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Ardington Walks

6.8 miles (11 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This pretty village is located in the Vale of White Horse in Oxfordshire, just to the east of Wantage.
There's nice walks through the countryside of the North Wessex Downs and along the nearby The Ridgeway National Trail. Noteworthy buildings in the village include the 13th century chuch and the 18th century Ardington House which is Grade II listed. The fine Georgian stately home is surrounded by beautiful parkland and gardens. It is open to the public in the summer months.
This circular walk from the village visits the neighbouring settlements of East Lockinge and East Hendred.
The walk starts in the village and heads south across the Ardington Brook to Ardington Mill. You then follow footpaths and a country lane to East Lockinge.
The route then picks up a bridle track heading east to Aldfield Common and East Hendred. On the way you'll pass some attractive countryside and cross the pretty Ginge Brook.
You then head west past Goldbury Hill and West Hendred before returning to the village.

Postcode

OX12 8QA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Ardington OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Ardington Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Ardington

  • Wantage - The Oxfordshire town of Wantage is in a great location for exploring a lovely section of the Ridgeway
  • Badbury Clump - This walk explores Badbury Hill and the lovely wooded area of Badbury Clump near Faringdon
  • Uffington White Horse - This short circular walk visits White Horse Hill and the Iron Age hillfort of Uffington Castle near Swindon. The area is historically significant with the 3000 year old prehistoric white horse hill figure and the hillfort located close together. The castle sits at a height of 860 feet (262m) above sea level making it the highest point in Oxfordshire. Also of interest is Dragon Hill, said to be the site where St. George slew the dragon. It's a very attractive area with chalk downland and lovely views over the Berkshire Downs.
  • Wayland's Smithy - Visit this fascinating Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb on this circular walk on the The Ridgeway
  • Chilton - This Oxfordshire based village is in a good location for exploring the countryside of the Vale of White Horse on the nearby Ridgeway. 
  • Didcot - The Oxfordshire town of Didcot has some nice trails to follow into the surrounding Chilterns countryside.
    This walk visits some of the highlights of the area using a mixture of country lanes, public footpaths and waymarked long distance trails
  • Wittenham Clumps - Climb to these two hills near Dorchester for wonderful views over the Oxfordshire and Berkshire countryside.
  • Dorchester Circular Walk - The delightful Oxfordshire town of Dorchester on Thames has some lovely footpaths to follow through the surrounding countryside and woodland
  • Blewbury - This walk from the Oxfordshire village of Blewbury visits the Iron Age Hillfort at Blewburton Hill
  • Abingdon Circular Walk - This circular walk explores the area to the south of this pretty Oxfordshire town
  • Faringdon Circular Walk - This circular walk around the Oxfordshire town of Faringdon, visits Faringdon Folly and the village of Littlelworth
  • Sutton Courtenay - This route from the Oxfordshire village of Sutton Courtenay uses part of the Thames Path and other public footpaths to create a circular walk through the surrounding area.
  • East Hendred - This rural village in Oxfordshire is located in the North Wessex Downs AONB and the historic Vale of White Horse near the settlements of Ardington and Wantage

Pubs/Cafes

Back in the village you can visit the Boar's Head for post walk refreshments. The attractive pub includes roaring fires in the winter and a lovely garden terrace in the summer. You can find them on Church Street with a postcode of OX12 8QA for your sat navs.
In East Hendred you could stop off at the historic Wheatsheaf Inn which dates back to the 16th century. There's a charming interior with old interesting features and a large garden for warmer days. You can find them at postcode OX12 8JN for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The country trails make for a fine dog walk. The Boar's Head mentioned above is dog friendly in the tap room and the garden.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just a few miles to the south of the village you can pick up the The Ridgeway National Trail. If you followed it west you could visit the Segsbury Castle Fort and enjoy some splendid views from the elevated position of the trail. The circular Letcombe Regis Walk visits the camp from the neighbouring village. There's also an 18th century pub and pretty local nature reserve to visit here.
For more walking ideas in the area see the North Wessex Downs Walks and the Oxfordshire Walks pages.

Photos

Ardington House - geograph.org.uk - 1769594

Ardington House

Holy Trinity, Ardington - geograph.org.uk - 1540713

Holy Trinity, Ardington

The Boars Head in Ardington - geograph.org.uk - 1769596

The Boars Head in Ardington

Over the bridge to East Hendred - geograph.org.uk - 2666978

Over the bridge to East Hendred

West Hendred Brook - geograph.org.uk - 1760786

West Hendred Brook

A Horse beside the Ginge Brook - geograph.org.uk - 2344621

A Horse beside the Ginge Brook in West Hendred

The Ginge towards the Mill - geograph.org.uk - 2667465

The Ginge Brook towards the Mill in West Hendred

Track by East Lockinge - geograph.org.uk - 1761469

Track by East Lockinge

GPS Files

GPX File

Ardington.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)