How ever much the intention is to go for a walk on Christmas Day in the daylight I rarely seem to achieve it. Not the most enticing of days in the drizzle but Alex and I decided to set off and walk around the edge of Wantage- at least there would be some street lights.
No photos or a route map but measuring on the map on our return we did walk 6.5 kilometres!
So down from the house, across at the round about and passed the school and along Charlton Village Road which slopes steeply down to the traffic lights. Across here and turning right towards Grove- we decided against cutting through an estate that can course you to get lost even in day light!
We turn left at the next roundabout and walk along Mably Way passed the entrance to the health centre. On to the next roundabout with the De Havilland Venom aircraft commemorating the long since abandoned Grove airfield we turn right along Denchworth Road.
This road has changed greatly in the last few years with another new estate fronting onto this road. The houses get increasingly older as we approach Camel Crossroads – another roundabout and we go straight across. – don’t think I’ve ever crossed the road on foot here before. although this is all familiar territory I’d never walked this exact route.
Going along Ham Road we are looking for the entrance to Lock’s Lane – much further along than I was anticipating. It looks rather dark but as we venture down it and approach the brook and the mill pond at the bottom with it’s ford we have our way lit by a useful street light.
Up from here, passed the old priory buildings long since converted to exclusive homes and out on to Priory Road. We go passed one of the back entrances to King Alfred’s school and Alex reminisces a little, as we come round to the front we can see newish fences and refurbished buildings – all changes in the last nine years.
Along Portway to the traffic lights- towns are so eerie and quiet on Christmas Day late afternoon! Across the staggered crossroads and in to Ormand Road, again another place of changes with new houses on the site of an old Girl’s private school and the now very established apartments in the old Engineering Works.
Alex decided we should walk through by Trinder Road and cut passed the Scout HQ – a place once visited quite frequently – now only for voting! More new houses on the site where one of the three secondary schools once stood. Amalgamated to make one school both boys spent a couple of years at this site which became the home of Year 7 and 8 , which at least stopped the whole thing from feeling to vast.
The trouble with coming this way is we can either turn left and drop down to Charlton Road which is a bit of a waste as we’ve just cut off a corner, or turn right and go up the hill. We of course go up the hill and along Larkdown – by now the drizzle really has turned to rain. Along this road and then left down Larkhill and home.
Good to be out to wear off some food and get some fresh air and to have a walk with my younger son!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 