9 km (5.7 miles)
147 meters height difference
Lambourn and Upper Lambourn are 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 which in turn can endanger the horse, the rider and you.
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.
If you have any hints or comments regarding this walk please add a comment using the form at the end of this page.
The Walk
Park in the lay-by in front of the Lambourn cemetery or safely nearby.
Across the road from you is St Luke’s Chapel. This is a chapel has been converted into a forge and now in use by farriers serving the racing yards of the Lambourn Valley.
Take the path along Rowdown, past the cottages on your right and up the hill. Turn right after 1.5km.
Follow the path for 2.5km until you reach the main road.
Cross the road and head up the hill. You are walking on the upper chalk which is the predominant bedrock in this area. White fragments of chalk can be seen in the fields and on the track. You will also be able to see the smooth rounded sarsen stones. The name sarsen is likely to come from “saracen” meaning foreign or alien. This is because the smooth brown rocks do look alien in contrast to the surrounding countryside. Locally they are sometimes called “grey wethers” because, in the half-light, they are said to look like sheep.
Continue for 2km and then turn right after a small scrub copse on your right.
Proceed along the track, through a farmyard and then along Maddle Road.
On your left are the gallops where many of the the horses from Upper Lambourn are trained. The Mandown gallop complex includes turf and artificial gallops ranging in distance from 5 furlongs to over 1m and ranging in gradient from gentle to steep.
Mandown boasts an extensive collection of turf gallops and schooling grounds. These include an all-weather schooling strip, as well as a 60 x 40m schooling arena to educate young horses and improve their jumping technique. The full range of gallops and facilities available can be viewed on the map below and more details on the principal gallops page.
Follow the road to the right and then take a left turn. Along the road you will be able to see where chalk and sarsen stones have been used as building materials in house and garden walls.
Turn right and at the end of the road you will be back at St Luke’s chapel.
