We are the North East London Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Please note that this walk is now fully booked.
Catch the 09.00 from Paddington to Didcot Parkway. Buy a cheap day retun to Didcot Parkway.
At Didcot we will change to a bus for a short journey to Steventon. The bus is free for Freedom Pass holders. Return bus from Steventon to Didcot at the end of the walk. Five buses an hour.
This walk consists of straight lines, possibly of Roman origin, that make a strange geometrical figure. We join the Vale Way (named after tha Vale of the White Horse) at Steventon and progress from the Green to the Church and Manor House down a long ancient causeway. We then follow a largely straight footpath to rising ground at West Hendred. The Vale Way then traverses more fields and woodland to Ardington, our lunch stop (four miles). There are three choices for lunch: The Boars Head, the Grocer Chef (tea, coffee and modestly priced snacks) or a few seats in the porch of the church next to the Boars Head for picnicers.
It is possible to drop out at lunchtime and walk two miles into Wantage for a bus back to Didcot Parkway provided you are with someone who knows where to go.
After lunch we take a minor road to join the Icknield Way due east for three miles. This is a wide trackway with a firm easy stoned surface. Then north back to Steventon. The final mile is along the pavement next to a main road.
There are several awkward styles in the morning. The route is not entirely flat but the undulations are small.
This is a walk I have stolen from Stephen. With full permission!
