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Lowbury Hill & The Fair Mile from Aldworth

Berkshire Walk

County/Area - Berkshire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.8 miles / 12.7 km    Ascent - 750 feet / 227 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Lowbury Hill & The Fair Mile
Click image to see photo description.

Walk from Aldworth exploring the Berkshire Downs. The route uses paths, tracks, and lanes to explore the rolling countryside and woodland including Lowbury Hill, the site of a Roman Temple, The Fair Mile, and Unhill Woods.

The start is the village of Aldworth where limited on road parking is available (grid ref. SU556796). Patrons can also use the Bell Inn car park although please ask before parking. After parking and with your back to the New Inn, turn right along Ambury Road. Keep right at the next junction and with a row of cream houses on the left continue ahead for 1.5 kilometres to reach a solitary house on the left (Starveal). Continue ahead to a junction of tracks with a three-way fingerpost (grid ref. SU540815). Cross the Ridgeway and take the track opposite.

Continue ahead on the rising track (with hedge left) across the flank of Lowbury Hill. Continue over the brow of the hill and after 400 metres turn right along the Fair Mile. Continue for three kilometres descending the track down the centre of a broad grassy strip. On the way you pass the entrance to Ashdown Motorcross Track on your left after which you pass through an area with small trees and shrubs. The view to the right opens up and the next objective is a marker post on the right. Turn right here, cross the stile, and follow the hedge downhill. Where the hedge bends to the left, continue ahead down to a track.

Turn right along the track, pass Starveal Farm, and continue to a T-junction of tracks (grid ref. SU5708340. Turn left and follow the rising track. You pass through trees and then an open field of your right. Where the track bends right (grid ref. SU563823) continue ahead into Unhill Woods on a path indicated by a fingerpost. Shortly after fork left and continue uphill. Continue along the path through trees to a Pheasant feeding station and turn right. Continue along the path to reach a tarmac lane. Turn right and continue to reach a junction after 800 metres (grid ref. SU555817). Continue ahead (waymarks) through trees following the path to a stile. Cross the stile and turn right along an access track. Pass through a gate and continue to the Ridgeway (grid ref. SU552812). Turn right and after 200 metres turn left along a clear track. Follow this track to reach a T-junction and turn left along Ambury Road back to the start in Aldworth.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3484 The Fair Mile & Unhill Bottom, near Streatleyeasy/mod7.8 miles
Walk 2660 Lowbury Hill & Roden Downs from Comptoneasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1901 Around Aldermastoneasy5.0 miles
Walk 1873 The Ridgeway from Ardingtoneasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 2344 Newbury to Hungerford via Kennet & Avon Canal easy/mod9.0 miles
Walk 3572 Lambourn Valley & Great Sheffordeasy/mod9.0 miles
Walk 3731 Chaddleworth from Great Sheffordeasy/mod8.0 miles
Walk 1847 Silchester Common & Calleva Atrebatumeasy/mod6.2 miles
Walk 3082 Sonning Eye & Shiplake circular easy5.7 miles
Walk 1737 West Berkshire downseasy/mod7.4 miles

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