United States
£ GBP
What Berkshire lacks in size is more than made up for in its variety of scenery which expands from gentle parkland around Windsor to the wilds of the Lambourn Downs. The 20 walks in this book vary in length from 6 to 13 miles, covering the various scenic delights of Berkshire. The uniqueness of the south Berkshire pinewoods and heathland, the peaceful rural Thames between Cookham and Streatley, the majestic Downs and the tranquil Kennet and Avon Canal, together with some unspoilt and picturesque villages are explored through these routes.
Map: Location of walks INTRODUCTION Landscape and History Using the Guide Maps Paths Transport General WALKS 1#Windsor and Eton 2#Windsor Great Park 3#The Look Out, Swinley Forest 4#Finchampstead Ridges 5#Cookham 6#Remenham Hill 7#Wargrave and Bowsey Hill 8#Pangbourne 9#Streatley 10#Stratfield Mortimer and the Devil's Highway 11#Padworth 12#Bucklebury 13#Donnington Castle 14#The Ridgeway 15#Downland Villages 16#Lambourn Downs (East) 17#Lambourn Downs (West) 18#Kintbury and Hungerford 19#Kintbury and Hamstead Marshall 20#Inkpen Appendices A#Useful Addresses B#Further Reading
For me, walking is a means of escape from the modern world. I live on the western edge of London, just a few minutes drive from the M40, my escape route to Bucks, Berks and Wiltshire. I have been a regular weekend and holiday walker for over 20 years and have covered Bucks and Berks for Country Walking magazine's 'Down Your Way' section since 1990. On holidays further afield, I have been walking on Skye, the Torridon Hills, Austria, Italy (the Dolomites and the Abruzzo), France, Andorra and the Alpujarras. What I love about walking in these areas is the variety of scenery, the Chiltern beechwoods in Autumn, pretty villages with traditional pubs serving real ale, the tranquil Kennett & Avon canal and the downlands of West Berkshire and Wiltshire. In the summer, walking on the Downs has dream like qualities with wide blue skies and little fluffy clouds, while on a dull winters day with light rain brings out a more sinister character. Wiltshire is the county of myths and legends, the mystical west! with white horses on the downs overlooking the villages, Avebury and other prehistoric monuments.
