We are the West Wiltshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Out on the fringe badlands of the West Wilts area again, this time the Ridgeway east of Swindon in Oxfordshire. The walk starts on the Ridgeway at the car park on the B4000 south east of Ashbury. The walk goes south and around Ashdown House (latter built for ‘The Winter Queen’ – not a Disney character but a colourful daughter of JamesI). Somewhere around here was an 870s battle between Alfred and his brothers and the Vikings, well before the Edington triumph when things were all very 1940. We then scamper around the Lambourn Downs to Uffington Castle (a hill fort). To see the White Horse we drop down the scarp slope to near Woolstone – the horse, much the oldest in our region, is hard to make out as it is angled towards the sky, proof that the Iron Age people had mastered drone technology. Then back up the scarp to The Ridgeway and along to Wayland’s Smithy, a Neolithic longbarrow that rivals West Kennet in its impressiveness. Continue along Ridgeway back to car park. A bit of up and downing on the downs and a bit of a climb back up to the Ridgeway but nothing too demanding. No cafes I’m afraid. Bring fuel for a lunch and coffee stop, order to be decided.
Please note: the Finish Time is an estimate and may vary.
Please TEXT the walk leader to book a place.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US USING THE EMAIL BUTTON ABOVE
Meet at the small free car park at Ashbury Folly on both sides of the B4000. Car sharing encouraged due to car park size. Ashbury Folly Car park is 40 miles (56 mins) from Trowbridge based on the AA Route Planner if you go via M4 exiting at J15; or 33.5 miles (1 hour) if you go via Marlborough or Avebury. (The postcode for Ashdown House, a little south on B4000, is RG17 8RE )
