On Sunday 14th January we joined the Pang Valley Ramblers for an 8½ mile walk around Didcot area of Oxfordshire. I think we had nineteen people in total, eight of which were from our group and two visitors from another group.
Starting from the recreation ground car park in Blewbury, we soon warmed up on this cold day by walking up Churn Hill (about 260 feet of ascent). Stopping at the top for everyone to catch up, we took the opportunity to look around us. Didcot power station could be seen to the north and a reservoir at the summit of the hill to the west. The misty weather prevented us from seeing more of South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.
While we were stopped on Churn Hill, Michael Howes, from the Pang Valley group, told us a bit more about the area and its history, having grown up quite locally.
Soon we were heading downhill, past the gallops between Upper Chance Farm and Lower Chance Farm. In the distance we could see a railway bridge near Churn Farm, the track beneath it long gone as a result of Doctor Beeching's cuts.
At the bottom of the hill, we joined The Ridgeway, and followed it uphill for a short distance before diverting on one of the Berkshire Circular Routes, which feature in so many of our walks. Soon we were at the foot of Lowbury Hill - the site of a Roman Temple - where we stopped for our picnic lunch.
After lunch, we headed north, downhill and then uphill again, toward the village of Aston Tirrold. Leaving the village, heading west, we made our way past Blewburton Hill - the site of an Iron Age hill fort - back toward Blewbury.
We passed along some lovely picturesque lanes through the village of Blewbury before arriving back at the recreation ground. See our route on Google Maps. We thanked the leaders, Pauline and Alastair for an excellent walk, and agreed we should do joint walks more often.
Thank you to Michael Howes and Julia Coombes for providing these photographs of the walk.
Return to volume index