Walking Tips

1. Be prepared!

Most of the walks on this site are strolls and rambles that could be completed by most moderately fit walkers within 2-3 hours. Some are longer.

As with all walking you should take notice of the seasons and prepare accordingly.

We've been on some of these walks in the beautiful sunshine only to find ourselves in snow and hail by the mid-point.

Spring Walks

Take wet gear and food and drink - its the season of all weathers - including spring snows and it can change really quickly.

Summer Walks

Its the season for water bottles and drinks, even for a short walk your body will need fluids, make sure you take more than you need for the number of people in your party.

Autumn Walks

Just like Spring walks you can feel like you're walking in summer heat or winter drizzle! all weather gear is a useful addition!

2. Maps or Mobile?

Never ever rely on your mobile or smartphone as your sole map.

I always take a paper copy unless I'm really really confident on the route and never on the first attempt at a route.

Of course for local walks of less than a few hours you're going to be fine on your mobile device, switch off Mobile Data and Wifi/Bluetooth if you're concerned about battery duration.

If I'm following a website route then I normally grab screenshots of the route whilst safe at home on the wifi and use them from pictures instead of relying on the internet connection.

Comments

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 whi...

Ashampstead & Yattendon Circular Walk October 2020

This is a circular walk starting in the Berkshire village of Ashampstead. This walk is 4.5 miles and took just under 2 hours to complete. Yattendon, the halfway point is the home to a brewey and The Royal Oak pub. The village Post Office also does take out Tea and Coffee and has a small shop. Car Park Parking is beside the playing fields in the middle of the village, not sure if this is called Dog Lane or Holly Lane but you can't miss them. Co-ordinates are: 51.48849457075639, -1.187116681437046 if you look in Google Maps. The Route 1. Facing the playing fields turn right along the road until you reach Church Lane, turn left down Church Lane until you reach the church "St Clements". 2. Enter the churchyard and follow the path round to the back of the church building to a gate in the rear fence. 3. Cross the field and you'll emerge onto a road. Turn left. This is the road to a farm shop so will have traffic on it. Be Careful! 4. At the farm shop take the path right in ...

Aston Tirrold to Cholsey Circular Walk November 2020

This circular walk starts in the village of Aston Tirrold and circles through the neighbouring village of Cholsey where Agatha Christie is buried. The walk is about 5.7 miles and took about 2.5 hrs. There is no pub on the route although there are pubs in both villages not far off the routes. Car Park We parked on Aston Street, just in front of the Church of St Michael in Aston Tirrold. Parking is just on street beside the road. The Route 1. Facing the church / looking at the church head right for about 10 metres until you see the footpath sign pointing right. Take this broad path. 2. After about 10 metres you'll come to a fork, take the left path heading across the field facing about 10 o'clock. 3. At the end of the path you'll emerge into the very large field on the other side of some trees, onto a concrete farm track. Head left along this track, keeping the wooded hedge on your right. Follow this field edge path, which at some point changes from concrete to grass, until y...

Tim's Local Walks

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