Book 2 Walk 9: Kintbury Circular – Exploring the North Wessex Downs t=2.9
Distance: 14.3 miles or 23 km for those more metrically
minded (it is possible to shorten the route by 5.5 km/3.4 miles)
Difficulty: 3 out of 10
Train: Take the 9:07
AM Great Western Newbury train from London
Paddington, arriving at Kintbury at 10:17 AM (changing at Newbury 9:58
arrival/10:11 departure). Return trains from Kintbury are at 16:51 (change
Newbury); 17:50 (change Newbury/Reading); 18:51 (change Newbury); 19:53 (change
Newbury/Reading); and 20:45 (change Newbury). Buy a day return to Kintbury.
This walk explores the North Wessex Downs which
have a decidedly West Country feel – although being only slightly over an hour
from London. The route ambles gently through some idyllic woods and pastures;
then makes a steep climb up onto the Downs before dropping back into the valley
back to Kintbury. You can find more
information about the walk and download the walk instructions here. Make
sure to bring the instructions for BOTH the main walk and the circular option,
as they are designed to work together!
The recommended lunch pub is the Crown and Garter (01488 668 325) in Inkpen
Common (8.3 miles/13.5 km into the walk), an upmarket looking country pub,
serving food until 2:30PM. Tea and other post walk refreshies can be had at the
very pleasant Dundas Arms along the
canal near Kintbury Station.
Enjoy the walk!
4 comments:
is there GPX or KML map for this circular walk?
I knew someone would point this out....well spotted...I do not believe that there is a gpx for the circular route...but, i plan to track the route to generate one.
plan to do the short cut.
Eight off the train were met by two others who had driven to Kintbury, making for n=10 on this enjoyable outing in w=mostly-dry-but-grey-cloudy-skies. The route took us through gently rolling pastures as a warm-up before the steep climb up Inkpen Hill to the ridge where the views were fabulous far and wide on both sides. Two opted for a picnic with a view while the remaining 8 turned left to continue with the circular walk with only the written word as a guide...We eventually descended the ridge where seven found the pub and one other picnicker decided to carry-on. Six actually dined at the pub (on a booking for 4) and found it friendly and accommodating...The food was also all pretty tasty...so a good option -- but it was crowded, so booking is probably advised...The two ridge picnickers who were planning on the shorter walk option were briefly encountered at the neighboring cafe before the 7 set off on the main route across more undulating farmland and passing through very enigmatic Hampstead Park with a number of ornate columns....what were they for???? We finished along a pretty section of the canal with a drink at the canal-side pub (perhaps unwisely letting the 17:50 train go)....On the 18:50 fortunately fortified with some provisions, our train was held for over an hour at Reading due to a person being hit by a train near Langley.....but we eventually arrived in London and they delay passed quickly in good company.....
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