Walks in and around Hungerford

One of the beautiful tree-lined paths at Littelcote.

Ramsbury – Littlecote – Ramsbury

Walking in the beautiful areas of outstanding natural beauty in and around Hungerford is a very special experience. Throughout the summer, we will be publishing details of some of the best and favourite walks in the town and its surrounding villages and countryside.

This first walk of the series is a round trip of about 5 miles. Reasonably gentle, it has only a few styles and easier hilly bits.

Start off in the delightful village of Ramsbury with The Bell Inn in on your left. You may like to know that Ramsbury was originally a Bishopric, established in 909 AD. During the 1700s, Ramsbury had grown to house many trades mostly relating to leather working and by 1790 it also had its own brewery which is still producing fine beers today at nearby Aldbourne.

Littlecote House, now a fine hotel, is a mid-16th century mansion and most well known for being where Henry VIII courted Jane Seymour. It’s a great halfway (ish) point for some excellent refreshment in the hotel’s Kennet bar.

THE WALK – step by step:

• 1) From Ramsbury Square, with ‘The Bell’ on your left, take Scholards Lane signed to Hungerford.
• 2) After about 100 yards, at The Knapp, turn right along Froxfield road and over the river Kennet.
• 3) In about ¼ mile, at Ambrose Farm, turn left along the signposted track and then, after another 100yards and just beyond a house turn right along a hillside (and sometimes a bit muddy) fenced path.
• 4) You will reach a concrete road which you follow to the bottom of the hill where you fork left through the wooded valley.
• 5) Turn left slightly, with the trees on the left and an open field to your right and pass a fir plantation (right) and continue up the incline.
• 6) The track joins a narrow tarmac road where you turn left towards Littlecote House. When you reach the ornamental gates turn left and ignore the turning on your right – keep going straight on to the next junction by the remains of a Roman pavement from a villa,
• 7) Follow the sign for ‘bridleway’ along a grass path with a bank to your right and open fields on the left. This tree lined path border the river Kennet, follow it until you reach a gravelled section and a rounded-end cottage. Here continue straight ahead to Froxfield Road where you turn right and head on back into Ramsbury.

For further information go to: http://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/uploads/walks_pdf/ramsbury_littlecote.pdf