{"id":"69847929533dbb4b7311860f","title":"Walk 645 Aldworth And The Ridgeway","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2024/volume-48-apr-to-jun-2024/walk-645-aldworth-and-the-ridgeway","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 645 - Aldworth and The Ridgeway\n\nOn Sunday 23rd June, fifteen BWWs met in the lovely village of Aldworth outside the Bell Inn pub. The walk started earlier than usual at 9:30am and this was to make the most of the coolest part of the day. Taking a footpath that crossed several fields, including one full of corn, we were soon in the small hamlet of Westridge Green. From here we headed north along a track that descended through woodland with lovely views across fields, some of which had been cultivated and displayed amazingly regular diamond shaped patterns.\n\nAfter passing Kiddington Cottage, our route took us through a field in which there have been wonderful displays of poppies in previous years, but sadly only a handful were seen on this walk. The hedgerows and paths however, were lined with an abundance of beautiful wild flowers and on reaching the Ridgeway, we enjoyed a short drink stop next to a verge full of tall daisies.\n\n![Amazing diamond-shaped patterns in a crop.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/amazingly-diamond-patterns.jpg)\n\nAlthough the walk was only 5½ miles long, it included 486 feet of ascent, most of which was along the 1.6 mile stretch of the Ridgeway. From the Ridgeway, there were many lovely views south over Streatley Warren, but the best was yet to come when we turned south off the Ridgeway and looked east, right down Streatley Warren.\n\nContinuing along the lane, we soon came to the road that leads back to Aldworth, but we chose to take a more scenic route down a track that passed Dumworth Farm. From here a short stretch of road walking took us to the church of St Mary’s, which dates back in part to around 1200. Here there was plenty to see, including an ancient yew tree in the churchyard which is at least 1,000 years old and the grave of Laurence Binyon who is remembered for writing the poem “For the Fallen” which is quoted at Remembrance Day services. We also found a grave that has connections to one of the members of the Rolling Stones family.\n\n![Giant Daisies on the Ridgeway.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/giant-daisies-the-ridgeway.jpg)\n\nOn entering the church we saw what are popularly known as the Aldworth Giants from the 14th century - nine stone effigies of members of the de la Beche family along the aisles, under richly carved canopies and upon tombs in the nave.\n\nBack in the village of Aldworth, the walk ended outside the award winning Bell Inn, which has been in the same family since the 18th century. We arrived just as it was opening and eight of us decided to sample their tasty, generously filled rolls whilst sitting in their lovely beer garden; a perfect end to the walk!\n\n![The Aldworth Giants in St Mary's Church.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/the-aldworth-giants.jpg)\n\n![Lunch at the Bell Inn pub, Aldworth.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/lunch-bell-inn.jpg)\n\n*Thanks go to Sue for leading this walk and writing it up.*\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 48\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 645 - Aldworth and The Ridgeway

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On Sunday 23rd June, fifteen BWWs met in the lovely village of Aldworth outside the Bell Inn pub. The walk started earlier than usual at 9:30am and this was to make the most of the coolest part of the day. Taking a footpath that crossed several fields, including one full of corn, we were soon in the small hamlet of Westridge Green. From here we headed north along a track that descended through woodland with lovely views across fields, some of which had been cultivated and displayed amazingly regular diamond shaped patterns.

\n

After passing Kiddington Cottage, our route took us through a field in which there have been wonderful displays of poppies in previous years, but sadly only a handful were seen on this walk. The hedgerows and paths however, were lined with an abundance of beautiful wild flowers and on reaching the Ridgeway, we enjoyed a short drink stop next to a verge full of tall daisies.

\n

\"Amazing

\n

Although the walk was only 5½ miles long, it included 486 feet of ascent, most of which was along the 1.6 mile stretch of the Ridgeway. From the Ridgeway, there were many lovely views south over Streatley Warren, but the best was yet to come when we turned south off the Ridgeway and looked east, right down Streatley Warren.

\n

Continuing along the lane, we soon came to the road that leads back to Aldworth, but we chose to take a more scenic route down a track that passed Dumworth Farm. From here a short stretch of road walking took us to the church of St Mary’s, which dates back in part to around 1200. Here there was plenty to see, including an ancient yew tree in the churchyard which is at least 1,000 years old and the grave of Laurence Binyon who is remembered for writing the poem “For the Fallen” which is quoted at Remembrance Day services. We also found a grave that has connections to one of the members of the Rolling Stones family.

\n

\"Giant

\n

On entering the church we saw what are popularly known as the Aldworth Giants from the 14th century - nine stone effigies of members of the de la Beche family along the aisles, under richly carved canopies and upon tombs in the nave.

\n

Back in the village of Aldworth, the walk ended outside the award winning Bell Inn, which has been in the same family since the 18th century. We arrived just as it was opening and eight of us decided to sample their tasty, generously filled rolls whilst sitting in their lovely beer garden; a perfect end to the walk!

\n

\"The

\n

\"Lunch

\n

Thanks go to Sue for leading this walk and writing it up.

\n

📸 Back to Volume 48

\n

Return to volume index

\n"}