The Bell at Aldworth
The Bell at Aldworth (01635 578272)
Please note that The Bell does not open on a Monday unless it is a Bank Holiday.
An 8 mile walk, along part of the Ancient Ridgeway, to a delightful pub that has been voted the Most Unspoilt Pub in Britain for several years in a row. It serves a huge range of real ales (some local), a range of interesting snack meals and has a delightful garden. The return route down a lovely hidden valley before retracing the first 1½ miles back to the village centre.
There is an option of a 4.9 mile circular route starting 2 miles out of the village. Both options are suitable for all abilities but do include a long fairly steep hill, both up and down. Not wheelchair friendly, but all terrain pushchairs should be OK.
Distance: 8 miles from Goring village centre or 4.9 miles from Warren Farm
Time: Allow 5 hours for the full route which includes time for eating and drinking at the Bell.
Walking Conditions Full walk: Tarmac footpath and road for 2 miles then chalk track (Ridgeway) for 1½ miles, finally 1 mile of tarmac to the Bell. Return mainly by track. The last 2 miles retrace the road and footpath element of the start of the walk. Short walk starts at the beginning of the chalk track and finishes with ½ mile of tarmac roadway. Both long and short walk involves a steep climb from the Ridgeway car park but can be taken at a leisurely pace. Both routes are suitable for children, but an all terrain pushchair would be advisable for some stretches, particularly the descent.
Parking: For the long walk - Goring Village Car Park. (Pay & Display charges may apply. Please check notices) Short walk begins at Warren Farm. See Ridgeway Car Park Map below where the parking is free.
By car from Goring Village, cross the River Bridges into Streatley. Turn right at the traffic lights, fork left onto A417 (Wantage Road) and fork left again into Rectory Road. Continue to the end where a parking area will be found.
Route (long): Leave the Village Car Park by the lane running past the public toilets. At the High Street turn left and cross the road where safe to do so. Continue across the river bridges.
(Note: You can follow the directions to Warren Farm above, but the route below avoids the busy main roads as much as possible)
Just after passing the entrance to the Swan Hotel turn right and follow Church Lane past Streatley church and a row of cottages.
Continue onto a stone chipping path, passing Streatley recreation ground on the left (or you can cross the recreation ground diagonally). At the tarmaced road, turn left. Continue to the main road and turn right along the footpath beside the main road (A329).
In 150 metres cross the road (with care) into Townsend Road. Continue to the top of road and turn left, then immediately right, into Rectory Road. (Take care crossing the A417 as traffic approaches fast from the right). Continue along Rectory Road past Goring & Streatley Golf Course. Continue for approximately 1 mile until you reach the car parking area at the bottom of the chalk track. See Ridgeway Car Park Map below. The short walks starts here.
Walk up the wide track admiring the views to the left (take care not to stumble on the rutted track which can also be slippery if wet). Continue for about one mile ignoring a track that goes off to the right. Keep straight ahead marked Ridgeway. At the next junction take the left path down hill signposted 'Byway'. Keep on this track until reaching a tarmaced road. Turn left and follow the road to the centre of Aldworth village.
The Bell is found by keeping to the left and has the unrivalled reputation of being the most unspoilt pub in England and proudly displays the certificates to prove it.
(Don't forget to turn off your mobile phone wherever you are on the premises or you may be ejected! It probably won't work here anyway!)
Note the enclosed bar, original timbers and outside 'planetarium' or Gents loo! (You can gaze at the stars while making yourself 'comfortable'!)
The Garden is delightful!
All the food served is home made, and extremely scrummy! Hot rolls with fillings like PUlled Pork, Beef of Old England, Home Cured Ham, Smoked Salmon with cream cheese .... to name but a few! Served in baskets with a choice of pickles and spreads. Ploughman's are also available as are hot home made soups and Mulled Wines on cold days.
Once refreshed, take the picket gate on the far side of the garden and go left along the path and cross two fields to a rough track. Turn right and proceed to the road at Westridge Green (B4009). Taking care to face the oncoming traffic proceed straight on along the road towards Streatley until you come to the entrance to Westridge Farm on the left. Follow the footpath sign through the farmyard and along a track that descends into the valley. Take care as the track consists of loose stones and is quite steep in places. Continue down through the valley following the obvious path until you come to Rectory Road.
Turn right for Streatley and Goring, returning the way you came, via Townsend Road and Streatley recreation ground or keep right at the end of Rectory Road and along Wantage Road to the Bull at Streatley and then left down the High Street to the river bridges and the car park.
Turn left if you began your walk at Warren Farm. The car park is about half a mile.
Contact us and tell us if you liked this walk, or if you encountered problems with directions or expectations.
Please note that The Bell does not open on a Monday unless it is a Bank Holiday.
An 8 mile walk, along part of the Ancient Ridgeway, to a delightful pub that has been voted the Most Unspoilt Pub in Britain for several years in a row. It serves a huge range of real ales (some local), a range of interesting snack meals and has a delightful garden. The return route down a lovely hidden valley before retracing the first 1½ miles back to the village centre.
There is an option of a 4.9 mile circular route starting 2 miles out of the village. Both options are suitable for all abilities but do include a long fairly steep hill, both up and down. Not wheelchair friendly, but all terrain pushchairs should be OK.
Distance: 8 miles from Goring village centre or 4.9 miles from Warren Farm
Time: Allow 5 hours for the full route which includes time for eating and drinking at the Bell.
Walking Conditions Full walk: Tarmac footpath and road for 2 miles then chalk track (Ridgeway) for 1½ miles, finally 1 mile of tarmac to the Bell. Return mainly by track. The last 2 miles retrace the road and footpath element of the start of the walk. Short walk starts at the beginning of the chalk track and finishes with ½ mile of tarmac roadway. Both long and short walk involves a steep climb from the Ridgeway car park but can be taken at a leisurely pace. Both routes are suitable for children, but an all terrain pushchair would be advisable for some stretches, particularly the descent.
Parking: For the long walk - Goring Village Car Park. (Pay & Display charges may apply. Please check notices) Short walk begins at Warren Farm. See Ridgeway Car Park Map below where the parking is free.
By car from Goring Village, cross the River Bridges into Streatley. Turn right at the traffic lights, fork left onto A417 (Wantage Road) and fork left again into Rectory Road. Continue to the end where a parking area will be found.
Route (long): Leave the Village Car Park by the lane running past the public toilets. At the High Street turn left and cross the road where safe to do so. Continue across the river bridges.
(Note: You can follow the directions to Warren Farm above, but the route below avoids the busy main roads as much as possible)
Just after passing the entrance to the Swan Hotel turn right and follow Church Lane past Streatley church and a row of cottages.
Continue onto a stone chipping path, passing Streatley recreation ground on the left (or you can cross the recreation ground diagonally). At the tarmaced road, turn left. Continue to the main road and turn right along the footpath beside the main road (A329).
In 150 metres cross the road (with care) into Townsend Road. Continue to the top of road and turn left, then immediately right, into Rectory Road. (Take care crossing the A417 as traffic approaches fast from the right). Continue along Rectory Road past Goring & Streatley Golf Course. Continue for approximately 1 mile until you reach the car parking area at the bottom of the chalk track. See Ridgeway Car Park Map below. The short walks starts here.
Walk up the wide track admiring the views to the left (take care not to stumble on the rutted track which can also be slippery if wet). Continue for about one mile ignoring a track that goes off to the right. Keep straight ahead marked Ridgeway. At the next junction take the left path down hill signposted 'Byway'. Keep on this track until reaching a tarmaced road. Turn left and follow the road to the centre of Aldworth village.
The Bell is found by keeping to the left and has the unrivalled reputation of being the most unspoilt pub in England and proudly displays the certificates to prove it.
(Don't forget to turn off your mobile phone wherever you are on the premises or you may be ejected! It probably won't work here anyway!)
Note the enclosed bar, original timbers and outside 'planetarium' or Gents loo! (You can gaze at the stars while making yourself 'comfortable'!)
The Garden is delightful!
All the food served is home made, and extremely scrummy! Hot rolls with fillings like PUlled Pork, Beef of Old England, Home Cured Ham, Smoked Salmon with cream cheese .... to name but a few! Served in baskets with a choice of pickles and spreads. Ploughman's are also available as are hot home made soups and Mulled Wines on cold days.
Once refreshed, take the picket gate on the far side of the garden and go left along the path and cross two fields to a rough track. Turn right and proceed to the road at Westridge Green (B4009). Taking care to face the oncoming traffic proceed straight on along the road towards Streatley until you come to the entrance to Westridge Farm on the left. Follow the footpath sign through the farmyard and along a track that descends into the valley. Take care as the track consists of loose stones and is quite steep in places. Continue down through the valley following the obvious path until you come to Rectory Road.
Turn right for Streatley and Goring, returning the way you came, via Townsend Road and Streatley recreation ground or keep right at the end of Rectory Road and along Wantage Road to the Bull at Streatley and then left down the High Street to the river bridges and the car park.
Turn left if you began your walk at Warren Farm. The car park is about half a mile.
Contact us and tell us if you liked this walk, or if you encountered problems with directions or expectations.
