Winter wandering around Wantage
15 people attending
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Join us for this 10 mile walk from Wantage up onto the Ridgeway and back round through the rolling Oxfordshire countryside. The walk is mainly on excellent footpaths, tracks and quiet roads so is perfect for winter walking if you're someone who hates the mud!
We will start in the market square in Wantage where there is a statue to local lad Alfred the Great who was born here around the year 849.
We will leave the town to the southeast heading towards the charming village of Letcombe Regis and then around and up onto the long-distance Ridgeway footpath via the mounds of an old Roman fort. There will be wide-reaching views (weather depending!) over the Vale of White Horse and beyond as we make our way eastwards and where we can stop for lunch.
We will eventually reach the monument to Lord Wantage, founder of what became the British Red Cross, erected in 1903. From he we make our way slowly downhill to the villages of East and West Lockinge, before turning westwards back towards Wantage.
Don't waste that space!
There are less late winter walks so please only book if you know you can make it. If your plans change please free up the space for someone else.
Is it dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on the walk, but please abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h). Please also remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.
New Members
Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
Image / photo credits: All images taken by the event leader with permission for ODL use.
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What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in spring
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Suggestion to bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty of water with you. There are plenty of shops in Wantage at the start but we aren't really passing anywhere else to pick things up