The slim filling in the sandwich between Oxfordshire and Hampshire, Berkshire with its good road and rail connections provides and excellent centre for walking in southern England.
Much of West Berkshire lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a nationally important landscape encompassing many well known walking areas.
To the north is a section of the Ridgeway, England’s oldest road, passing over the grassy chalk land of the Berkshire Downs, between Streatley and East Ilsley.
The Ridgeway is linked to the Lambourn Valley Way. This 20 mile walk begins at the Uffington White Horse and passes through the picturesque Lambourn Valley, gradually descending some 560 feet, to end in Newbury.
England's highest chalk hill, Walbury Hill lies in the south west, the start of the 70 mile Wayfarers Walk, to Emsworth,. On a clear day, you can see several counties. The heritage here includes evidence of a Long Barrow and an Iron Age Hillfort.
Within West Berkshire, between Pangbourne and Streatley, is a short length of the 184 mile Thames Path that traces the banks of this serene waterway. Pangbourne was once home and inspiration to Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame.
Further East, within their own unitary authorities are the towns of Reading and Windsor both offering more sophisticated settings for the Thames as it gathers volume on its journey towards London. Reading is also the start of another long distance waterside walk, that along the Kennet and Avon Canal which finishes in Bath.
Major calendar events
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Tutti Day
Hocktide Tuesday 1st April 2008
Once a nationwide affair, takes place on every second Tuesday after Easter. Hungerford residents are the only people in Britain still to don their costumes as part of the Hocktide celebrations. The Tuttimen follow the Orange Man to each residence in the town, climbing their ladders to present the ladies of each house with an orange, in return for a kiss. Gentlemen then offer up their penny to the Tuttimen as 'rent'.
The Royal County of Berkshire Show
20 & 21 September 2008
