- This walk is limited to 19 walkers + the walk leader.
- Do not turn up for a walk without prior booking, else we will have to turn you away
- Follow all safety advice given by the walk leader
- It is recommended you bring hand sanitizer or gloves in case you need to touch gates/stiles/etc
- If you or someone else from your household has COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend.
Meeting at the Hill Road Car Park in Watlington (OX49 5BD) we’ll be setting off for a day’s walking in the beautiful Chiltern Hills. This walk is a little longer, and a little hillier than most on the programme. If you can comfortably manage a normal club 8-miler and fancy a little bit of a challenge, I’d encourage you to come along! It’ll be a lovely way to spend a Sunday.
We’ll be setting off from the meet point at 10:00 and join the Ickneild Way towards the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve. Containing flower-rich chalk grassland, woodland and juniper scrub this area has allowed a huge number of butterfly, flower and bird species to flourish. This should distract nicely from the first hill. We’ll pause at the top to take in the spectacular view over the Oxford plain.
We’ll then proceed through a mix of woodland, open fields and farm land taking in Sadler’s Wood, Coombe Wood and Commonhill Wood as we head towards Ibstone. This will mark the most westerly point on the walk, and the start of the return leg.
Hellcorner Farm, Great Wood, and Blackmoor Wood await, before heading through the pretty village of Christmas Common and starting the final descent back to Watlington.
Depending upon the pace of the group, this walk could end as late as 16:00/17:00, so pack for a day in the countryside. We’ll be stopping for a packed lunch and a couple of snack/drink breaks along the way.
There are a couple of pubs in Watlington, the walk leader plans to visit one of these following the walk for a drink and perhaps some dinner depending on the time.
This location is tricky to get to via public transport from Reading. If you would be willing to provide a lift to someone, or need a lift to the walk, please contact the walk leader asap. NOTE: You must book a place on the walk via the Google Form in order to offer/request a lift. Please do NOT book a place on the walk via the walk leader.
If you have booked a place, and are interested in visiting a pub after the walk, please contact the walk leader asap.
Book a place on this walk by completing the Google Form. We will only use the contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk, or to share if requested with NHS Test and Trace.
If after booking, you need to cancel your place on the walk, please email walkbookings@berkshirewalkers.co.uk so that we can make your place available to someone else.
Please only contact the leader with queries about the walk or if you are delayed on the day.