Here a Truly Special Placeso Precious

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protected mysteries parties to make it happen. happen. it make to parties Interest (SSSIs). Interest picturesque villages. villages. picturesque

for the area and work with all interested interested all with work and area the for Sites of Special Scientific Scientific Special of Sites 66 than contribute to the character of the area’s area’s the of character the to contribute

treasured and and treasured great unsolved unsolved great

The staff produce a management plan plan management a produce staff The North Wessex Downs have no fewer fewer no have Downs Wessex North chalk, you also often have flints that that flints have often also you chalk,

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“ be explored, explored, be one of the the of one supported by a small professional team. team. professional small a by supported southern England. Small wonder the the wonder Small England. southern established pasture. Where you have have you Where pasture. established

governing Council of Partners, which is is which Partners, of Council governing finest examples of chalk downland in in downland chalk of examples finest cleared wildwood for arable crops and and crops arable for wildwood cleared

Somewhere to to Somewhere Silbury Hill, Hill, Silbury

representatives to make up the the up make to representatives National Nature Reserve is one of the the of one is Reserve Nature National settle in the few river valleys where they they where valleys river few the in settle

conservation, tourism and heritage heritage and tourism conservation, near Marlborough. The Pewsey Downs Downs Pewsey The Marlborough. near encouraged the local population to to population local the encouraged

together with community, farming, farming, community, with together bluebells in profusion at West Woods Woods West at profusion in bluebells downland with its lack of water water of lack its with downland

Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. They come come They Wiltshire. and Oxfordshire at Ashampstead and Savernake, and and Savernake, and Ashampstead at used by prehistoric man. The exposed exposed The man. prehistoric by used

authorities in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, in authorities Bucklebury and Inkpen, veteran trees trees veteran Inkpen, and Bucklebury the Ridgeway, the ancient chalk route route chalk ancient the Ridgeway, the

is the responsibility of nine local local nine of responsibility the is There are ancient heathlands at at heathlands ancient are There one of Britain’s most ancient roads, roads, ancient most Britain’s of one

beauty of the North Wessex Downs Downs Wessex North the of beauty the northern edge of the area runs runs area the of edge northern the

rare birds. rare Barbury Castle in Wiltshire. in Castle Barbury © StanGreen

Conserving and enhancing the natural natural the enhancing and Conserving been disturbed in centuries. Along Along centuries. in disturbed been

helps local farmers to protect a range of of range a protect to farmers local helps Beacon Hills in north Hampshire and at at and Hampshire north in Hills Beacon

sweeps of chalk grassland that haven’t haven’t that grassland chalk of sweeps

visitors alike. alike. visitors Wessex Downs Farmland Bird Initiative Initiative Bird Farmland Downs Wessex enclosures and hillforts at Ladle and and Ladle at hillforts and enclosures

contours of the landscape but for for but landscape the of contours

landscapes much loved by residents and and residents by loved much landscapes eyes is a summer visitor. The North North The visitor. summer a is eyes Other historic sites include Iron Age Age Iron include sites historic Other the rolling and sometimes dramatic dramatic sometimes and rolling the

“ working living, are They beautiful. being its long yellow legs and round yellow yellow round and legs yellow long its Neolithic barrows nearby. nearby. barrows Neolithic 20 some are

The geology is responsible not just for for just not responsible is geology The be disappointed. be

AONBs are not, however, just about about just however, not, are AONBs the skylark. The rare stone curlew with with curlew stone rare The skylark. the the great unsolved mysteries. There There mysteries. unsolved great the

a most visibly ancient landscape.” landscape.” ancient visibly most a lapwing or the distinctive chirruping of of chirruping distinctive the or lapwing the motive for which remains one of of one remains which for motive the animals. animals. look. You won’t won’t You look. skylarks

beautiful, quiet and unrenowned and and unrenowned and quiet beautiful, “ Listen out for the ‘peewit’ call of the the of call ‘peewit’ the for out Listen Neolithic Britain. Nearby is Silbury Hill, Hill, Silbury is Nearby Britain. Neolithic threatened and fragile plants and and plants fragile and threatened

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Take a closer closer a Take lapwings and and lapwings

influence of a great melody. It is is It melody. great a of influence of the principal ceremonial sites of of sites ceremonial principal the of that support some of the UK’s most most UK’s the of some support that

breasted hills curved as if under the the under if as curved hills breasted a massive bank and ditch made it one one it made ditch and bank massive a are internationally rare habitats habitats rare internationally are

Listen out for for out Listen © AndrewPerrott

landscape

wrote: “This is pure downland, the the downland, pure is “This wrote: history, romance and bustling business. business. bustling and romance history, three great stone circles enclosed by by enclosed circles stone great three constant temperature. Chalk streams streams Chalk temperature. constant

As the celebrated poet Edward Thomas Thomas Edward poet celebrated the As Downs are also packed with wildlife, wildlife, with packed also are Downs BC, its its BC, 2200 to BC 2600 around from filtered water from hillside springs at a a at springs hillside from water filtered “ working working

fascination because the North Wessex Wessex North the because fascination Built and altered over many centuries centuries many over altered and Built winterbournes that carry crystal-clear crystal-clear carry that winterbournes

silver spotted skipper. skipper. spotted silver living, A

But amidst the peace there is endless endless is there peace the amidst But the world heritage site of Avebury. Avebury. of site heritage world the valleys with streams and seasonal seasonal and streams with valleys

treasured and protected. and treasured and blue Adonis the like butterflies rare see to enough lucky be heritage – nowhere more so than at at than so more nowhere – heritage through the chalk creates dry dry creates chalk the through

with sparkling rivers and streams. streams. and rivers sparkling with

The North Wessex Downs have a rich rich a have Downs Wessex North The The fact that rain runs so readily readily so runs rain that fact The Downs are somewhere to be be to somewhere are Downs ell ell w could you and insects attract turn in They violets. hairy and

ancient woodland and sheltered valleys valleys sheltered and woodland ancient

towns of Hungerford and Marlborough. and Hungerford of towns the landscapes, beautiful most id id orch pyramidal trefoil, birdsfoot gentian, early scabious, rich

horses, dramatic scarp slopes, majestic majestic slopes, scarp dramatic horses,

downland topped by rampant white white rampant by topped downland parishes including the market market the including parishes 173 in taking and kilometres) square Britain’s of one Undoubtedly today’s soft rock. rock. soft today’s - nectar the include thrive that flowers Wild butterflies. rare and

geology gives this area its wide open open wide its area this gives geology

1,075 ( miles square 668 of area an covering AONBs, 46 Britain’s place. special truly a are million years ago and are the source of of source the are and ago years million 65 around sea the in lived s s flower chalk-loving birds, farmland with teeming is that habitat

united by one single factor – chalk. The The chalk. – factor single one by united

nation. The North Wessex Downs make up the third largest of of largest third the up make Downs Wessex North The nation. Downs Wessex North the under a warm sea. The geology is based on tiny creatures that that creatures tiny on based is geology The sea. warm a under is a rich rich a is turf springy characteristically the rabbits, and sheep by straddling four counties. It is an area area an is It counties. four straddling

e e th for protected be should it that outstanding so as recognised villages, postcard picture and chalk band that stretches across southern England and was once once was and England southern across stretches that band chalk azed azed gr Traditionally nutrients. in low are that soils well-drained appreciate this often unheralded patch patch unheralded often this appreciate

British countryside, you cannot fail to to fail cannot you countryside, British landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are are beauty natural and character distinctive whose landscape towns market charming to f the the f o heart the at lies area The chalk. – tick it makes really what , , thin on grassland chalk the is them amongst least Not habitats.

If you love all that is best in the the in best is that all love you If

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a precious precious a is (AONB) Beauty Natural Outstanding of Area An downland rolling remote, From Scratch the surface in the North Wessex Downs and you find find you and Downs Wessex North the in surface the Scratch cial cial spe of range diverse a wildlife offer Downs Wessex North The

So precious So place special truly A Simply wild Simply down Digging

WELCOME Take a wander Famous places Getting here to the The North Wessex Downs are well worth a wander, whether that The simple beauty of the North Wessex Downs has captured Stand on the top of the Downs and you could be many miles from means the great outdoors or some more specific attraction. The the imaginations of writers and TV/film producers alike. anywhere. But the reality is that, given their central location, the North Wessex Downs big open skies with their panoramic views make the countryside Samuel Pepys, Richard Jefferies, Edward Thomas and John North Wessex Downs are actually very accessible. While there Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ideal for bird watching, cycling, walking, fishing, riding – and Betjeman all wrote about the area. The National Trust’s are only two modest-sized market towns, the Downs have much star-gazing on clear nights. Basildon Park near Pangbourne with its impressive Georgian larger towns like Reading, Swindon, Newbury, Basingstoke, mansion was the setting for the 2005 feature film of Jane Andover, Devizes and Didcot at their gateways, with no fewer The Lambourn valley is one of Britain’s Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. than eight railway stations in the area and 12 others nearby. most prolific centres for training racehorses, so you may well come across some very expensive horse Public transport is an environmentally- Canal holidays are another relaxing flesh in your travels – or watch them friendly and cost-effective option. way of enjoying the area. The main compete at Newbury Racecourse. You The area benefits from a network of towns all have companies offering can also fish on the Kennet, Lambourn, innovative bus services which will take narrow boat hire. Pang and Avon. If you want to set your Big open skies A most visibly you out into the more remote parts of pulse racing a little faster, you could try and panoramic the area. You can “dial-on-demand” paragliding, kiteboarding and canoeing “ “ancient to book some services. For more or take to the skies in a hot air balloon. views landscape information on getting around the Tipper © Nick North Wessex Downs by bus, coach and Picturesque downland villages each More recently, Highclere Castle has Edward Thomas 1878-1917 train visit www.traveline.com. There have their own attractions which often “ achieved national fame as the location “ are over 900 miles of footpaths - we include a fine church and sometimes for the hugely popular ITV series recommend some excellent walks on a thatched country pub. Towns like Downton Abbey. Avebury Manor © Peter Orr our website. Hungerford (famous for its antiques) came to fame in 2011 as part of a TV and Marlborough with its impressive transformation which makes it and its The amazing scenery is also an Georgian High Street and annual jazz gardens well worth seeing as part of argument for taking to the saddle, with > Where to go festival have much to offer, especially a visit to the mystical stone circle. The plenty of opportunities whether you on market days. Savernake Forest is National Trust cares for Ashdown House are a beginner or an owner wanting > What to see only just outside Marlborough and is North Wessex Downs somewhere to stay with stables. Or how Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Lambourn with its unusual dolls’ great for walks and picnics. The Kennet about touring the profusion of quiet > Map of the area Units 3-4, Denford Manor, Lower Denford, house appearance and for Sir Stanley & Avon Canal meanders all the way © Jon Cruise Hungerford RG17 0UN Spencer’s striking pictures of First World country lanes and byways by bike? The through the area. It’s worth taking tel: 01488 685440 War Salonika filling a small chapel at National Cycling Network route 4 is one time out from your stroll to admire web: www.northwessexdowns.org.uk Burghclere. of the most pleasant ways to explore the steam-powered engineering at email: [email protected] © Lord Carnarvon the North Wessex Downs, following the NORTH WESSEX the Crofton Pumping Station which is All venues quoted here are open to their Kennet & Avon Canal out of Reading DOWNS Printed on FSC approved stock using recycled content One of the the highest point on the canal and lifts own timetables and should be checked Design/production: www.publicityproject.co.uk to Newbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn and AONB Family water 400 feet (122m) from the river. Produced on behalf of the Council of Partners before making visits. Pewsey to Devizes.