Two versions of this walk are described below. The first starts and ends in Lambourn. The second, slightly shorter walk, start and ends in Upper Lambourn.
Lambourn and Upper Lambourn are peaceful working villages where individual and strings of racehorses are ridden throughout the day and particularly before 13:00. Please take great care when horses are about. Horses can be spooked by sudden movements, domestic animals and loud noises. Please do not endanger the horse, the rider and yourself.
Please follow the Countryside Code to keep you, your dog, farm animals and the countryside safe. Respect other people, Protect the natural environment, Enjoy the outdoors.
For dog walkers there is special advice available from Countryside Online.
Thank you to Anita Morton, Oliver Steed, Virginia Dreyer for researching this walk. If you have any suggestions or comments regarding this walk please add a comment using the form at the end of this page.
Version 1: Lambourn – Baydon Hole – Bailey Hill – Near Down – Lambourn
THE WALK – Approx 11 km (7 miles)
From the market square in Lambourn, walk along Three Post Lane with the church on your left-hand side. On reaching the main road (B4000) continue straight on until you reach Folly Road on your left. Walk up Folly Road to the top and continue as the road turns into a track with trees on the right and then out into the open with fields on both sides. Particularly in the mornings, you may well see horses training on the gallops on your right and then returning along the track you are walking on. Therefore, please take care and stand back if horses pass you. Continue along the track until you reach a four-way junction of paths. This is approximately 2 ½ km into the walk.
Carry straight on and follow the track for another 1 ½ km until you reach the farm at Baydon Hole. At this point the track turns into a lane and you carry straight on again. Follow the lane for just over 1 km until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and walk a short distance along the road, taking the first turning on your right and follow the lane round a bend towards Bailey Hill cottages and farm. With the buildings on your left-hand side, take the track up the hill with a line of trees on your left.
You will reach the top of the hill in just under 1km. At this point you will have far reaching views in front of you, including Russley Park and the Ashdown Estate, and depending on the weather, possibly as far as the Ridgeway path.
Head straight on down the hill, taking the main (right hand) path until you reach a four-way junction of paths. Turn right here and continue to the next junction of paths. Again, turn right and follow this path for just over 2km in total. This path runs between two fields to start with before taking a left-hand bend where you climb up out of the valley. You will again have some good views, this time towards Upper Lambourn and its gallops on your left. You cross an open field (which includes a grass gallop so take care as there may be horses moving at speed) before picking up a track between hedges where you continue until reaching the second four-way junction of paths. You turn left at this point, re-tracing your steps from earlier in the walk for the 2 ½ km return to Lambourn via Folly Road and the B4000.
Version 2: Upper Lambourn – Baydon Hole – Bailey Hill – Upper Lambourn
THE WALK – Approx 10 km (6 ¼ miles)
Park in the B4000 lay-by opposite Chapel Forge and walk up Rowdown. When you reach the four-way junction of paths carry straight on. At the next junction of paths, which will be about 2km into the walk, turn right and follow the track for around 1 km until you reach the farm at Baydon Hole. At this point the track turns into a lane and you carry straight on again. Follow the lane for just over 1 km until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and walk a short distance along the road, taking the first turning on your right and follow the lane round a bend towards Bailey Hill cottages and farm. With the buildings on your left-hand side, take the track up the hill with a line of trees on your left.
You will reach the top of the hill in just under 1km. At this point you will have far reaching views in front of you, including Russley Park and the Ashdown Estate, and depending on the weather, possibly as far as the Ridgeway path.
Head straight on down the hill, taking the main (right hand) path until you reach a four-way junction of paths. Carry straight on through the gate and cross the field. The path then runs between two paddocks before emerging onto the B4000 Lambourn to Ashbury Road. Cross the road, taking the chalk track in front of you for a short distance before turning right onto a path between hedges. Continue on this path for around 2km, past Park Farm Lodge, eventually emerging by the entrance to some gallops on your left. Carry straight on for a few more hundred meters until you reach the road by Frenchmans House & Stables. You are now in Upper Lambourn. This road very quickly meets Upper Lambourn’s High Street. Turn left and follow the road as far as Limes Farm, then turn right and walk up the lane to return to your car.
