Description
A continuous chalk landscape across four counties.
The North Wessex Downs extend through parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. The book illustrates the variation between open heights, hidden valleys, and historical sites. It provides a broad starting point for walks from several accommodation bases, without the need to follow a single long-distance trail to experience the continuity of the landscape.
Thirty walks of varying length and ascent.
The selection includes short and longer itineraries, with opportunities to reach the highest points in each of the four counties. The walks also provide insight into ancient paths and cultural traces. The circular format makes it practical to choose a single excursion or assemble several different hiking days from the same base.
Maps and assistance for practical execution.
Route descriptions and maps are supported by information on starting points and planning. Locations such as Swindon, Reading, and Basingstoke provide access to different parts of the area. The book helps you compare walks and see how a hike can be combined with local visits and time at historical sites along the way through the landscape.
For manageable excursions and longer days on the downs.
The modest elevations do not always give a true picture of the scope of the walks. Length, hills, and terrain should be considered together, especially after rain. The guide is suitable for regular hikers who desire a varied regional selection and wish to experience more of this quiet cultural landscape than what is seen from the road.
A long tradition of hiking guides.
Cicerone has published guidebooks since 1969. The publisher grew from climbers and mountain folk who wanted to share thorough knowledge of their routes – a tradition that still characterizes the publisher’s books on hiking, trekking, and other outdoor experiences.
About this edition.
Author: Steve Davison. English language. 192 pages. Second edition, published in 2021. ISBN 9781786311108.
