Twelve hardy walkers from the Berkshire and Mid Thames and Oxford
groups met at White Hill, near the village of Kingsclere, for a leisurely
stroll west along the Wayfarers’ Walk, over the North Wessex Downs
escarpment. The area is dedicated largely to racehorse training, and
pausing at the gallops, we could just see the Lambourn Downs twelve
miles away. To the north were fine views of the Kennet Valley, and it
was hard to believe that southern England is one of the most populated
areas of Europe.

At a trig point we took the left fork, and followed a picturesque road
down a valley, passing a vast yellow rape field in flower, then joining the
Watership Down Trail to arrive at Ladle Hill, close to several tumuli
(barrows): the halfway point for our picnic. This Iron Age Hill fort,
comprising seven acres, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a
Scheduled Monument. Building the fort had been abandoned, and it was
never excavated. It is well preserved within an embankment and ditch,
enabling our gallant band to shelter from some brief hail showers and cold
gusts of wind.

The swirling mist disappeared, revealing Beacon Hill to the west, the
extensive woodland of Highclere Park and the impressive towers of its
castle. Largely a Victorian remodelling of an earlier castle, it is famous
as “Downton Abbey”. This vision from the past quickly receded with the
sight of the A34 and its stationary traffic. Resuming our journey, we
undertook a short, steep descent down the wooded escarpment: slippery
in places, though we were assured that a risk assessment had taken
place. North Berkshire appeared much closer now, a spreading
panorama beneath us, with the neat farmhouse and domains of Lord
Lloyd Webber, the composer, a short distance away. Only one regret:
the famous rabbits from the Richard Adams novel were not present to
welcome us!
Shortly we rejoined the outward leg at the gallops; and for many, a
relaxing meal at the local hostelry in Kingsclere proved most welcome:
the best meal we had had for some time.

Twelve hardy walkers from the Berkshire and Mid Thames and Oxford
groups met at White Hill, near the village of Kingsclere, for a leisurely
stroll west along the Wayfarers’ Walk, over the North Wessex Downs
escarpment. The area is dedicated largely to racehorse training, and
pausing at the gallops, we could just see the Lambourn Downs twelve
miles away. To the north were fine views of the Kennet Valley, and it
was hard to believe that southern England is one of the most populated
areas of Europe.

At a trig point we took the left fork, and followed a picturesque road
down a valley, passing a vast yellow rape field in flower, then joining the
Watership Down Trail to arrive at Ladle Hill, close to several tumuli
(barrows): the halfway point for our picnic. This Iron Age Hill fort,
comprising seven acres, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a
Scheduled Monument. Building the fort had been abandoned, and it was
never excavated. It is well preserved within an embankment and ditch,
enabling our gallant band to shelter from some brief showers and cold
gusts of wind.

The swirling mist disappeared, revealing Beacon Hill to the west, the
extensive woodland of Highclere Park and the impressive towers of its
castle. Largely a Victorian remodelling of an earlier castle, it is famous
as “Downton Abbey”. This vision from the past quickly receded with the
sight of the A34 and its stationary traffic. Resuming our journey, we
undertook a short, steep descent down the wooded escarpment: slippery
in places, though we were assured that a risk assessment had taken
place. North Berkshire appeared much closer now, a spreading
panorama beneath us, with the neat farmhouse and domains of Lord
Lloyd Webber, the composer, a short distance away. Only one regret:
the famous rabbits from the Richard Adams novel were not present to
welcome us!
Shortly we rejoined the outward leg at the gallops; and for many, a
relaxing meal at the local hostelry in Kingsclere proved most welcome:
the best meal we had had for some time.