A whole week since I went for a real walk as not counting a tour around Oxford viewing possible art outlets. Also rather distracted by curtain and cushion making! I didn’t set off until late due to family visitors so decided I needed to go from home.
I decided to walk the usual route to West Lockinge and then go up to the Ridgeway via the long straight route passed Bitham Farm. I haven’t ever walked up this way and it was a steady climb. Trees still stark against the blue sky. And then realised there was an owl on the fence. Managed to get close enough to photograph before it flew away. Upwards to the monument, a point of interest for many visitors.
I set off along the Ridgeway, a wonderfully warm late afternoon and great to be up here with fantastic views and a noticeable change in pallet as the oil seed rape begins to dominate.
There are several choices of ways to leave the Ridgeway, I’ve decided not to go down via Betterton and keep my options open a little longer. The next exit is one I haven’t ever walked before, as I approach I have in my mind that if it is dirt or tarmac I will continue on but I’m pleased to see it is grassy – never noticed this before. As I set of downward I can see what remains of Didcot Power Station, once the proud owner of three large cooling towers – no more!
This really is a pleasant route, some wooded areas and some deep clefts in the ground. This path comes right down to the road to East Ginge. A turn to the left and then right down a farm track which then leads to the top end of Ginge Brook.
The path is high above the brook and then the way marked path drops down and crosses a small stone bridge before coming out near the new bridge which helps facilitate the cycle route to the Harwell site. Not really a path on the Wantage side of the next section of the brook but plenty of tracks. I want to investigate how far I can safely good – I will lead a group along here very soon and I need to find a safe route.
After a while the banks become very steep and they would be wonderful to scramble on if I was with an able bodied companion but I decide that whilst I wanted a future group to see the brook I also needed to keep them safe, so determined my exit point where I continued along a well trodden path round the edge of the field. At last a chance to go back into the wooded area just before the track to the church.
Coming out on to the road I decide to turn left and then quickly right. This track leads across to East Hendred, parallel to one I’ve used before. My path runs alongside the school field and I remember not only a snowy football match but also the now retired head teacher who was a colleague for several years when I taught in Wantage. My path loops back towards West Hendred and across the fields to Ardington. The light is beginning to change a little and I also notice a proliferation of cabbages growing in the fields I’m crossing.
I decide not to take the track up to the stones but continue through the village of Ardington. After I’d walked passed all the houses and get to the grassy area in front of the woods on the side of the hill I have the thought that maybe I could take my group up this way to see the stones. I had been in this area once on a sculpture trail- an amazing event organised by a sculpture artist that tragically died too young. Foolishly as it is now nearing sunset time I decide to take a track up towards the stones. All going well and then I found myself fast approaching the ground- a small root had caused me to trip and it is a strange feeling when you accept you are not going to regain your balance and you are going to go splat on the ground!! As my left hand hits the ground my watch starts doing an emergency SOS bleep. Feeling a little shocked but no real pain I click the no attention needed message and get up to brush myself off. I continue to the top of the hill and to find the stones, wondering at my foolishness! The sky is beginning to look really interesting and I hope there may be some good views at the top.
Back down again and the sky looks impressive but still enough light to see my way back along this very familiar route.
Nearly 12 miles today- really pleased I set off out – very impressed with the SOS Feature on my watch- feeling a little sore and cross with myself. Discovered I must have crashed onto my rib cage when I got into bed! Ouch!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 