Ridgeway 2013 day 5

Saturday 17^th August 2013 Wantage to Chiseldon

After breakfasting with the storytellers, I was off and away, my first port of call being Letcombe Castle, a huge hill fort made of a circular raised “donut” of earth surrounded by a ditch.  It was so large, and being situated over the top of a rise, I could not see one side from the other.

Letcombe Castle

The next landform was the Devil’s Punchbowl, which was much bigger than I expected from the description given in the route guide.  I also noticed that the route guide mentioned things that were not there and did not mention things that were – mostly to do with dog excrement and water taps.  It was along the next section where the number of cyclists became intense.

Devil's Punchbowl

Finally nearing White Horse Hill, I veered off the Ridgeway and down through fields, looking for the famous White Horse of Uffington but at first had no luck.  What I did hear and see off to my left, however, was a group of strangely dressed people chanting, banging and dancing.  I assumed it was a pagan ritual, or perhaps a wedding.  I finally descended to a chalk patch on a hill where I thought I would find the “horse” but upon turning around and looking back up I realised I had descended all of the way to Dragon Hill, and that the horse was back up the rise where the revellers were having a gay ol’ time.   

Dragon Hill

Pagan (?) Revellers

With a sigh, having needlessly made a descent, and now having to make the reverse ascent, I trudged back up.  I waited around until the group left, and then attempted to get some photos of the Uffington horse but due to both the angle of the ground, and the fact that a bunch of tourists felt that standing directly on the horse was the best way to improve my shots, made it difficult.

Uffington White Horse

Next up was Uffington Castle, another donut shaped mound of earth further up the hill from the horse, where I blundered unsuspectingly through a patch of nettles, which kept me amused for 10 or 15 minutes until the stinging went away.

Uffington Castle

Red Kite

Further along the trail, and right beside it, was Wayland’s Smithy, a long barrow amongst a grove of trees that truly had atmosphere.  There was a family there when I arrived, but they left shortly thereafter, leaving me alone to enjoy this magical place in peace and quiet.

Wayland's Smithy

It began to rain as I made the long walk from there to Liddington Castle, which I thought was my destination for the night, but it was in a field on a hill with nothing visible nearby.   

Liddington Castle

I headed off-route, clambering down through paddocks until I found a road.  I climbed the gate out of the paddock, looking back to see the sign on the far side: “Beware: Bull in field”.  I felt a bit foolish but, as I had not encountered said bull, I also felt somewhat lucky.

 

And to my surprise...

Shortly thereafter I did find my B&B, where they surprisingly offered to do my laundry while I went out for a bite to eat.  At the pub I had my first banoffee pie (tempted by the toffee component, not the banana) which, I’ve decided, is not one of my favourite desserts.

Day 6