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Wittenham Clumps and Dorchester-on-Thames Circular Walk

Amazing Oxfordshire and Berkshire views from these Hill Forts where Time Team once dug.

6km (1.5 hrs)
Halfway Pub: The George, Dorchester-on-Thames


The Route:

Once in the car park, face the wooded hilltop (Wittenham Clumps, an important ancient hill fort in the Sinodun Hills) and take the path aiming for the left hand side of the hilltop, with the wooded area on your right.    


Find out more about the Clumps here:


 The Time Team dig:


At the hilltop (120 m high), admire the view of Little Wittenham Church, the River Thames and Day’s Lock, the lakes and lagoons around Dorchester and Dorchester Abbey.

From here, take the path leading down to Little Wittenham Church, turn right once you go through the gate at the bottom and follow this road over the River Thames at Day’s Lock Islands (across 2 bridges). On the far side, go through another gate into a field and take the diagonal path towards Dorchester.

 This becomes a narrow footpath which then opens out onto fields, with an ancient earthwork on your right. Take the left track off this path at the first path heading into Dorchester. The path becomes a roughly tarmaced road.

You'll come to a small alley - Malthouse Lane - take this on the right to the High Street where there are several hostelries (for example the White Hart Hotel) which serve refreshments.

We stopped at the Abbey to have a look round - there's also a museum and the George pub is opposite!


The return journey on foot is similar as far as Little Wittenham Church where, having gone back through the gate, you take the footpath to the left signposted Little Wittenham Wood.
As you approach the woods, fork right through a gate and take the path which runs steadily but steeply uphill, keeping Little Wittenham Wood on your left. Once you reach the col, there is a short descent to the car park.

 

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