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Vale of White Horse Group

Vale of White Horse Ramblers are a friendly group who walk mid-week and weekends in southern Oxfordshire. Highlights are the Ridgeway, the Thames Path, and the Uffington White Horse.

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking

Overview

This is the Vale awayday walk. From Barbury Castle we follow the Ridgeway East along Smeathe’s Ridge with great views over the Marlborough Downs. We then drop down Southwards away from the Ridgeway and onto the picturesque village of Ogbourne St Andrew. Moving Westward we pass a number of Race Horse gallops until we reach the hamlet of Rockley before changing direction Northwards passing the old Barbury Racecourse. At this point we are back on the Ridgway and Barbury Castle, which is a prominent Iron Age hillfort, constructed around 700 BC, then return to out Start point. Please bring a picnic. On your way back from the walk, you might want to stop at Three Trees Farm Shop and Café (Ridgeway, Chiseldon, Swindon SN4 0HT), recommended by members, for quality local food. Vale Walk Leader PR 07418 078044
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Start time:
10:30 am
Estimated finish time:
3:15 pm
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
16.1km / 10.0mi
Ascent:
N/A
Type:
circular
Unless email is specifically requested in the walk description, please use the Walk Leader's telephone number(s) for any queries or bookings.

Starting point

Grid reference:
SU 15700 76101
Nearest postcode:
SN4 0QH
what3words:
sting.lakes.tigers
Start time:
10:30 am

Barbury Castle Car Park, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton, Swindon

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking