Lambourn to East Ilsley 2 (Lameas 2) review. A Slow Way which follows the Lambourn Valley before heading up onto the Wessex Downs; for villages, downland and woodland. The villages of Lambourn and East Ilsley can be reached by bus from Newbury: 4/4a and 6/6a respectively. The Slow Way follows the Lambourn Valley Way long distance path. The valley footpath was rather muddy on my walk; a day of light rain that became heavy by East Ilsley (Photos 2 & 3). An alternative route into East Ilsley is Hungerford to East Ilsley (Huneas 2), which takes a scenic field path....

Martin Ellis

Hungerford to East Ilsley 2 (Huneas 2) review. Note: I walked East Ilsley to Hungerford. The rural buses I used were from Newbury: 4/4a towards Lambourn, and 6/6a to East Ilsley. I’ve become familiar with The Swan during my Slow Ways excursions (Photo 1). The Slow Ways takes a footpath west, which then turns south toward Hungerford, passing fields and woods (Photos 12 & 13). A loop into Hungerford Newtown provides a break point at The Tally Ho pub. The Slow Way crosses the River Kennet, and approaches Hungerford along the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath (Photo 15)....

Martin Ellis

There is a short urban walk to join the Icknield Greenway, a well-maintained cycle path east to Harwell (Photo 2). The Slow Way then leaves the Ridgeway for a footpath south into East Ilsley; parallel to the A34 and overgrown in a few places (Photo 8)....

Martin Ellis

An attractive route across the North Wessex Downs, which ascends from Newbury in the River Kennet valley to East Ilsley, close to The Ridgeway. The route passes fields (Photo 1) and takes an underpass under the A34. The Slow Way joins the Ilsley Down Riding Route – a reminder of how influential horse training is to the downs (Photo 3). The route into Newbury avoids most of the urban walk by joining the Lambourn Valley Way long-distance path, and ends by following the Kennet and Avon Canal into the town centre (Photo 10)....

Martin Ellis

After crossing the M4 out of Chieveley, the route winds through Bussocks Wood and heads towards Winterbourne and then up to Snelsmore Common. For other options, Chieveley has a shop and a pub, Snelsmore Common has a refreshment kiosk, plenty of outdoor seating and loos....

Ursula

The marked footpath after crossing the road in Upton is very narrow and overgrown- so much so that a local villager commenting 'it's unusual to see someone walking down here!' - there is an alternative which would be more suited for wheels, turning left as you face the road and heading through the village on the path parallel instead. After exiting Upton the paths go through fields and meadows, some of the path here is not completely clear as it can be confusing knowing which is the path and which is just where the farmer has cleared a vehicle route....

FootpathFaye

Good picnic spot next to the pond in East Ilsley, but also two pubs nearby....

Christine R

East Ilsley to Wallingford (Easwal 1) review. Note: I walked Wallingford to East Ilsley. Wallingford is an attractive town with plenty of amenities. There is a plaque on the Winterbrook road (Photo 1) with information on the Agatha Christie Trail....

Martin Ellis

But, when checking the usage on Strava heat maps (a good proxy for footpath usage rates) it's striking that one part of this route is extremely faint, the long N-S stretch running east of Brick Kiln Wood....

Daisy C

Lovely route following part of the Ridgeway, with beautiful views of rolling countryside all around....

Sarah_Sarah29

Finally, it uses a small section alongside the Thames (Photo 5) before heading to the centre of Wallingford. It is largely off-road on byways, bridleways and footpaths with only a small section of road (no pavement) into Aston Tirrold....

Ursula

The route takes a grassy path (Photo 1) ascending onto the Ridgeway National Trail. The Slow Way crosses over a dismantled railway and joins a tarmacked lane (Photo 3). The route continues north straight as an arrow, becoming a grassy path (Photo 4), then back to a lane on the approach into Upton....

Martin Ellis

East Ilsey to Goring (Easgor 1) review. Note: I walked from Goring to East Ilsey. The Slow Way leaves the Ridgeway at a crossroads, taking a grassy path towards the road into East Ilsey (Photo 3)....

Martin Ellis

On the second section I enjoyed a wander round the pretty village of East Hagbourne before continuing on the route. Starting in East Ilsley the route initially climbs up to the Ridgeway on a grassy track (Photo 1) before crossing the gallops (Photo 2 & 3) and descending down to join a no-through road at Churn Farm. The route then gently climbs on a track between the fields (Photo 5) before dropping down through woodland to Upton (Photo 6)....

Ursula

A great route starting with a couple of gentle downland hills and then a flat finish along the railway path from Upton into Didcot. Starting in East Ilsley the route initially climbs up to the Ridgeway on a grassy track (Photo 1) before crossing the gallops (Photo 2 & 3) and descending down to join a no-through road at Churn Farm....

Ursula

8km, the track becomes a quiet road and leads down past some houses and the golf club towards Streatley. There is no pavement until the road meets the busier Wantage Road at approx....

Ursula

The route creator has curated an excellent route which has a mixture of soaring views, narrow 'secret' footpaths and delightful villages and churches....

Slow Ways Darren

Easgor One follows the Ridgeway across this beautiful part of Berkshire (although we walked this route in reverse)....

Slow Ways Darren

A pleasant route for walkers using sections of the Icknield Greenway and the Ridgeway. From Wantage marketplace, the route follows a series of pedestrian alleyways and residential roads before joining a section of the Icknield Greenway which doubles as a cycle route to the nearby Harwell Campus. Crossing the Icknield Greenway again, the route follows a narrow footpath alongside Ginge Brook before ending at the first stile of the journey. After crossing under the A34, the route leaves the Ridgeway on a footpath through the fields....

Ursula