So back to near Ogbourne St. George and the start for day 2. I’m the leader today officially, even though there are only three of us, and whilst this is not hard navigation attention will still need to be paid to suitable stops etc. I warn the other two that we are in for a long stretch of gradual up to start our day. Already the weather looks more promising than day 1, which is fortunate as this is a much longer day at about 15 miles/ 24 kilometres.
Always good to have things to spot we quickly come across the base of an old railway bridge where a line between Swindon and Marlborough once existed. Closed in the 60’s probably as part of the ‘Beeching’ cuts. Next we cross a small but very straight road, part of a Roman Road between Cirencester and Winchester.
After a while our path swings round to a more northerly direction and we can begin to look out westward to try and trace some of the previous days walk. We had managed to start walking at 8.55 today but it is clear and the views begin to be very good.
It is just about possible to make out Barbury Castle where we had our not so pleasant lunch break. There are some long stretches today without obvious stopping points but we continue climbing slowly up ward. Our next major marker should be Liddington Castle Hill Fort, I optimistically think we are nearly there and then realise,as other features don’t quite fit, that what I can see are just earthworks, ancient but not the castle. At last we are nearly at this first major marker. We have agreed not to divert but to take our rather late coffee break by a world war 2 bunker and memorial wood about half a kilometre further on. We can see it in the distance and this spurs us on.
The landscape has wonderful undulating escarpments, quite common along the ridgeway. We divert off the path to the bunker, apparently the site of a decoy to distract the enemy from Swindon! The wood behind is a memorial or alternative burial ground with flowers, plaques etc. not quite sure what I think but we have agreed that this is our coffee stop and to eat a more substantial snack as lunch will be quite late.
I take time to explain that we need to drop down to a small section of road walking, which includes a bridge over the M4. Forewarned we set off- the first section has a parallel path in a field but then we are not so lucky- not too busy but not the most pleasant. Such a contrast can make you feel quite uncomfortable. We reach the path that leads back on to the ‘Ridgeway’ as I perceive it – a more rural setting. We walk through the car park at Fox Hill.
The last time I was here was when I was being met having just completed a 26 mile stretch from Streatley golf club. A ‘marathon’ walk to raise money for building a kitchen at a school we were linked with in Uganda. Quite pleased with our efforts, the two of us did it with 8 hours walking and 40 minutes total stopping time. Not sure I could do that now!
The sun was warm in places along this next stretch and much of the path was in a good state. Having put on my jacket at our coffee stop I was back with just my fleece, so much better – the wind had been cold at that stop. We had also nearly had a disaster as Anna couldn’t open her flask, neither could we but luckily a family had arrived and she had availed of the strength of a man! The following days she carried a purple silicone ‘flower’ to help open the lid!
More undulations as we head along the ridge to Waylands Smithy, knowing that there are many spring line villages below us to our left. Above Bishopstone there is strong temptation at Ridgeway Farm which has set up a van and outside seating to provide refreshment. There is a lot further to go yet and we know if we settle too soon to eat then the next section will feel very long indeed. Worth coming back to another time. There are quite a lot of people our and about on this very sunny Sunday- hard to think it is early January.
So onward to our lunch spot – next to a burial chamber created 5,500 years ago. This place never fails to excite me. We find a suitable place to sit and it’s back on with the coat- you cool down so quickly this time of year.
We set off refreshed and knowing we have about another two hours more walking to do but the sun is still warm in places and the ground is not too muddy. One of the worst patches had been just as we approached Waylands but even though the next section is chalky it’s not too bad. This is a busy section as we get nearer to the large NT car park near Uffington Castle Fort and White Horse Hill. The trig point on the castle is apparently the highest point in Oxfordshire – we had started our day in Wiltshire.
It was great to look out to my right and know that I had explored some of these remote tracks earlier in the summer. From quite a way out we could begin to see the mast, emerging from the trees just to the right of this image. Our end goal for today was Sparsholt Firs.
We arrived at the firs just as Jane pulled in with the bus. I have to admit to feeling quite pleased with my timing judgements during the day. We had got to the bunker about 10 minutes later than I expected and out lunch stop 5 minutes early and now my phone call to arrange pick up had been spot on!
I had led many groups if adults in the past but very much the distant past. More recently it had been young people obviously plus adults but I do have to say I had enjoyed the responsibility!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 