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UP!_new cover_01:up2008 11/2/08 15:12 Page 1 WILTSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE HAMPSHIRE WEST BERKSHIRE UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Out & About The Wild Side Enjoy a riverside ramble or Get close to and conserve brisk hike over the Downs our beautiful wildlife Local Products Silbury Hill Directory Secrets of the ancient Where to find the best mound revealed local produce A GUIDE TO THE HISTORY, WAYS OF LIFE, ATTRACTIONS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS – AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY 2008 Welcome elcome to the 2008 edition of Up! on the North Wessex Downs . The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated by government as a protected landscape in 1972 to conserve and enhance its Wnatural beauty. The North Wessex Downs AONB is the largest in southern England, and stretches from Devizes to Reading, and from Swindon to Basingstoke. It includes the Berkshire, Lambourn, Marlborough, North Hampshire and Oxfordshire Downs, and such wonderful sites as Avebury, the Ridgeway National Trail, the Uffington White Horse and Watership Down. A map on the back cover of this magazine shows its full extent. The natural beauty of the North Wessex Downs AONB is conserved and enhanced by a wide range of individuals and organisations that come together as a Council of Partners. Members of the Council of Partners include farmers, local communities, nature conservation, archaeology and recreation interests, local authorities and Natural England and the Forestry Commission. I am privileged to lead the North Wessex Downs AONB team that advises and implements the decisions, policies and activities of the Council of Partners that ensure this wonderful landscape is protected for the future. This magazine contains a mine of information about the history, and current and future management of the North Wessex Downs, ideas for day-trips and walks, and where to buy food and other products grown and produced here. Please visit our website at www.northwessexdowns.org.uk for the latest news and events. Fiona Newcombe Director Contact us North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Call: 01488 685440 Email: [email protected] www.northwessexdowns.org.uk Front cover image: Information in here once decided… Produced for the North Wessex Downs Every effort has been made to ensure AONB Office by Fellows Media Ltd the accuracy of the contents and the The Gallery, Manor Farm, Southam, publisher cannot accept liability for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PB. any error or omissions. Reproduction Tel: 01242 259241 of any part of this publication without Email: [email protected] permission is forbidden. UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 3 Out & about Whether it’s antique shopping in Hungerford, exploring the rare wildlife in Savernake Forest, or hiking up the hill where St George reputedly killed the dragon… a visit to the North Wessex Downs certainly won’t disappoint ANGLING of volunteers. It now provides the perfect means of The River Kennet and River Lambourn are two of the enjoying the countryside and attractive market towns, country’s best chalk streams, and their clear waters like Hungerford with its array of antique shops and and high alkaline content offer rich pickings for anglers. Pewsey with its quaint timbered cottages, from the The Environment Agency is incubating salmon eggs on comfort of your own home-from-home. the banks of these rivers as part of the Thames Salmon Project, to find out if sustainable breeding is a GLIDING possibility. If successful, this will be yet another visitor You can never really appreciate the beauty of a place draw. The River Pang, also within the AONB, is a chalk until you’ve seen it from the air, which is probably stream winding its way through peaceful countryside. why gliding is becoming so popular in this area. The It supports native populations of brown trout and Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre in Shrivenham, grayling. If you would prefer to cast your line from the Oxfordshire, and Shalbourne Soaring Society near towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal, you can do so Hungerford both welcome novices and experienced throughout the year but you will need to contact the glider pilots. holders of the appropriate lease at the local angling association or fishing club. CYCLING If you prefer to explore the area’s unspoilt villages and spectacular rolling downlands on two “clear waters and wheels rather than two legs, there are plenty of Walking clearly signposted and well-maintained routes at From a secluded woodland stroll or refreshing high alkaline content your disposal. riverside ramble, to a brisk hike to the top of The National Cycle Network offers 173 miles of the downs where the outstanding views will offer rich pickings routes within North Wessex Downs, including 65 far outweigh the effort it takes to get there, blissful traffic-free miles. The water-loving cyclist the countryside of this area is so rich in for anglers” could do well to try out the newly improved history that you can’t fail to come across sections of the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath, fascinating points of interest while out RIDING Route 4 of the Network. After an invigorating ride walking. There are the grey wethers, or Lambourn Valley, or the Valley of the Racehorse as along the cool paths of Savernake Forest, why not sarsen stones, which are large, ancient it’s sometimes known, is rife with equine activity. enjoy a barbecue in the Forestry Commission’s rocks dotted about in fields as if a giant has After Newmarket, Lambourn is the most important campsite before falling asleep in the shade of its been playing marbles; Walbury hill fort centre for horse racing in Britain, with more than ancient trees. The only privately owned forest in standing 974 feet (297 metres) above sea 2,000 horses being trained here. The springy turf of Britain, owned by 31 generations of the same family, level at Combe Gibbett; or even the village the chalk downs, and wide open spaces of the area Savernake is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, of Little Wittenham which has the proud make it perfect for breeding and training, and boasting deer, birds of prey and rare lichen and fungi. honour of playing host each year to the perfect too for visitors to head out for a gallop. The only problem with planning a day’s cycling in World Pooh-sticks Championships. You can choose from several long-distance North Wessex Downs is deciding which route to take It would be a shame to come to this Area riding routes across the NorthWessex Downs and which of the pretty, unspoilt villages to have a of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and AONB to explore the wonderful countryside and pint and a pit stop in. The three-hour Myths and not walk along the oldest route in England. marvel at the far-reaching views. Less experienced Magic Ride takes in sights such as Uffington Castle The Ridgeway National Trail is 5,000 years riders can enjoy a peaceful trek from one of the and its famous white horse chalk carving, before old and around 85 miles long. Parts of it are many riding stables in the area using the extensive climbing Dragon Hill on which St George is said to used to train racehorses so watch your back! network of bridleways. have slain the beast – no grass grows at the top of Two of Hampshire’s fine long-distance the mound, as it is believed that is where the blood walks begin high on the chalk downs at was shed. Inkpen Beacon in the North Wessex Downs: The Test Way (44 miles long) which CANAL BOATING meanders along the course of the River Test Drifting along the Kennet and Avon Canal in a to Eling; and The Wayfarer’s Walk, extending brightly painted narrow boat, watching the thatched 70 miles to the coast near Portsmouth. The cottages and rolling fields pass by, you’ll wonder latter links up with six circular walks of why you ever used any other form of transport. varying distances, traverses Watership Down, Built more than 200 years ago to connect the West made famous by Richard Adams’ best-selling Country to the Thames and London, the canal has book, and takes in dramatic coastline, recently been lovingly restored thanks to the woodland, rolling hills and lush, green valleys. Heritage Lottery Fund and the efforts of thousands WebsitesExplore to help at plan home… your visit • www.visitkanda.com information for walkers, cyclists and canal boat users • www.katrust.org/information.htm details of angling on the Kennet and Avon Canal • www.shalbournegliding.co.uk • www.swindongliding.co.uk • www.nationaltrust.org.uk • www.english-heritage.org.uk information on Avebury • www.wberksramblers.org.uk • www.ramblers-wilts.org.uk • www.pooh-sticks.com • www.savernakeestate.co.uk • www.sustrans.org.uk details of cycle routes • www.lambourn.info information on horse racing and Lambourn Open Day A national treasure Here’s a quick rundown of the stunning National Trust properties located within and close to the North Wessex Downs AONB BASILDON PARK, READING Benefiting from a second rise to fame in 2005 when it was featured in the film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, this grand 18th-century house stands in ALTON PRIORS – WOODBOROUGH – extensive parkland overlooking the River Thames. HONEYSTREET – STANTON ST BERNARD Distance: 8.5km ASHDOWN HOUSE, LAMBOURN Time: At least 3 hours The spectacular rooftop views from this 17th-century mansion are not to be This circular walk along quiet paths and tracks is packed missed, nor is the Iron Age hill fort where King Alfred is said to have battled with fascinating points of interest.
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