I was caught out early at Baydon Hill Farm. Look to the left for an opening in the hedge, and the footpath heading east (on the right of Photo 2). If there is any doubt this is prime horse training territory, Baydon sets that right. The route then heads due east along a surprisingly fine lane, considering it only services Baydon Hole farm (Photo 5)....

Martin Ellis

I agree with all of the comments of the previous two reviewers, overall it was a pleasant and easy to follow route, with the one exception of the paths through the fields either side of the M4....

Snailblakes

Again the path to the M4 crossing was not visible and we used the track and then small road to a housing estate to access the crossing....

Walx Wessex

A relaxing Slow Way across the North Wessex Downs: first south along a byway through the downs, and then east following the River Kennet to the Kennet & Avon Canal at Hungerford. The Slow Way crosses the River Kennet and then turns eastwards (Photo 3)....

Martin Ellis

An attractive Slow Way through the North Wessex Downs that follows the River Kennet east to Ramsbury, and then heads north to Aldbourne village. The route to Ramsbury follows footpaths and lanes south of the river, with access to the river in places (Photo 4). The walk north to Aldbourne is along Love’s Lane: a tarmacked lane which becomes a byway, uneven in places (Photos 5 & 6)....

Martin Ellis

A couple of miles out of Lambourn the route follows a section of the Baydon road for a few hundred yards, this was quite busy with some heavy farm vehicles when we walked it so had to keep our wits about us. Approaching the motorway embankment at the top of the hill the footpath turns left to run parallel and immediately beneath the embankment for a few hundred yards. We eventually forced our way through only to find that the supposed footpath to access the road bridge over the motorway just didn’t exist and we found ourselves stuck in a wasteland at the foot of the embankment which we had to scramble up to access the bridge over the M4 (see pictures)...

Snailblakes

Just north of Ramsbury, at Love's Farm on Love's Lane the land owner had added a series of electric fences over the right of way. but I'll be very pleased to walk this route (minus the electric fences) any time!...

danravenellison

For me it misses out on 5 stars because of a small 100 metre section of walking alongside the fast A346. It was unpleasant for a couple of minutes, but walking this with Slow Ways Darren was fine....

danravenellison

There are some way guiding / access issues around Love's farm which need investigating and some questionable rights of way that need to be checked through....

Slow Ways Darren

There are some tricky bits especially around the A346 which involves a barrier that is tricky to negotiate and about 100ms of road walking along this busy road. It's nice to sneak up to cross The Ridgeway for a bit and then Aldbourne itself is a lovely village with all the essential amenities....

Slow Ways Darren

Some busy roads are used at the start of the walk as you leave Swindon town centre and approach the outskirts, after that, quiet suburban roads, lanes and a cycle track are used. On the approach to Chiseldon, the route leaves the obvious cycle track and uses footpaths instead and I think this adds to the interest....

Andy Lloyd

Starting in Aldbourne, the route initially climbs out of the village on the road to a junction of a byway and footpath which head in the same direction (Photo 1). The footpath meets the byway and heads downhill through the woods eventually turning into the no-through road of Loves Lane (Photo 3). Leaving the road, a footpath (narrow in places – Photo 8) climbs up through the woods before emerging on a hill overlooking Hungerford (Photo 9)....

Ursula

Turning right onto the Ridgeway (Photo 1), the route levels off for the next few km before it turns left onto a wide bridleway heading south (Photo 2). After crossing the M4, the route takes an immediate left onto a bridleway (Photo 5) which initially runs alongside the motorway then climbs up to meet the road. The route crosses the road to a byway opposite (Photo 7) and then it is a pleasant and easy walk downhill to Aldbourne which can soon be seen in the distance (Photo 8)....

Ursula