Oxfordshire Uffington White Horse

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distinctive hillock where it’s Dragon Hill, an oddly shaped, Facing the white horse is dates back over 3000 years. whose famous skeletal outline the Uffington White Horse, Age hillfort, below which lies Uffington Castle, an early Iron along the Ridgeway from atmospheric site lies a mile of metal working. This Wayland, the Saxon god believed to be the home of chambered long barrow, once Wayland’s Smithy – a Neolithic road: the Ridgeway. First up is often called Britain’s oldest landmarks and the trackway landscape boasting four iconic metres km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 through an ancient Walk back in time nigel vile chosen by… 05 u Distance: 7 miles/11.2km u 7 miles/11.2km Distance: 2 4

uffington White oxfordshire 6 the North Wessex Downs. Expect soul-lifting views from dragon’s blood was spilled. mark the spot where the grass will grow – is said to on this hillock – where no dragon. A bare patch of chalk alleged St George slew a 1 byway. In 1km, pass through a a crossroads onto a restricted In another 300m, turn L at a crossroads along the way. Smithy, keeping ahead at to1.5km reach Wayland’s Trail. Follow it to the R for with the Ridgeway National ahead for 350m to a junction byway on the L and continue 300m, ignore the restricted follow the road to the L. In GR ADIENT PROFILE Leave the car park and Start in Walking the oldest road B Time: 4 hours u 4 hours Time: ritain, 8

T he 10 R idge Grade: Moderate Grade: way.

nigel vile nigel Photo: where the track bears L 2 for to 2.2km reach a track. and follow the bridleway ahead belt of trees, enter field ahead 14 in nearby Woolstone is route, but The White horse Landranger 174 Maps os explorer 170; public transport None ( a delightful garden a dog-friendly pub with refreshments nearest town swindon Planning stiles None windswept downland tracks and paths across is it for me? Undulating grid ref sU294865 postcode sN7 7UK, Uffington Castle car park, start/parking P&D NT route horsewoolstone.co.uk p 01367 8207 Turn L and, in 400m, 3½ miles/5.7km lan your walk H 16 orse 26; None on www.white 18

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south east ✁ foresight of the Victorians grass and heathland. The habitats: woodland, lakes, protects a wide variety of Scientific Interest which designated as a Site of Now, most of the area is Queen Victoria visited in 1882. public was confirmed when a place of relaxation for the the Forest’s official status as by the rich w The land-grab via enclosure hectares of Epping Forest. Conservator of the 2400 of London was appointed when, in 1878, the Corporation different users were resolved rights and privileges between former f metres Qvist’s km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 over the exercise of Centuries of conflict len banister chosen by… O 06 orest superintendent. u ak, named after a ak, named after a as stopped and Distance: 3¾ miles/5.8km u miles/5.8km 3¾ Distance: 2 4

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6 sex sex 1 famous 19th century cricketer, Grimston Oak, named after a fork, go L. To your R is the ignoring the R turn. At the next forward at the next junction, as it curves to the L and keep R on a wide ride. Follow this the first main junction, go remains of an old road. At R past a barrier along the trees – both magnificent oaks. also visits its only two named the Forest. On the way it samples most aspects of development. This walk have been extensive ribbon from what, otherwise, would also protected a huge area lung for East London, it has has not only provided a green GR ADIENT PROFILE Leave the car park, turn Start

8 Time: 2 hours u 2 hours Time: 10 E

12 Grade: Easy

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len banister len Photo: The tree is 5m in circumference a pioneer of electric telegraphy. Robert Grimston, who was also 14 Landranger 177 Maps from Chingford 5. Point 3 is a short walk D P P pub (0208 5053737) pass The Warren Wood snacks. At Point 4 you near start sells hot drinks/ R Chingfor N P S some rough surfacing. horse ‘rides’ which have I grid ref TQ409967 roundabout on the A104, south of T on S 20 from Walthamstow/ R p s it f tiles None tart/parking Car park ublic ublic efreshments ebden s earest towns LANNING oute lan your walk F airmead or me? Mainly follows F O

transport Bus toilets None S 16 orest d, Loughton

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20 ➥ south east Date walked time taken your rating

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to a junction in 150m. a junction to the above L and walk Turn before Horse White Uffington the hillside across continuing a gate to Cross a lane. reach to a following before opposite some a field to across path and the car park. trees

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6 a car park to a road. a car park to to the R of a Corporation of the R of a Corporation to board. information London to with this main track Stick L through swing eventually initially parallel to road on road to initially parallel L which swings path faint the middle of a clearing, across

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2 miles/3.3km the across Go straight 2½ miles/4.1km Cross the road by a barrier. a barrier. by the road Cross 1½ miles/2.6km taking the L Cross, 1 mile/1.7km the around walk R to Turn OS Explorer u map 174 u and 400 years old. Just past old. Just and 400 years the oak, go L on a narrower Water. Connaught Reach path. 2 3 4 5 later joined by another from another from joined by later a road. the L. Reach road, past a barrier. Keep Keep a barrier. past road, up on the main path straight a cricket reach eventually to the perimeter Follow ground. first turn off L at clockwise; go R then L on bench to which is track, substantial lake and reach an outfall by by an outfall and reach lake R Turn multiple fingerposts. River alongside the juvenile Ching (it got its name in the Chingford, from 19th century At than the reverse). rather a road. go L to a T-junction, (narrower) of 2 tracks. of 2 tracks. (narrower) scrubland L, close to Continue up the meadow. R, walking a gate R to swing the top, At R is The your (on and road pub). Wood Warren Descend then climb on a ride. Descend of the hill, reach the top At a bench (this is an oak by a Oak, named after Qvist’s Superintendent). Forest former to downhill now Continue, the corner Cross a lane. a path take diagonally L to 06 south east