The Lambourn Valley Way is a beautiful 20 mile route, starting at the National Trust carpark for the historic Whitehorse Hill.
The first 6 miles are on the high, open, chalk Lambourn Downs. This can grow soft, springy, dry turf ideal for the many horse gallops. The upper valley is the U.K. centre for National Hunt (jump) racehorse training with many stables in Upper Lambourn and Lambourn, and the route takes you across the training . across the Jockey club gallops, with stunning views over the Lambourn Downs. After going through the village of Lambourn, the route continues through the open farmland of West Berkshire and in parts down disused rail tracks.
Below Great Shefford the river becomes that rare and beautiful, chalk trout stream which you come across at several points during the week. Between Weston and Boxford the LVW loops to the SW above Welford Park.
From Boxford, the path follows the river alongside a vineyard to Bagnor, where you run past the Watermill Theatre, formerly a cloth mill. After Bangor the waymarked route takes you down to Speen, past the local Lady Well, scatttered with offerings from locals and finally down the canal to finish at the Lock Stock pub on the canal in Newbury
On the ground the way is well signposted with waymark discs and finger posts.
Details of the route can be found here:
https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Lambourn+Valley+Way
http://info.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=36684#:~:text=The%20Lambourn%20Valley%20Way%20is,valley%20of%20the%20River%20Lambourn.
