Kintbury circular – delights of the North Wessex Downs

Highlights
· Rolling hills of north Wessex Downs
· Green pastures, quiet woodlands and stately homes
· Inkpen Hill and Walbury Hill
· Great views towards the South Downs and Oxford
· Inkpen Common & Hamstead Park
· Walking along the Kennet and Avon Canal
· Pretty canal side pub at the end of the hike

This is a circular route from the small village of Kintbury in West Berkshire, 8km west of Newbury - come and join if you want to discover an area with a west country feel.

The day will start out with us walking over quiet fields, pastures, woodlands as we head our way to the Wessex Downs to climb Inkpen Hill. Views from here are dramatic as we will be able to see north towards Oxford and south towards the South Downs. We continue to Walbury Hill, the highest chalk hill in Berkshire and south east England at a 'great' 297m.

We will then drop down to head towards Inkpen Common Nature Reserve & Heathland, then onwards to Hamstead Park and the Kennet and Avon Canal as we circle back to Kintbury for a pretty canal side pub.

This will be English countryside in its quintessential west country best, close to London – so come and join!

My walks are at a good pace, but there is always time to pause to take in the views and snap some photos.

SUMMARY (all info is approximate!)
Distance: 24km (approx 14 miles)
Ascent: 300m
Duration: 6-7 hours walking
Grade: Moderate (4km/hr)

COST AND LOGISTICS
Cost: £10
Start: 8.35am London Paddington for Group Save
Meet: 8:50am for those who buy their own tickets & walk to train
Finish: 5.00pm in Kintbury for an optional pub stop.

TRAIN FROM LONDON TO KINTBURY
Dep: 09:05 London Paddington
Arr: 10:20 Kintbury
Return trains: 17.51 (arrive 18:57), 18.53 (arrive 19:56)

Recommended train ticket
Off-Peak Day Return to Kintbury

• £27.10 group save/ network rail price
  Recommended: yearly Network Railcard for reduced train prices
  www.network-railcard.co.uk

**Meeting Point: