| Starting from Burghclere (southern end of Newbury Bypass) head down Well Street towards Ecchinswell. Turn left on entering Ecchinswell and you will pass the Royal Oak pub on your right, immediately after is a sharp right turn over a small bridge, along the side of large stream and up a hill which is the start of the leg to Kingsclere. Kingsclere is approached past a cemetery on top of a hill on your left before the road descends into the village. At the bottom of the hill there is a turning to the right followed by a slight incline for some 300 metres until a left turn takes you down over another small bridge and then immediately right. This is the road that will take you over White Hill, it starts relatively flat as you pass the Kingsclere Stud but soon becomes more steep as it bears to the right and then left before summiting alongside a layby and information board. There follows a nice descent where the road forks, take the left fork for the fairly straight and downhill southerly run into Overton. In Overton you will arrive at the main traffic lighted junction where you should turn right towards Whitchurch. The road between Overton and Whitchurch features just one moderate hill as it mainly runs along the bottom of the river valley, there is also some interesting architecture on show and in Freefolk there is a good pub, The Watership Down. The descent into Whitchurch is characterised by houses on either side and plenty of parked cars in the road which have a useful traffic calming effect. At the main junction at the bottom of the hill bear right. You will know if you have made the correct turning if after a short climb you go under a railway bridge (disused), the A34 and another railway bridge in succession. At the next junction take the turning signposted St Mary Bourne avoiding the route designated for large/heavy vehicles. On entering St MB you will turn right at the end of the downhill road (there is a pub here) for a 100m stint on the B3048 before turning left up another hill at the war memorial. As you reach the top of this hill continue on the road as it bears left, do not be tempted to take the turning to the right. What follows is a dead straight bit of undulating road which then descends towards a T-junction over which a new housing development is being constructed. Turn right at this junction which is the start of a long gradual climb through Smannell and Upper Enham before reaching the A343 (Newbury-Andover road). Cross straight over the A343 and up the short hill on the other side. Opposite a pub on the left is a hard right turning up Hungerford Lane, a Roman road, which unfortunately becomes untarred after a little over 1km necessitating a left turn at the T-junction towards Hatherden. On entering Hatherden take a hard right at the T-junction, this is the start of a long climb towards Conholt. There is a large pub on the right side of the road between Hatherden and Tangley. As you reach the top of the hill at Conholt, passing through Conholt park as you do with Conholt House on the right take the left turn at the top of the hill onto a straight section of road. This is Chute Causeway, another Roman road which hugs the top of the hill for sometime before undulating and terminating at a T-junction. Turn left followed shortly thereafter by a right turn which will take you to the A338. At the A338 you may either turn left straight towards East Grafton or go straight over the A338 towards Wilton. On entering Wilton turn left at the T-junction followed by taking a right turn where the road forks at the village pub, this will take you back to East Grafton and the A338. After turning right onto the A338 after a short distance you will see a right turn which will also be signposted to the Crofton Beam Engines, take this right turn down a narrow lane leading the the Kennet & Avon Canal and railway line. For the Crofton Beam Engines go over the canal bridge for a distance of 500 metres, otherwise remain on the same side of the canal as the road turns west towards Burbage. On entering Burbage turn right down the high street, if you arrive at the A346 you have gone too far. Continue to bear right and you will arrive over the canal, railway and disused railway bridges, continue up the hill on the other side. You will then pass Tottenham House on the right side which is just visible across the extensive estate. Do not turn right towards St Katherines church but remain on the road taking the next right turn towards Great Bedwyn. As you descend into Great Bedwyn take the first left turn (there is a pub on the corner) onto Brown's Lane, this is signposted Little Bedwyn. If you reach the canal or railway in Great Bedwyn you have gone too far. On reaching Little Bedwyn cross the canal and railway taking a left turn onto a narrow lane running parallel to the canal. After 1.5km you will approach another canal bridge but rather than go over this and onto the A4 take a sharp right turn instead along the quieter back roads towards Hungerford. In the town of Hungerford you will reach the High Street. Turn right onto the high street then immediately left up a street that will take you to a cattle grid denoting the edge of Hungerford Common, there is a pub here. Cross the cattle grid onto the common, take a left turn at the first junction, followed by a right turn at the next junction (do not cross the railway and canal bridges), you then remain on this road (crossing over another cattle grid) until you reach the village of Kintbury. On entering Kintbury you will pass a corner shop on your left but remain on this road down the hill a short distance before turning right (there is a hairdressers opposite) and up a hill with a pub on the left side and the the site of an old petrol station on the right side of the road. Alternatively, rather than turning right at the hairdressers continue down the hill towards the canal and railway where the Dundas Arms pub can be highly recommended. Remain on this road leaving Kintbury until you pass a turning to the right, followed by passing over a bridge, the road then bears to the left with a turning to the right, take this right turn up the hill and remain on this road. After winding somewhat the road turns sharply to the left before a straight downhill section of approximately 500m in length, take the right turn over a small bridge with red brick walls and remain on this road through Gore End and into Ball Hill. Descending into Ball Hill you will pass a garage on the left side of the road, shortly after this turn right at the T-junction onto an undulating section of road culminating in an uphill section taking you into Woolton Hill. Remain on this road in Woolton Hill as the road descends to the left passing on the right side first the primary school, then park land, followed by the middle school before the road bears to the right through a wooded section before meeting the A343 Andover Road again. This is a dangerous junction were there are frequently accidents. Cross over and head up the short section of steep road into Penwood. Remain on this road out of Penwood which climbs up towards the A34. Cross over the A34 bridge and then turn left at the T-junction down the hill into Burghclere. After a very short distance you will arrive at the Carpenters Arms on the right side (just before the Sandham Memorial Chapel on the left) as good a place as any to stop. You have covered 100 kilometres through Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire! |
indicates every 2 miles
Print
GPX
