Ridgeway - Kingston Lisle to Bury Down
26 April 2009
With Lucy taking Ellie and Henry to a dog show in Wiltshire, Stephen and George took advantage
of a lift to return to the Ridgeway National Trail for the first time in 9
months, picking up where they left off, above the village of Kingston Lisle.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-095011.jpg)
As we set off gently uphill, the ground is dry after an unseasonably warm and
sunny week. Just as well as this looks as though it could be very tedious after
rain.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-095506.jpg)
The view to the north opens up. Most of the walk had grand views over the Thames
valley
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-100816.jpg)
Once on the top, the track conditions underfoot improved. The fact that this is
now a Restricted Byway (no motor vehicles except for access) presumably means
that the quality of the surface has improved greatly in the last few years since
it was changed from a Road Used as a Public Path. Note how wide the gap is
between the fences - that was normal for most of the route.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-102212.jpg)
By Sparsholt Firs is a field that is home to a model aircraft club - one of the
planes can be seen, coping well with the brisk breeze.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-104846pano_small.jpg)
Looking back to the Devils's Punchbowl.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-111803.jpg)
Looking along the ditch of Segsbury Camp (otherwise known as Letcombe Castle),
an Iron Age hill fort occupied between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-114650.jpg)
White House Farm
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-120953pano_small.jpg)
A panoramic shot of the view to the north - click on the image for a larger
version.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-122544.jpg)
A monument to the soldier and Victoria-Cross-holder Robert Lloyd-Lindsay, Baron
of Wantage.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-123555.jpg)
George on the grassy Ridgeway
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-130355.jpg)
Didcot Power Station was our companion for much of the walk, but fortunately far
enough away not to intrude significantly
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-131427.jpg)
Scutchhamer Knob is the remains of a tumulus, now being a crescent-shaped bank,
possibly destroyed by someone who thought it contained treasure.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-132131.jpg)
Continuing our way along the Ridgeway, with gallops for race-horses in training
on the right.
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-132721.jpg)
The Rutherford Laboratory and Hanwell International Business Centre, with Didcot
Power Station beyond
![](../../images/2009/2009-04/2009-04-26-133506.jpg)
In the distance are the Chilterns, where the Ridgeway Path continues after
crossing the Thames at Goring Gap. But that's a little way off yet.
Total distance 17.6 km with 185m ascent, in 3 hours 55 minutes (amounting to
17.2
km of progress along the Ridgeway Path) - that means we're
about 39% of the way to Ivinghoe Beacon.
![previous Ridgeway walk - Ogbourne to Kingston previous Ridgeway walk - Ogbourne to Kingston](../london_loop/hikerleft2.jpg)
![next Ridgeway walk - onwards to North Stoke next Ridgeway walk - onwards to North Stoke](../london_loop/hikerright2.jpg)
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