ridgeway

John Goldfine said:

I'm planning to walk the Ridgeway in mid-May. Advice, suggestions,
thoughts, experiences, warnings, tips?

I used to live in Reading and spent a lot of time on the Ridgeway.
The bits between Goring and Avebury can get amazingly clarty in
the wet because of the chalk. Above that, on the section to Tring
its less chalky and more muddy. The fact that much of it is
accessibel by motorised vehicles for much of the time can detract
from it and compound the mud problem but if you go when its
dry then this is not so much of an issue. Accomodation is usually
set back some way from the path except in those places where
the path goes through settlements. IMO the best time would be
early May when the flowers of the chalk downs are out and the
weather is reasonably settled. Its lovely walking country, however,
and Avebury is a great place to finish.

Chris

John Goldfine said:

I'm planning to walk the Ridgeway in mid-May. Advice, suggestions,
thoughts, experiences, warnings, tips?

Hi

We're planning to start the Ridgeway this weekend doing it in
sections for around 15 to 20 miles at a time. Are you through hiking or
doing it section at a time? And which end are you starting from? From
previous experience when we've done small sections of the Ridgeway on
other walks it can be extremely muddy in places, especially where the
4x4's have churned it all up - so pray for dry weather for a couple
of weeks before you go!

I'll be putting trip reports on our website as and when so please
feel free to have a browse.

James
http://www.wheresthepath.com

"John Goldfine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I'm planning to walk the Ridgeway in mid-May. Advice, suggestions,
thoughts, experiences, warnings, tips?

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a nice
garden!

--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

Bob Mannix said:

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a nice
garden!

Well, if we're going to start talking pubs then there's the Swan at
East
Isley, The Harrow at West Isley and The Red Lion in Avebury doesn't
look too promising on the outside but it does great food.

Chris

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Bob Mannix said:

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a
nice
garden!

Well, if we're going to start talking pubs then there's the Swan at
East
Isley,

I prefer the Crown & Horns

Quoted message said:

The Harrow at West Isley

yes

Quoted message said:

and The Red Lion in Avebury doesn't
look too promising on the outside but it does great food.

don't know it.

--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)>

Dont assume that there will always be even accommodation stops or even
shops/food facilties. I am most familiar with the bits between Nuffield and
West Ilsley but have walked from White Horse to Streatley as one trip. A
lot of the scenery can be very same. The best stuff is the social history
ie the idea that you are walking routes that others have for years. I would
say that after you get off the Chalk Downs of North Berkshire it gets a lot
more pleasant - upto this point you get a lot of abuse by motorbikes and
4x4s; if you are unlucky you might get caught in hare coursing - it then
goes along the Thames upto Wallingford and then heads off towards Chiltern
Edge. A lot of this will be open country or wooded walking. It tends not
to be well-frequented except by dog walkers and it is intersting how it has
been preserved through villages, farmer's fields, people's gardens.

There are Youth Hostels at Uffington/Wantage and Streatley. There are very
good pubs all the way along the way but not all do accommodation. there is
also a Ridgeway Explorer bus that runs in spring to allow you to do partial
walks and return to start.

If you need any more information about specifics, email me off forum at
[email hidden]

Rob

"John Goldfine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I'm planning to walk the Ridgeway in mid-May. Advice, suggestions,
thoughts, experiences, warnings, tips?

"Bob Mannix" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"John Goldfine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I'm planning to walk the Ridgeway in mid-May. Advice, suggestions,
thoughts, experiences, warnings, tips?

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a

nice

Quoted message said:

garden!

But...for those of you who dont know...it doesnt do food - just soup and
sandwiches - so dont go hoping for a big meal.

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Bob Mannix said:

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a

nice

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

garden!

Well, if we're going to start talking pubs then there's the Swan at
East
Isley, The Harrow at West Isley and The Red Lion in Avebury doesn't
look too promising on the outside but it does great food.

Well, if you're going to start, what about the John Barleycorn at Goring or
the King William At Hailey(slightly off-route I admit) or The Thai at
Crowmarsh Gifford.

"Bob Mannix" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bob Mannix said:

The Bell at Aldworth (above and west of Streatley) is a fine pub with a
nice
garden!

Well, if we're going to start talking pubs then there's the Swan at
East
Isley,

I prefer the Crown & Horns

Which is the one where you can sit across the road and watch cricket? Its
one of the Illslesy but I always get them mixed up. Which reminds me, they
had re-routed the ridgeway around one of the stables near East ilsley last
time I was there - it was extremely confusing and looked like a Van
Hoogstraten-type attempt to keep walkers at bay.

Rob

On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 17:22:29 -0000,

Rob Devereux said:

Dont assume that there will always be even accommodation stops or even
shops/food facilties.

Quoted message said:

4x4s; if you are unlucky you might get caught in hare coursing

You shouldn't get caught in hare coursing now!

Quoted message said:

There are Youth Hostels at Uffington/Wantage and Streatley.

ISTR stopping at the White Mark Farm Camp / Caravan site in Watlington.
It was out of season (they were nominally closed for the winter) but
we had phoned earlier and they seemed happy to have us pitching our tent
there.

--
Andy Leighton => [email hidden]
"The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials"
- Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_

"WheresThePath.com" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > We're
planning to start the Ridgeway this weekend doing it in

Quoted message said:

sections for around 15 to 20 miles at a time. Are you through hiking or
doing it section at a time? And which end are you starting from? From
previous experience when we've done small sections of the Ridgeway on
other walks it can be extremely muddy in places, especially where the
4x4's have churned it all up - so pray for dry weather for a couple
of weeks before you go!

I'm planning to walk straight through, west to east, starting about May 14
and spending six days. If anyone mentions 4 x 4s or mud again, however, I
may find myself in the Peak District instead....

As for hare-coursing, two weeks ago I stayed at a b & b, very pleasant, in a
hamlet and county I won't mention. The proprietor who also bred, raised,
and trained hunters remarked with a wink that although the plan might be to
do a drag hunt, what can one do with dogs which have been trained to find
and run foxes?