For Tuesday’s walk, we meet again at Pierreponts cafe (High Street, Goring-on-Thames RG8 9AB) which opens for breakfast at 8am. We will start walking at 9am.

Click on the image to get a larger map of the route.

After crossing the bridge over the Thames, going west along the Ridgeway, the first 2.5 miles is along roads and mostly up hill. Anyway wishing to avoid this uphill climb can drive to the car park along the same route. Those of us who enjoy a view may take the steep climb up Lardon Chase to look down upon Streatley & Goring and along the Thames north and south. This is where Brunel is said to have mapped out part of the route for the Great Western Railway. We then join the road and the Ridgeway on the other side of the hill.

From the car park, we continue to follow the road until it turns into the Ridgeway track which we follow to the car park at Bury Down which is accessible from the A34 (follow the sign to The Ridgeway). This is a 6 mile walk.

From Bury Down, we follow the Ridgeway track past another car park at East Hendred Down (another 2 miles) and on to yet another car park at Middlehill Down (another 2.5 miles).This car park is accessible via the B4494 from Wantage. After some 13 miles of walking, this is time for lunch.

Another 5.5 miles takes us to the car park at Sparsholt Firs, passing Letcombe Castle on the way. This marks a total of 18.5 miles from Goring.

Another 3 miles takes us to the White Horse above Uffington. Anyone wanting a short walk in the late afternoon can join us at the Sparsholt Firs car park to walk to the White Horse. After exploring White Horse Hill and Uffington Castle, lifts need arranging from the car park back to Wantage or to Goring or wherever to pickup cars.

This walk is 21.5 miles.

Parking: the White Horse at Uffington has a car park. Cars may be left all day at the station in Goring. There are a number of other car parks along the route for anyone doing shorter stretches.

Today’s gig is at The Swan in Wantage.