Hi just checking in to ask if anyone might be doing the Kintbury circular instead of the main walk post Christmas. Currently not being able to walk at the pace of the ‘unofficial’ walk leader’, if there are any other walkers thinking about doing the circuit then I would join them rather than slow trudge through on my own. Festive wishes 🎄

Yes I'd be prepared to do the Kintbury circular.

Mud? Plenty. Puddles and water-filled ruts? Loads. Wind? Quite a bit on the ridge, at times. Rain? Not initially, then on-and-off, at times more on than off, but always in short-ish bursts (1 of the walkers never put any jacket on). Views? Surprisingly aplenty despite the low and driving clouds. Pheasants? A few. Nature? Some rosehip, loads of ivy berries, some Scots pines. Dog walkers? A few. Walkers? Not many. Train delays? Quite a few small ones, but not all in amounting to much. Invigorating and a good day out? Very much so.

6 on this walk, with 2 doing the circular walk back to Kintbury, and one of those deploying the shortcut within that option (I quote: "Canal towpaths are for cyclists.").

All of us reached the bottom of the final ascent onto the ridge after 2 hours of walking and paused there for lunch out of the wind and rain (with the 2 dissenters walking on who would have a pub lunch later), and we got to Great Bedwyn with a few minutes to spare to the 15.41 train. plenty of rain in squalls

1️⃣ did the Kintbury circular. Additional details: Lunch stop at Inkpen (Crown & Garter) is highly recommended though food is only served till 2:30pm. This walk can also be done in reverse as a pub (The Blue Ball) was near Kintbury post the last having been walked. Failed to convince anyone I am injured by surging up Inkpen hill but injuries are a real mystery. A fun last walk of 2023 for me. Group cohesion 0 (solo) post lunch 😂

7 off the train, incl. 1 first-timer, with soon enough an 8 th person shouting across from the car park to make sure we waited for her (her first SWC group walk in years). There was plenty of standing water in fields and on paths and quite a bit of mud as well, but nothing that hindered progress much. On and slowly up we went towards the looming ridge line, with only the last bit a steep ascent. The views across the nicely undulating landscape were of course magnificent, on this dry and sunny day, following plenty of hard rain over the last weeks. The weather had brought out loads of locals as well, donning their wellies, some in rather large groups. Good to see.

We got to the Crown & Garter around 13.40 hours, and 6 of us had a meal, with the picnickers re-joining for a pudding and a tea or coffee. After 85 minutes or so, we finally departed. What a fine pub!

2 then took the shortcut, 6 the norm route. Sun set as we passed Hamstead Park, producing fine pink/orangey clouds (what clouds there were) in our back, and also a nicely pink-tinged sky ahead. We reached the Kennet and Avon-Canal's towpath around 16.40 hours, by which time it should have been very dark indeed. But it wasn't. With our very own Stargazer gone awol, I had unbeknowingly converted into a moonlight walk poster: La Luna was nearly full and beaming down from behind, so we were in fact following our own moon light shadow for the final 4 km! No headtorches needed.

An owl could be heard away to the right in the river meadows, geese were flying overhead, other geese were knattering away in the meadows to the right, a few houseboats were passed (some with signs of life inside) and almost too soon we reached Kintbury's Dundas Arms. We had 45 minutes to the 18.15 train, so paid/had to pay a concluding pub visit. Glorious day, route and company.

The only not-so-perfect bit: the three-legged return journey to Paddington.

is there GPX or KML map for this circular walk?

I knew someone would point this out....well spotted...I do not believe that there is a gpx for the circular route...but, i plan to track the route to generate one.

plan to do the short cut.

Eight off the train were met by two others who had driven to Kintbury, making for 10 on this enjoyable outing in mostly dry but grey cloudy skies . The route took us through gently rolling pastures as a warm-up before the steep climb up Inkpen Hill to the ridge where the views were fabulous far and wide on both sides. Two opted for a picnic with a view while the remaining 8 turned left to continue with the circular walk with only the written word as a guide...We eventually descended the ridge where seven found the pub and one other picnicker decided to carry-on. Six actually dined at the pub (on a booking for 4) and found it friendly and accommodating...The food was also all pretty tasty...so a good option -- but it was crowded, so booking is probably advised...The two ridge picnickers who were planning on the shorter walk option were briefly encountered at the neighboring cafe before the 7 set off on the main route across more undulating farmland and passing through very enigmatic Hampstead Park with a number of ornate columns....what were they for???? We finished along a pretty section of the canal with a drink at the canal-side pub (perhaps unwisely letting the 17:50 train go)....On the 18:50 fortunately fortified with some provisions, our train was held for over an hour at Reading due to a person being hit by a train near Langley.....but we eventually arrived in London and they delay passed quickly in good company.....

The Swan Inn at Inkpen - the suggested lunchtime pub for this walk - closed in April. There is an alternative in Upper (or is it Lower) Inkpen, but you have to divert to get to it.

It's the Crown and Garter at Inkpen Common.

Thanks for the update about the Swan Inn closure. Lunch will have to be at The Crown and Garter - which is mentioned in the directions as a later lunch stop after 13.5km. Will now get the earlier train out of Paddington.

7 of us on a rainy day clearing briefly on the ridge only to return more heavily. Lunch at the Crown and Garter PH good.

7 on this walk, including 2 first-timers who had each independently turned up at Kintbury Station expecting to join 20 others who had signed up for a "SWC" meet-up group walk. Despite the initial confusion they were happy to join us, and one at least may have been converted to the cause. Leaving aside my being navigationally challenged at one point, we reached the lunchtime pub - the Swan at Lower Inkpen, without incident. The problem came with the pub itself, which was like the Mary Celeste - devoid of life. A hand written signed on the door simply said "Closed", and gave a telephone number for those wishing to buy organic beef. It looked somewhat forlorn and deserted, but the shrubbery had recently been pruned, and all of the tables in the restaurant section were laid with cutlery and crown folded napkins, which seemed somewhat odd. Lacking an alternative lunch venue (the next one on route was six miles away at Bedwyn where the walk ended) we sat on the picnic tables outside and shared out what food we had.

(Having looked at the pub's website when I got back, it transpires that it closed on 22 April. There is no explanation as to why, and no indication whether the closure is temporary or permanent, though a comment elsewhere on the internet suggest the latter. This somewhat puts the mockers on this walk as it is, though looking at the map, it might be possible to divert from the exiting route at Titcomb to go South to the Crown and Garter at Inkpen Common and then west to re-join the original route near Northcroft Farm.)

Thus refreshed we pressed on at differing speeds, and as a result the group split up. The two of us out front arrived in Bedwyn with time to spare before the train for a swift pint, which is when we discovered the second casualty - the Cross Keys has also closed. Thankfully the Three Tuns is still open and provided welcome refreshment.

An enjoyable walk with fine views from the ridge in the afternoon, though the path here (a byway) is heavily rutted, with the ruts often hidden in the long grass, which is potentially treacherous. overcast but dry , aside from a few spots of rain in the wind during the afternoon.

Plan to go

4 on this lovely walk on a warm day with occasional strong breezes especially on the ridge. Swan Inn was very quiet but the two who ate there reported it good. I walked on after lunch by myself, waited for the others but didn't see them and caught the 16.44 train. Cross Keys pub in Bedwyn looks like a private house now but I think the Three Tuns is still open. This is a great walk, wonderful views of wide open countryside, saw red kites close above our heads and later a hare sitting on the path. Should be walked more often!

4 warm with occasional strong breezes

Intend going

17 on this walk. The weather was cold and grey but the song of chaffinches (first I have heard this year), greenfinch and song thrushes promised that spring is on its way, and Kintbury churchyard was a glorious carpet of snowdrops. The morning was pleasant and the steep climb up onto the downs after it was bracing. The circular route then takes you along a ridge as fine as any on the South Downs but without the ghastly rutted track of the main walk. Pregnant ewes eyed us along the way. It would be nice to do this in summer with the skies blue and the larks singing....

The Swan in Inkpen got mixed reviews. About half enjoyed hearty hot lunches. The other half had barely warm dishes that would have done with more time in the microwave. The pub has just reopened after a January break and someone had forgotten to put on the heating.

The Dundas Arms at the end looked like it would be an idyllic riverside pub in summer. It served a huge pot of tea and then in keeping with midweek walk traditions we rushed for the first available train. Four of us had to duck under a descending level crossing barrier to catch it, doubtless earning us a place on some Stupid Stunts on the Railway reality TV show.

Some of us pressed on having gobbled our sandwiches before the pub lunchers had been served. We thought it best to get on the train rather than stop at the tea place, which turned out to be a good decision as far as I'm concerned, as I didn;t get home till 8.

A typical "to the Downs, up the Downs, along the Downs, down the Downs"-walk, with a fair few woods, field boundaries and lanes thrown in for good measure. Fine views from the ridge of the West Berkshire Downs, hardly a soul in sight, just the odd drizzle attempt to contend with. Pleasant stop at the Swan Inn, although the pub was disconcertingly empty. Only negative really is the fact that the path on the ridge is a byway, resulting in deep tyre tracks making walking hard work.10 walkers, all returning on the 17.39 train.

from Ealing Broadway 9:50, change at Reading 10:38 (arr) and 10:48 (dep).

sounds like really nice walk, plan going and take the short version.

This is an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Have not been to this area before. A late start suits me. Count me in.

A great walk with many different vistas perhaps let down by the lunchtime pub. After the downs section, I doubled back to take a peak at the Crown and Garter This looked a lot more capable at producing meals. It also had a bakery (also with indoor/outdoor seating which served hot savoury morsels, tea pigs tea and yummy cakes. Both situated in a very pleasant environment with views of the Test Way. Definitely worth considering as an alternative lunch venue.

The accidental anarchist

23-25_lost_count, sunny all day , all did short version, ie 11 miles, except 1 who did long 14+ miles. We met up with him at the train station at 5:50pm. Some stayed in the pub near the train station for refreshment for a later train others took takeaway tea and drinks to consume on the train. Enjoyable and exhausting (felt more than 11 miles somehow.)