Uffington & Wayland's Smithy: November 2017
5km (1.25hrs)
Halfway Pub: None on the walk but nearest in Ashbury
Route Guide
1. Car Parking here is at the end of Knighton Hill, a single track very badly rutted farm road up off the B4507. I made it in a normal estate car with no difficulties in the sleet and mud! Once you reach the end of the track you'll park with other cars on the right side of the track against the hedge.
You could do this walk from White Horse Hill car park, which is chargeable but this parking is how the local dog walkers do it and parking is free and more casual.
2. Facing South (the way you've driven up the track) Uffington White Horse Hill is over to your left, but first you're taking a right and following the sign post to Wayland's Smithy.
Wayland is a Saxon/Norse name...
From the English Heritage site:
"A Neolithic chambered long barrow, it was once believed to have been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metal working.
Human remains found on the site indicate that 14 people were interred
in an earlier burial structure between 3590 and 3550 BC. Between 3460
and 3400 BC a second far larger barrow was constructed on top. It is the
ruins of this that can be explored by visitors to the site today."
The path to the monument takes you beside a tree lined plantation, we had fun leaf throwing here - maybe you will too if the season is right!
Spend some time viewing this ancient site. Some facts here.
3. Return to the car park and now continue on the same track straight towards White Horse Hill in front of you.
You're now following the route of one of the most ancient travelling ways in Britain, the Ridgeway - a route from Wiltshire to the river Thames.
It will lead you straight to the White Horse Hill on a fairly wide track.
4. As you rise you will first come to the Uffington Castle Hill Fort on top of White Horse Hill - a late Bronze Age/ early Iron Age monument originally constructed in the 7th/8th century BC.
Walk across this and head for the White Horse where you can rest and take in the views North overview Wiltshire into the Cotswolds...
5. The return is sadly the same route in reverse - but you won't get lost on the Ridgeway!
5km (1.25hrs)
Halfway Pub: None on the walk but nearest in Ashbury
The Route:
This is a simple walk but takes in two iconic bronze age monuments in the English landscape. Its a good walk if you don't want to have a complicated route or want more out of one of the monuments.
Route Guide
1. Car Parking here is at the end of Knighton Hill, a single track very badly rutted farm road up off the B4507. I made it in a normal estate car with no difficulties in the sleet and mud! Once you reach the end of the track you'll park with other cars on the right side of the track against the hedge.
You could do this walk from White Horse Hill car park, which is chargeable but this parking is how the local dog walkers do it and parking is free and more casual.
2. Facing South (the way you've driven up the track) Uffington White Horse Hill is over to your left, but first you're taking a right and following the sign post to Wayland's Smithy.
Wayland is a Saxon/Norse name...
From the English Heritage site:
"A Neolithic chambered long barrow, it was once believed to have been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metal working.
Human remains found on the site indicate that 14 people were interred
in an earlier burial structure between 3590 and 3550 BC. Between 3460
and 3400 BC a second far larger barrow was constructed on top. It is the
ruins of this that can be explored by visitors to the site today."The path to the monument takes you beside a tree lined plantation, we had fun leaf throwing here - maybe you will too if the season is right!
Spend some time viewing this ancient site. Some facts here.
3. Return to the car park and now continue on the same track straight towards White Horse Hill in front of you.
You're now following the route of one of the most ancient travelling ways in Britain, the Ridgeway - a route from Wiltshire to the river Thames.
It will lead you straight to the White Horse Hill on a fairly wide track.
4. As you rise you will first come to the Uffington Castle Hill Fort on top of White Horse Hill - a late Bronze Age/ early Iron Age monument originally constructed in the 7th/8th century BC.
Walk across this and head for the White Horse where you can rest and take in the views North overview Wiltshire into the Cotswolds...
5. The return is sadly the same route in reverse - but you won't get lost on the Ridgeway!
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