Walking The Ridgeway - Lambourn Downs & Devil's Punchbowl

First real walk of the Autumn season and the colours are slowly starting to change. The trees have pretty much retained their leaves , helped by all the recent rainfall.

A big walk planned today that could potentially be a figure of eight route . In total it is going to be over 14 miles that is for sure . So perhaps not the best day to choose to wear my new walking shoes for the first time then?

Starting point is the car park at Sparsholt Down, one of the highlights today would be 'The Devils Punchbowl'  , more of that later as that will be at the end of the walk.
We walk in the direction of Uffington Castle, the point at which we made it to on a previous walk. At that point we left The Ridgeway (for now) on the direction of 'Seven Barrows'. A name that I recalled from being a keen follower of 'Jumps racing'.

Prior to the turn-off my guidebook issues a warning. 'Beware the chalky' track is slippery when wet.'
It had been raining since we left and I was in full ' wet weather gear' as the forecast was poor. They were right about that track though being slippery! It was like the 'Cresta Run' at St Moritz!
My companion took a flyer! As well as a few bruised he spent the rest of the day coated in a layer of chalk on his back. Somehow I managed to stay upright at least. Thankfully those new shoes offered some grip , but the safest method was to walk on the grass verge where possible.

The walk to 'Seven Barrows' came as some relief as we swapped the rock hard chalk for the lush green gallop meadows of Uffington Down and Kingston Warren Down. We were right in the heart of Lambourn Racing country. 

We walked right past the 'Seven Barrows' entrance and home of 5 times champion trainer 'Nicky Henderson'. After Newmarket Lambourn is the largest horse training centre in the UK.

The Lambourn Downs are part of the North Wessex Downs are an area of outstanding natural beauty and  cover an area of 231 square miles (600 km²),from The Ridgeway in the north to the River Kennet in the south.

Author  J. R. R. Tolkien lived nearby and travelled to the downs with his family and friends. He was impressed by the downs with their sarsen stones, barrows and hill forts. I'm sure it must have been an inspiration for him in writing 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings' .

The Seven Barrows

Back to the 'Seven Barrows, they very much do exist. They are situated in what is a nature reserve. The picture to the left  isn't particularly clear but they are all there I can assure you.

Its actually a Bronze Age cemetery and an SSSI. Excavators have found that one grave alone contained the cremated remains of 100 individuals dating from 2200 BC.
Some claim that there are around 30 barrows in total of varying shapes and descriptions.
It is though to have been one of the first areas to have been cleared by early humans. It is now home for grassland plants and butterflies.

As we pass 'Sheepdrove Organic Farm' there is an entrance marked 'Natural Burial Ground'. The view from the burial ground is spectacular; sweeping hills, miles of byways, woodlands, wildflower meadows and hedges make up the scenery.The natural burial wood is set in a four acre triangular deciduous woodland filled with native species of trees such as Beech, Ash, Cherry and Sycamore. The Woodland was planted over 20 years ago to increase the amount of Woodland planting on the farm and to create habitats for birds and wildlife.

A natural burial is a sustainable alternative to other burial options. They produce less waste, reduce carbon footprint and nourish the local ecosystem.   A bit of research by myself finds that  a natural burial costs £1200 with a £275 internment fee. Only 100% bio-degradable materials are allowed to be buried. Wool, cotton, wicker and cardboard are all acceptable. 

 After a long and hard trek we finally get back on to 'The Ridgeway'. This does come as some relief as my feet particularly the little toe on my right foot is hurting.

The weather has brightened up though! The wet weather coat is off along with the fleece. The waterproof trousers are staying put though as it's too much hassle to remove them.   

'The Devil's Punchbowl'  is soon in sight as it is so huge.You just never seem to get to it though.I  hope we do though before my aching knees give way.

The Devils Punchbowl

 The 'Devil’s Punchbowl' may look like a meteorite impact crater, but it originated as a depression formed by dissolution of Chalk bedrock over thousands of years. The water levels in it are linked to the rise and fall of groundwater.It is an impressive sight though.

Water levels in the Devil’s Punchbowl go up and down with the seasons, and often cheat expectations – surprisingly full in summer or unexpectedly dry in winter.

From there the car park is very welcome sight !