Kintbury to Great Bedwyn, Book 2 walk 9.
12.4 miles (20km)
5 out of 10
I've gone for a later start to this walk, as the lunch pub is just 4 miles (6.5km) into the walk making the lunch stop around 1.10 rather than 12.10.
"This walk has a decidedly West Country feel. In the morning, it passes through an idyllic series of woods and pastures, with largely gentle gradients. After lunch at a quiet country pub in Inkpen it climbs up onto a long ridge, giving views as dramatic, but even more unspoiled, than any on the South Downs. The rest of the walk follows the Test Way, a broad track along the top of this ridge, before descending to the valley and the pretty village of Great Bedwyn."
Trains: 1018 Bedwyn train from Paddington, first stop Reading, arriving Kintbury 1130. From other stations, you will need to get to Reading for a 1051 departure. There is a direct return from Bedwyn at 1739 & 1841, with the 1941 involving a change at Reading. Buy a return to Bedwyn.
Lunch: Swan Inn (tel 01488 668326) at Lower Inkpen, which specialises in organic beef (no dogs inside).
Tea: You should be able to catch the 1739 with a quick lunch, but if not there is the The Cross Keys Inn (tel 01672 870332) in Great Bedwyn, open all day at weekends and tea and coffee are always available.
T=2.09
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1 comment:
A typical "to the Downs, up the Downs, along the Downs, down the Downs"-walk, with a fair few woods, field boundaries and lanes thrown in for good measure. Fine views from the ridge of the West Berkshire Downs, hardly a soul in sight, just the odd W=drizzle attempt to contend with. Pleasant stop at the Swan Inn, although the pub was disconcertingly empty. Only negative really is the fact that the path on the ridge is a byway, resulting in deep tyre tracks making walking hard work.n=10 walkers, all returning on the 17.39 train.
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