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Home , Berkshire Downs, Uffington White Horse, Whitehorse Hill

Places to visit – check opening times

The Ridgeway An ancient route over a broad track along a chalk ridge which has been used since prehistoric times by travellers, herdsmen and soldiers. As “Britain’s oldest road” it runs for 87 miles (139km) from near in to in Buckinghamshire past ancient on the , Great Shefford to Hook by. On the sides of the road there are across the Thames and then along lower- paddocks with thoroughbreds grazing and lying paths through the wooded Norton over the you can feel the land is carefully managed. countryside of the Chilterns. Downs and through the Vale Signs of substantial investment catch the of the White Horse eye with numerous modern or upgraded Although the M4 slices through the stables and houses. The villages have a An eight acre double walled late Bronze west of Newbury, the Age sits on the very top of valleys leading up to the rolling (261m or 849ft) close to and ridge running east-west reveal far the ancient Ridgeway. more of the life and purpose of a

particularly attractive area. The principal valley is the Lamborn valley running One of only four in the UK that face to the northwest from Newbury and the start of right, it is high on an escarpment of the this route is around half way up that valley Berkshire Downs below Whitehorse Hill at Great Shefford, close to J14 on the and a mile and a half south of Uffington M4.The route passes through village. It looks out over the Vale of the at the head of the valley and then, as you White Horse but as it is cut into the turf head out on the downs with training above the steepest slope, it can only gallops in all directions, you are really be viewed well from afar or from the increasingly aware of the ridge on the air. skyline. Once you crest the ridge, you

Wayland’s Smithy drop down the steep northern scarp slope and then head across an entirely different A Neolithic burial chamber, originally purposeful feel too with stable staff walking terrain - the broad Vale of the White Horse created as a round barrow with material back from an early start to their daily routine west of Oxford. As you pass through this dug from two ditches either side of the with the horses. undulating, farming area, brick and flint mound and then the mound was covered At Lambourn you turn right and head out buildings abound in the many villages and with a wooden mortuary house. From onto the downs. The smooth rolling downs the historic market towns of and around 3500BC, the mound was enlarged with their large fields have a soft feel to the Witney. Beyond Witney the scenery to its present shape with a cruciform eye and all the time you are aware of the big changes with the soft colours of Cotswold chamber and the mound enclosed with a skylines. You will see racehorses exercising stone buildings. Near Chipping Norton you supporting dry stone wall with six large on the gallops and many will pass you on the cross the A361 Banbury road and drop into sarcen stones in the entrance wall. road. the narrow lanes through Swerford heading Crossing the ridge you see the for Hook Norton. This route is one of Tom Brown’s Museum Ridgeway either side. It is an ancient route contrasting scenery with a great deal of The 380 year-old schoolroom which was that runs from near Marlborough in the west interest along the way. It is one that cannot featured in "Tom Brown's School Days" through to the on the Thames fail to provide a memorable day in an MG! published in 1857 houses the museum. and then on east through the Chilterns. To , author of the book, was As you leave Great Shefford you pass born in Uffington, and many of the places St Mary’s church with its octagonal tower described in the book are still visible and climb gently up the valley through today. The Museum has displays of local East Garston. The key feature is history, archaeology and archives of the horseracing – it is a major activity with surrounding villages, as well as many stables along the length of the valley mementoes of Thomas Hughes and the and in the surrounding area, together with late poet laureate, Sir John Betjeman, several equine veterinary centres. who spent many happy years living in Frequently you meet groups of horse Uffington. Open from 2pm to 5pm each riders returning from training work on the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday gallops. It is worth noting these are not Monday from Easter until the end of ordinary horses – they are highly tuned October. racehorses, not roadwise hacks, so it is Postcode SN7 7RA both wise and courteous to resist the urge to pass even slowly. Far better to bring your car to a halt and allow them to walk

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Blenheim Palace The Baroque Palace, home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Churchill, is set in 2,100 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Not far from the centre of Woodstock, northwest of Witney on the A4095. Postcode OX20 1PX www.blenheimpalace.com

Rousham House and garden the north is a truly stunning sight – a pass Tom Brown’s Museum and another Built in 1635, Rousham is privately panorama over the broad Vale of the White church with an octagonal tower, then on to owned with an exceptional walled Horse. On a cold day with clear air, the Faringdon via the hamlets of and garden. Visits to the house are only by views are very long indeed. You then drop Little Coxwell. After a short dash along the prior arrangement. Note there are no down a steep scarp slope towards the village A420, you turn into Faringdon. The route on to catering facilities. Just off the A4260 east of but turn left halfway down Witney is enjoyable with the increasing of Chipping Norton. Postcode OX25 4QX onto the B4057 which runs parallel to the Cotswold stone influence. www.rousham.org ridge. Ahead of you looms Whitehorse Hill North from Witney the route on the up on the ridge. After just over a mile you B4022 through the villages of Finstock and Hook Norton Brewery can turn left and climb up a single track road Charlbury crosses the River Evenlode and Remains one of only 32 independent by Dragon Hill. You pass close to the hillfort then over the A44 to the attractive Cotswold family-run breweries and is a fine of Uffington Castle when the road leads to a village of Little Tew. On reaching the main example of a Victorian tower brewery. spacious, well surfaced car park on A361 Chipping Norton to Banbury road, the It's also the only brewery still driven by Woolstone Hill. From there you can enjoy a route crosses over and drops into the narrow steam. Excellent visitor centre and tours walk to the hillfort, see the White Horse and lanes around Swerford and then heads for of the brewery by prior arrangement. walk along to Wayland’s the very attractive village of Hook Norton. Postcode OX15 5NY Smithy, a in a quiet copse. Take very great care here as you often come 01608 730384 across horse riders in the narrow lanes. www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk Hook Norton is an impressive village with a long main street lined by buildings of Tea shops and pubs attractive honey-coloured Cotswold stone

which are well maintained and represent a White Horse glorious array of thatched and tiled roofed Morning coffee or lunch in this well run properties. At the western end of the village pub in the small village of Woolstone is a you will find the lane to the Hook Norton delight. It has a range of Arkells ales and Brewery next to the Pear Tree Inn - a serves cooked lunches and bar snacks. welcome refreshment point. Opposite is a spacious well surfaced car The visitor centre at the Hook Norton park. Overnight B&B rooms are available Brewery is well worth seeing as it has an too. Postcode SN7 7QL 01367 820726 interesting display of the life and times of Britchcombe Farm Teashop both the brewery and village. Do try and see Just below Whitehorse Hill on the the brewery’s steam engine in action – it is on the ground floor of the eight storey B4057, this farm serves delicious cream A good lunch spot is the White Horse in brewery building. Often you can stand at an teas at weekends in the summer Woolstone, an Arkells pub a mile or so below open door and see it throbbing away, driving months. 01367 820667 the Woolstone Hill car park, which serves an array of belts and cogs which provide delicious lunches and bar snacks. If you most of the motive force for the building. Pear Tree Inn should do this route in reverse, then there is This attractive 18th century pub has a a splendid teashop at Britchcombe Farm on single, beamed bar with welcoming log the B4057 below Whitehorse Hill. fire and has B&B rooms. The Pear Tree The route north from Woolstone takes is open all day and has the full range of you first to the village of Uffington where you Hook Norton beers. It is an ideal refreshment stop after visiting the brewery. Postcode OX15 5NU 01608 737482

Route data Route is 58 miles excluding the off route visits and the approximate driving time is 2 hr 10 minutes. Full route details and additional information are available at www.v8register.net/mmgr/mmgr.htm

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