DOCSLIB.ORG

Oxfordshire Uffington White Horse

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

OXFORDSHIRE ESSEX 05 UFFINGTON WHITE HORSE 06 HIGH BEACH & EPPING FOREST SOUTH EAST uDistance: 7 miles/11.2km uTime: 4 hours uGrade: Moderate SOUTH EAST uDistance: 3¾ miles/5.8km uTime: 2 hours uGrade: Easy Walking the oldest road PLAN YOUR WALK PLAN YOUR WALK in Britain, The Ridgeway. PHOTO: PHOTO: ROUTE LENBANISTER ROUTE NIGELVILE Start/parking P&D NT Start/parking Car park Uffington Castle car park, Qvist’s Oak, named after a on Fairmead Road, 600m postcode SN7 7UK, former forest superintendent. south of Tea Hut near grid ref SU294865 roundabout on the A104, Is it for me? Undulating grid ref TQ409967 CHOSEN BY… alleged St George slew a tracks and paths across CHOSEN BY… has not only provided a green Is it for me? Mainly follows NIGEL VILE dragon. A bare patch of chalk windswept downland LEN BANISTER lung for East London, it has horse ‘rides’ which have Walk back in time on this hillock – where no Stiles None Centuries of conflict also protected a huge area some rough surfacing. through an ancient grass will grow – is said to over the exercise of from what, otherwise, would Stiles None landscape boasting four iconic mark the spot where the PLANNING rights and privileges between have been extensive ribbon PLANNING landmarks and the trackway dragon’s blood was spilled. Nearest town Swindon different users were resolved development. This walk Refreshments None on Nearest towns often called Britain’s oldest Expect soul-lifting views from route, but The White Horse when, in 1878, the Corporation samples most aspects of Chingford, Loughton road: the Ridgeway. First up is the North Wessex Downs. in nearby Woolstone is of London was appointed the Forest. On the way it Refreshments Tea Hut Wayland’s Smithy – a Neolithic a dog-friendly pub with Conservator of the 2400 also visits its only two named near start sells hot drinks/ chambered long barrow, once Start a delightful garden hectares of Epping Forest. trees – both magnificent oaks. snacks. At Point 4 you believed to be the home of Leave the car park and (01367 820726; www.white The land-grab via enclosure pass The Warren Wood 1 horsewoolstone.co.uk) pub (0208 5053737) Wayland, the Saxon god follow the road to the L. In by the rich was stopped and Start Public transport None Public toilets None of metal working. This 300m, ignore the restricted Maps OS Explorer 170; the Forest’s official status as 1Leave the car park, turn Public transport Bus atmospheric site lies a mile byway on the L and continue Landranger 174 a place of relaxation for the R past a barrier along the 20 from Walthamstow/ along the Ridgeway from ahead for 350m to a junction public was confirmed when remains of an old road. At Debden stops near Point Uffington Castle, an early Iron with the Ridgeway National Queen Victoria visited in 1882. the first main junction, go 5. Point 3 is a short walk Age hillfort, below which lies Trail. Follow it to the R for belt of trees, enter field ahead Now, most of the area is R on a wide ride. Follow this from Chingford Station. Maps OS Explorer 174; the Uffington White Horse, 1.5km to reach Wayland’s and follow the bridleway ahead designated as a Site of as it curves to the L and keep Landranger 177 whose famous skeletal outline Smithy, keeping ahead at for 2.2km to reach a track. Scientific Interest which forward at the next junction, dates back over 3000 years. a crossroads along the way. protects a wide variety of ignoring the R turn. At the next Facing the white horse is In another 300m, turn L at 3½ miles/5.7km habitats: woodland, lakes, fork, go L. To your R is the Robert Grimston, who was also Dragon Hill, an oddly shaped, a crossroads onto a restricted 2Turn L and, in 400m, grass and heathland. The Grimston Oak, named after a a pioneer of electric telegraphy. distinctive hillock where it’s byway. In 1km, pass through a where the track bears L ➥ foresight of the Victorians famous 19th century cricketer, The tree is 5m in circumference ➥ GRADIENT PROFILE GRADIENT PROFILE 600 600 400 400 200 200 metres metres 0 0 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 ✁ SOUTH EAST SOUTH EAST ESSEX NOVEMBER 2019 OXFORDSHIRE NOVEMBER 2019 06 HIGH BEACH & EPPING FOREST 05 UFFINGTON WHITE HORSE uOS Explorer map 174 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop uOS Explorer map 170 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop and 400 years old. Just past DOn’T MISS... the oak, go L on a narrower path. Reach Connaught Water. Tom Brown’s S TART 1 School 1 mile/1.7km Museum in S TART 1 E SURVEY. MEDIA 001/19 E SURVEY. E SURVEY. MEDIA 001/19 E SURVEY. C 2Turn R to walk around the C Uffington – one of the lake and reach an outfall by best small museums RDNAN RDNAN multiple fingerposts. Turn R O 6 in Oxfordshire. O alongside the juvenile River 19 museum.uffington.net 19 Ching (it got its name in the DATE DATE DATE DATE 19th century from Chingford, YRIGHT 20 YRIGHT 20 P P O O C rather than the reverse). At C towards Knighton Bushes a T-junction, go L to a road. W Plantation, keep ahead into W ALKE ALKE a field. Walk across this field, ©CROWN ©CROWN ©CROWN 1½ miles/2.6km bearing slightly L all the 3 D 3Cross, taking the L D while, to reach a grassy strip (narrower) of 2 tracks. just beyond the far end of this Continue L, close to scrubland area of the Plantation. Follow R, walking up the meadow. this grassy strip uphill for 1km At the top, swing R to a gate to reach a junction of paths. TIME T and road (on your R is The 2 TIME T Pass through a gap in the Warren Wood pub). fence on the L and follow the Lambourn Valley Way AKEN 2 miles/3.3km AKEN ahead across horse gallops, 4Go straight across the pairs of black and white road, past a barrier. Keep 5 posts marking the course straight up on the main path of the right of way. 3 to eventually reach a cricket ground. Follow the perimeter 4 5¼ miles/8.6km clockwise; turn off L at first 3In 1.4km, at the far end bench to go R then L on of the gallops, follow the substantial track, which is footpath ahead for 450m YOUR RATING YOUR YOUR RATING YOUR 2 later joined by another from to reach a gateway and the L. Reach a road. open field. Turn L and, in to the R of a Corporation of passing to the L of a pond to 50m, in the corner of the 2½ miles/4.1km London information board. emerge opposite car park. field, turn R and follow the 5Cross the road by a barrier. Stick with this main track to L edge of the field for 750m Descend then climb on a ride. eventually swing L through to reach the Ridgeway. Turn to a junction in 150m. © Country © Country VIEW THE WALK ON © Country VIEW THE WALK ON At the top of the hill, reach a car park to a road. OS MAPS ONLINE: R and, in 40m, pass through Turn L and walk above the OS MAPS ONLINE: an oak by a bench (this is a gate on the L to enter the Uffington White Horse before W lfto.com/cwroutes W lfto.com/cwroutes Qvist’s Oak, named after a 3¼ miles/5.3km alking NT Uffington Castle property. continuing across the hillside alking IN ASSOCIATION WITH IN ASSOCIATION WITH N former Forest Superintendent). Cross, after gate go R, N Walk ahead, passing to the to reach a lane. Cross to a gate ovember 2019 ovember 6 2019 ovember Continue, now downhill to initially parallel to road on R of the hillfort and, having opposite before following a a lane. Cross the corner faint path which swings L passed a trig point, keep path across a field to some diagonally L to take a path across the middle of a clearing, R at a fork and walk down trees and the car park. ✁.
Recommended publications
  • PH 'Wessex White Horses'

    PH 'Wessex White Horses'

    Notes from a Preceptor’s Handbook A Preceptor: (OED) 1440 A.D. from Latin praeceptor one who instructs, a teacher, a tutor, a mentor “A horse, a horse and they are all white” Provincial Grand Lodge of Wiltshire Provincial W Bro Michael Lee PAGDC 2017 The White Horses of Wessex Editors note: Whilst not a Masonic topic, I fell Michael Lee’s original work on the mysterious and mystical White Horses of Wiltshire (and the surrounding area) warranted publication, and rightly deserved its place in the Preceptors Handbook. I trust, after reading this short piece, you will wholeheartedly agree. Origins It seems a perfectly fair question to ask just why the Wiltshire Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter decided to select a white horse rather than say the bustard or cathedral spire or even Stonehenge as the most suitable symbol for the Wiltshire Provincial banner. Most continents, most societies can provide examples of the strange, the mysterious, that have teased and perplexed countless generations. One might include, for example, stone circles, ancient dolmens and burial chambers, ley lines, flying saucers and - today - crop circles. There is however one small area of the world that has been (and continues to be) a natural focal point for all of these examples on an almost extravagant scale. This is the region in the south west of the British Isles known as Wessex. To our list of curiosities we can add yet one more category dating from Neolithic times: those large and mysterious figures dominating our hillsides, carved in the chalk and often stretching in length or height to several hundred feet.
  • Dynamics of Religious Ritual: Migration and Adaptation in Early Medieval Britain

    Dynamics of Religious Ritual: Migration and Adaptation in Early Medieval Britain

    Dynamics of Religious Ritual: Migration and Adaptation in Early Medieval Britain A Dissertation SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY Brooke Elizabeth Creager IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Peter S. Wells August 2019 Brooke Elizabeth Creager 2019 © For my Mom, I could never have done this without you. And for my Grandfather, thank you for showing me the world and never letting me doubt I can do anything. Thank you. i Abstract: How do migrations impact religious practice? In early Anglo-Saxon England, the practice of post-Roman Christianity adapted after the Anglo-Saxon migration. The contemporary texts all agree that Christianity continued to be practiced into the fifth and sixth centuries but the archaeological record reflects a predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture. My research compiles the evidence for post-Roman Christian practice on the east coast of England from cemeteries and Roman churches to determine the extent of religious change after the migration. Using the case study of post-Roman religion, the themes religion, migration, and the role of the individual are used to determine how a minority religion is practiced during periods of change within a new culturally dominant society. ii Table of Contents Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………...ii List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………………iv Preface …………………………………………………………………………………….1 I. Religion 1. Archaeological Theory of Religion ...………………………………………………...3 II. Migration 2. Migration Theory and the Anglo-Saxon Migration ...……………………………….42 3. Continental Ritual Practice before the Migration, 100 BC – AD 400 ………………91 III. Southeastern England, before, during and after the Migration 4. Contemporary Accounts of Religion in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries……………..116 5.
  • The Geoglyphs of Har Karkom (Negev, Israel): Classification and Interpretation

    The Geoglyphs of Har Karkom (Negev, Israel): Classification and Interpretation

    PAPERS XXIV Valcamonica Symposium 2011 THE GEOGLYPHS OF HAR KARKOM (NEGEV, ISRAEL): CLASSIFICATION AND INTERPRETATION Federico Mailland* Abstract - The geoglyphs of Har Karkom (Negev, Israel): classification and interpretation There is a debate on the possible interpretation of geoglyphs as a form of art, less durable than rock engravings, picture or sculpture. Also, there is a debate on how to date the geoglyphs, though some methods have been proposed. Har Karkom is a rocky mountain, a mesa in the middle of what today is a desert, a holy mountain which was worshipped in the prehis- tory. The flat conformation of the plateau and the fact that it was forbidden to the peoples during several millennia allowed the preservation of several geoglyphs on its flat ground. The geoglyphs of Har Karkom are drawings made on the surface by using pebbles or by cleaning certain areas of stones and other surface rough features. Some of the drawings are over 30 m long. The area of Har Karkom plateau and the southern Wadi Karkom was surveyed and zenithal pictures were taken by means of a balloon with a hanging digital camera. The aerial survey of Har Karkom plateau has reviewed the presence of about 25 geoglyph sites concentrated in a limited area of no more than 4 square km, which is considered to have been a sacred area at the time the geoglyphs were produced and defines one of the major world concentrations of this kind of art. The possible presence among the depictions of large mammals, such as elephant and rhino, already extinct in the area since late Pleistocene, may imply a Palaeolithic dating for some of the pebble drawings, which would make them the oldest pebble drawings known so far.
  • Welcome to Wantage

    Welcome to Wantage

    WELCOME TO WANTAGE Photographs on pages 1 & 11 kindly supplied by Howard Hill Buscot Park House photographs supplied by Buscot Park House For more information on Wantage, please see the “Welcome to Wantage” website www.wantage.com Welcome to Wantage in Oxfordshire. Our local guide is your essential tool to everything going on in the town and surrounding area. Wantage is a picturesque market town and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse and is ideally located within easy reach of Oxford, Swindon, Newbury and Reading – all of which are less than twenty miles away. The town benefits from a wealth of shops and services, including restaurants, cafés, pubs, leisure facilities and open spaces. Wantage’s links with its past are very strong – King Alfred the Great was born in the town, and there are literary connections to Sir John Betjeman and Thomas Hardy. The historic market town is the gateway to the Ridgeway – an ancient route through downland, secluded valleys and woodland – where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Vale of White Horse, observe its prehistoric hill figure and pass through countless quintessential English country villages. If you are already local to Wantage, we hope you will discover something new. KING ALFRED THE GREAT, BORN IN WANTAGE, 849AD Photographs on pages 1 & 11 kindly supplied by Howard Hill Buscot Park House photographs supplied by Buscot Park House For more information on Wantage, please see the “Welcome to Wantage” website www.wantage.com 3 WANTAGE THE NUMBER ONE LOCATION FOR SENIOR LIVING IN WANTAGE Fleur-de-Lis Wantage comprises 32 beautifully appointed one and two bedroom luxury apartments, some with en-suites.
  • How to Tell a Cromlech from a Quoit ©

    How to Tell a Cromlech from a Quoit ©

    How to tell a cromlech from a quoit © As you might have guessed from the title, this article looks at different types of Neolithic or early Bronze Age megaliths and burial mounds, with particular reference to some well-known examples in the UK. It’s also a quick overview of some of the terms used when describing certain types of megaliths, standing stones and tombs. The definitions below serve to illustrate that there is little general agreement over what we could classify as burial mounds. Burial mounds, cairns, tumuli and barrows can all refer to man- made hills of earth or stone, are located globally and may include all types of standing stones. A barrow is a mound of earth that covers a burial. Sometimes, burials were dug into the original ground surface, but some are found placed in the mound itself. The term, barrow, can be used for British burial mounds of any period. However, round barrows can be dated to either the Early Bronze Age or the Saxon period before the conversion to Christianity, whereas long barrows are usually Neolithic in origin. So, what is a megalith? A megalith is a large stone structure or a group of standing stones - the term, megalith means great stone, from two Greek words, megas (meaning: great) and lithos (meaning: stone). However, the general meaning of megaliths includes any structure composed of large stones, which include tombs and circular standing structures. Such structures have been found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America and may have had religious significance. Megaliths tend to be put into two general categories, ie dolmens or menhirs.
  • Uffington and Baulking Neighbourhood Plan Website.10

    Uffington and Baulking Neighbourhood Plan Website.10

    Uffington and Baulking Neighbourhood Plan 2011-2031 Uffington Parish Council & Baulking Parish Meeting Made Version July 2019 Acknowledgements Uffington Parish Council and Baulking Parish Meeting would like to thank all those who contributed to the creation of this Plan, especially those residents whose bouquets and brickbats have helped the Steering Group formulate the Plan and its policies. In particular the following have made significant contributions: Gillian Butler, Wendy Davies, Hilary Deakin, Ali Haxworth, John-Paul Roche, Neil Wells Funding Groundwork Vale of the White Horse District Council White Horse Show Trust Consultancy Support Bluestone Planning (general SME, Characterisation Study and Health Check) Chameleon (HNA) Lepus (LCS) External Agencies Oxfordshire County Council Vale of the White Horse District Council Natural England Historic England Sport England Uffington Primary School - Chair of Governors P Butt Planning representing Developer - Redcliffe Homes Ltd (Fawler Rd development) P Butt Planning representing Uffington Trading Estate Grassroots Planning representing Developer (Fernham Rd development) R Stewart representing some Uffington land owners Steering Group Members Catherine Aldridge, Ray Avenell, Anna Bendall, Rob Hart (Chairman), Simon Jenkins (Chairman Uffington Parish Council), Fenella Oberman, Mike Oldnall, David Owen-Smith (Chairman Baulking Parish Meeting), Anthony Parsons, Maxine Parsons, Clare Roberts, Tori Russ, Mike Thomas Copyright © Text Uffington Parish Council. Photos © Various Parish residents and Tom Brown’s School Museum. Other images as shown on individual image. Executive Summary This Neighbourhood Plan (the ‘Plan’) was prepared jointly for the Uffington Parish Council and Baulking Parish Meeting. Its key purpose is to define land-use policies for use by the Planning Authority during determination of planning applications and appeals within the designated area.
  • The Ridgeway 4 THETHE EDN ‘...The Trailblazer Series Stands Head, Shoulders, Waist and Ankles Above the Rest

    The Ridgeway 4 THETHE EDN ‘...The Trailblazer Series Stands Head, Shoulders, Waist and Ankles Above the Rest

    Ridgeway-4 back cover-Q8__- 18/10/16 3:27 PM Page 1 TRAILBLAZER The Ridgeway 4 THETHE EDN ‘...the Trailblazer series stands head, shoulders, waist and ankles above the rest. They are particularly strong on mapping...’ RidgewayRidgeway THE SUNDAY TIMES 53 large-scale maps & guides to 24 towns and villages With accommodation, pubs and Manchester PLANNING – PLACES TO STAY – PLACES TO EAT restaurants in detailed guides to Birmingham Ivinghoe 24 towns and villages including THE Beacon AVEBURY TO IVINGHOE BEACON Marlborough and Avebury RIDGEWAY Cardiff Overton London NICK HILL & Exeter Hill o Includes 53 detailed walking maps: the 100km largest-scale maps available – at just 50 miles HENRY STEDMAN under 1:20,000 (8cm or 31/8 inches to 1 mile) these are bigger than even the most detailed ‘Excellent trail guide’ AVEBURY TO IVINGHOE BEACON walking maps currently available in the shops WALK magazine (Ramblers) o Unique mapping features – walking An 87-mile (139km) National times, directions, tricky junctions, places to Trail, the Ridgeway runs from stay, places to eat, points of interest. These Overton Hill near Avebury in are not general-purpose maps but fully Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers Buckinghamshire. Part of this route follows Britain’s oldest o Itineraries for all walkers – whether road, dating back millennia. hiking the entire route or sampling high- Taking 5-8 days, this is not a lights on day walks or short breaks difficult walk and the rewards o are many: rolling countryside, Detailed public transport information Iron Age forts, Neolithic burial Buses and trains for all access points mounds, white horses carved o Practical information for all budgets into the chalk downs and pic- What to see; where to eat (cafés, pubs and turesque villages.
  • Kur Geriau? Vaikams Gali Būti Dar Sunkiau, Jeigu Atsi- Dalyvauja 15 Metų Paaugliai

    Kur Geriau? Vaikams Gali Būti Dar Sunkiau, Jeigu Atsi- Dalyvauja 15 Metų Paaugliai

    Sek mūsų naujienas Facebook.com/Info Ekspresas SAVAITRAŠTIS TUVI IE ŠK L A S nemokamas L AI KRAŠTIS 2014 Nr. 10 lapkričio 13-19 FREE LITHUANIAN NEWSPAPER www.ekspresas.co.uk Didžioji Britanija Mokykla Lietuvoje LAPĖ apkandžiojo vaiką ar Anglijoje – kur 2 psl. geriau? Interviu 6-7psl. A.Kaniava - apie teatrą, muziką ir gyvenimą 10-11psl. Laisvalaikis Regent street kalėdinių lempučių įžiebimas 12 psl. www.ekspresas.co.uk Facebook.com/Info Ekspresas Kiekvieną savaitę patogiais autobusais bei mikro autobusais vežame keleivius maršrutais Anglija - Lietuva. Siuntinių pervežimas - nuo durų iki durų. LT: +370 60998811 www.lietuva-anglija-vezame.com Lapkričio mėn. bilietai UK: +44 7845 416024 į/iš Londoną (o) TIK £50 El.p.: [email protected] SAVAITRAŠTIS SAVAITRAŠTIS 2 2014 Nr. 10 lapkričio 13-19 Aktualijos: Didžioji Britanija Aktualijos: Didžioji Britanija 2014 Nr. 10 lapkričio 13-19 3 Parengė Karolina Germanavičiūtė Parengė Karolina Germanavičiūtė Įėjusi į namus lapė apkandžiojo vaiką Tariama, kad voro įkandimas Dvejų metų ber- riksmą. Mamai nubėgus į vaiko kambarį, niukas buvo išvežtas jie pamatė, kad vaiko koja kruvina, o kam- į ligoninę po to, kai bario kampe blaškosi lapė. lapė įėjusi į namus jį Sykį trenkusi gyvūnui, mama jo nesu- nusinešė moters gyvybę apkandžiojo. gavo ir lapė paspruko atgal pro ten iš kur 60-metė Pat Gough-Irwin (liet. Pet Gou- Pietų Londone, atėjusi. Irvin) po voro įkandimo mirė skausmuose New Addington (liet. Mažamečio tėvai su vaiku išskubėjo į ar- ir agonijoje. Prieš daugiau nei metus pas- Naujasis Adingtonas) timiausią „Croydon University“ ligoninę, klidus žiniai apie nuodingus vorus atsiras- gyvenanti šeima na- kur vaiko kulnas buvo sutvarstytas ir susiū- davo vis daugiau pranešimų apie šių vora- muose augina katiną, tas, bei buvo įduotas antibiotikų kursas.
  • Congress of Archaeological Societies (In Union with the Society of Antiquaries of London)

    Congress of Archaeological Societies (In Union with the Society of Antiquaries of London)

    Congress of Archaeological Societies (in union with the Society of Antiquaries of London). OFFICERS AND COUNCIL. President : The President of the Society of Antiquaries : SIR HFRCULES READ, LL.D. Hon. Treasurer W. PALEY BAILDON, V.P.S.A. Hon. Secretary : H. S. KlNGSFORD, M.A. Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, W.i. Other Members of Council : G. EYRE EVANS. PROF. J. L. MYRES, O.B.E., D.Sc., M. S. GIUSEPPI, V.P.S.A. F.S.A. ALBANY MAJOR, O.B.E., F.S.A. COL. J. W. R. PARKER, C.B., F.S.A. ROLAND AUSTIN. O. G. S. CRAWFORD, B.A., F.S.A. W. PARKER BREWIS, F.S.A. MRS CUNNINGTON. R. G. COLLINGWOOD, M.A., F.S.A. MAJOR W. J. FREER, D.L., J.P., REV. E. H. GODDARD, M.A. F.S.A. H. St. GEORGE GRAY. WlLLOUGHBY GARDNER, F.S.A. W. J. HEMP, F.S.A. E. THURLOW*LEEDS, M.A., F.S.A. J. P. WILLIAMS-FREEMAN, M.D. Hon. Auditor : Assistant Treasurer : G. C. DRUCE, F.S.A. A. E. STEEL. COMMITTEE ON ANCIENT EARTHWORKS AND FORTIFIED ENCLOSURES. Chairman : SIR HERCULES READ, LL.D., P.S.A. ' Committee : THE EARL OF CRAWFORD AND BAL- SIR ARTHUR EVANS, D.LITT., CARRES, K.T., P.C., LL.D., F.R.S., V.P.S.A. V.P.S.A. WlLLOUGHBY GARDNER, F.S.A. A. HADRIAN ALLCROFT. H. ST. GEORGE GRAY. COL. F. W. T. ATTREE, R.E., F.S.A. W. J. HEMP, F.S.A. G. A. AUDEN, M.D., F.S.A.
  • White Horse Hill Circular Walk

    White Horse Hill Circular Walk

    WHITE HORSE HILL CIRCULAR WALK 4¼ miles (6¾ km) – allow 2 hours (see map on final page) Introduction This circular walk within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Oxfordshire is 7 miles (11km) west of Wantage. It takes you through open, rolling downland, small pasture fields with some wonderful mixed hedgerows, woodland and a quintessential English village. It includes a classic section of The Ridgeway, with magnificent views of the Vale of White Horse to the north, and passes the unique site of White Horse Hill before descending the steep scarp slope to the small picturesque village of Woolstone in the Vale. The walk is waymarked with this ‘Ridgeway Circular Route’ waymark. Terrain and conditions • Tracks, field paths mostly through pasture and minor roads. • Quite strenuous with a steep downhill and uphill section. 174m (571 feet) ascent and descent. • There are 9 gates and one set of 5 steps, but no stiles. • Some paths can be muddy and slippery after rain. • There may be seasonal vegetation on the route. Preparation • Wear appropriate clothing and strong, comfortable footwear. • Carry water. • Take a mobile phone if you have one but bear in mind that coverage can be patchy in rural areas. • If you are walking alone it’s sensible, as a simple precaution, to let someone know where you are and when you expect to return. Getting there By Car: The walk starts in the National Trust car park for White Horse Hill (parking fee), south off the B4507 between Swindon and Wantage at map grid reference SU293866.
  • Wiltshire White Horses (Pdf)

    Wiltshire White Horses (Pdf)

    Wiltshire’s White Horses The Wiltshire Countryside is famous for its white horse chalk hill figures. It is thought that there have been 13 white horses in existence in Wiltshire, but only 8 are sll visible today. The oldest, largest and perhaps the most well known white horse is carved into the chalk hillside across the border in Oxfordshire. Lile is known of the history of the Uffington White Horse, but it is believed to have influenced the cung of the subsequent Wiltshire horses. The first of the Wiltshire white horses to appear was at Westbury in 878AD, although this figure is no longer visible as a new horse was cut on top in 1778. The most recent horse was cut on the hill above Devizes very near to Team Fredericks to celebrate the Millennium. Westbury: The original Westbury white horse was said to be very different in appearance to the horse that appears today. The earlier horse, if local sketches are to be believed, had short legs and a long heavy body, it wore a saddle and had a tail that pointed upwards. In 1778, Lord Abingdon's steward, a Mr. George Gee took it upon himself to re‐design the Westbury horse and changed the appearance of the landscape for ever more. The old horse was completely lost under this new design, and many branded Gee a Barbarian and vandal. Cherhill: A unique aracon of the Cherhill horse was its eye. Measuring four feet in diameter, Aslop filled the eye with glass boles embedded into the turf face down.
  • Signposts to Prehistory

    Signposts to Prehistory

    White Horse Hill Geoglyph & hillfort Signposts to Prehistory Location: ‘White Horse’ Hill (SU 301 866) is in Oxfordshire (historically Berkshire), 2.5 km south of the village of Uffington. The hill forms a part of the scarp of the Berkshire Downs and overlooks the Vale of White Horse. Main period: Bronze Age–Iron Age Access & ownership: The site is managed by the National Trust on behalf of English Heritage and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Whitehorse Hill is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is signposted from the A420 Swindon to Oxford road, and lies next to the B4507 between Ashbury and Wantage. Parking is available but is subject to a charge for non-members (see National Trust website for details). There is also a small viewing point below the Horse on Dragon Hill road, with parking for six blue badge holders only. Uffington Hill is a site of enduring significance. This complex of prehistoric remains (Fig. 1) is set in the striking natural landscape of the chalk downlands, and includes an Iron Age hillfort (Uffington Castle) and the well-known figure of the White Horse. Other features include a Neolithic long barrow and a Bronze Age round barrow, reused in the Roman and Saxon periods respectively. An enclosure and ring ditch lie to the SW of the hillfort and linear ditches across the landscape are thought to represent Bronze Age land Fig. 1. The White Horse Hill landscape from the air. Google divisions. Earth One of Britain’s oldest known routes, the prehistoric Ridgeway, is deflected around the southern side of the hillfort that was probably deliberately sited to control movement along it.