everyone found the food nice and enjoyed their meals. Thanks go to Ann who helped with the initial pre-walk and meal bookings.

Thanks go to Kathy for leading this walk and writing it up.