The Ridgeway: Ogbourne St George to Sparsholt Firs

Another day on the Ridgeway beckons, but first another trip to Swindon, over the previous week I had found out which buses I could get to Ogbourne St George, and it was a only a short wait for the bus that took me back to the outskirts of the village and I was soon back at the footpath that lead to the trail. I was carrying all my camping gear and had arranged to sleep in the garden of a bed and breakfast near Sparsholt Firs, though it was going to be cold so I was carrying a heavier sleeping bag. The reason for camping was that there was virtually no transport to anywhere where I would be able to return home, so spending a night somewhere was a requirement. I spent a little time organising my backpack before heading off to my previous finishing point. The day was looking clear with bright skies and the sun was out and I had about 23 km to walk.

It was a short slightly steep climb to the ridge but once there the walking was generally on wide bridleways, starting off in a northerly direction. The cutting wind and chill from the previous week was gone and it pleasantly warm in the sun, no many people were about though there were a few mountain bikers around. At a meeting of a few paths there were a couple of other walkers trying to decide which way to go, eventually we were all walking on the same path towards Liddington Castle another Neolithic fort slightly off the path. We chatted as we walked, they were a couple who had done the whole Ridgeway along with other walks with there children some years ago, but today they were out for a days walking. When they headed off to ward the castle I headed on along the Ridgeway, descending to a road and the start of a few kilometres of road walking.

I stopped to take a break, heading off into a field to get away from the busy road, a group of 5 walkers passed by but I was too far away to interact with them, but heading off I could see them in the distance. After heading through the small village or hamlet of Foxhill and over the M4 motorway, the path ascending back on to the ridge, passing the group of walkers who were sitting down having something to eat. The route headed Eastwards now, thankfully away from Swindon and the ridge was quite wide here with a number of farms along the way. Another kilometre or so further one, just as I about to stop for a break, there was a small pop up cafe specialising in pork based items, but I settled for a cup of tea and a vegetarian quiche and sat down in a marquee. The wind had been picking up and it was good to be out of it for a while, while drinking my tea I re-arranging my backpack and looked at the map for a bit, there were still a fair few miles to go.

Setting off I spent some time untying and retying my boots to make them feel better, a little further I met a man with a Giant Schnauzer, who was very friendly but barked at the group of five walkers who were catching up with me. I set off but a little while later stopped to fill my water bottle at a rare water tap. While I was drinking and re-filling I was passed once more by the group of 5 walkers, they gave me a friendly wave as they passed by. Another kilometer further on there was a car park and I caught up with the other group of walkers before they got there. They had parked a car here and were heading back to where they started to collect another car, one of them offered me a chocolate bar but I turned it down as I had a mass of food with me. We chatted for a few minutes before I crossed the road and headed on.

Another short distance later I arrived at Waylands Smithy, not a smithy but an old Neolithic Long Barrow just off the path, created around 3500 BC, but named after a Saxon god. It was quite busy but I managed to get a good shot of the front of it, while I rested here I chatted to couple whose hobby seemed to be visiting ancient monuments. We talked a bit about camping out, though they were booked up at a bed and breakfast. The day was still pleasantly warm, though it was getting later in the day. It was only a short walk to the next Neolithic monument, the Uffington Castle fort, with it's associated and famous carving of a symbolic horse. On the way up to the fort there were a number of red kites flying about sometimes 3 or 4, they seem to be fairly common along The Ridgeway.

The fort itself was quite busy and very windy, there were great views towards the village of Uffington. The slope from the hill is fairly steep but a few people were walking up it. It was possible to see parts of the Uffington Horse from the hill but the only way to get a really good view is to descend to the valley. I'd seen it before so forewent this pleasure and headed back to the path. It was about 4 pm by now and there was probably another hours walking to do. I eventually reached the area just before Sparsholt Firs where there were a number of bed and breakfasts located on just off the route. My feet were tired by now and it was a pleasure to finish for the day, it was starting to get cold and I quickly got my tent set up and sorted out some dinner while the sun was still up. Having nothing else to do I went to bed early, it was a cold and windy night but I slept pretty well.