RE: West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive

RE: West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive

Thursday 23rd October 2014

West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive

Getting up a gallop in a Ferrari F430 Spider through the valleys of the horses



Name: Chris Rees
Where: Newbury and the valley of the horses
Car used: Ferrari F430 Spider

Appropriate choice for valley of the horses
Appropriate choice for valley of the horses
The route:
"The journey starts in Newbury, a short hop off the M4. From here, the B4494 winds its way north to Wantage, starting off narrow and twisty as it rises out of town, but soon opening up to offer a series of high-speed bends, changes of elevation and challenging cambers.

"Reaching Wantage, I point the Ferrari's nose west on the B4057, eventually picking up the B4001 to Lambourn, ground we've covered once before in a more condensed Dream Drive. We're now in the 'Valley of the Racehorse' - so named because an estimated 1,500 horses in over 50 racing yards live and train here. Thank the springy turf and uninterrupted open spaces for that - it's pretty much the ideal environment to foster Ascot winners. Not bad for our own prancing horse either!

Roads like this are what it's all about
Roads like this are what it's all about
"After taking a right turn on the B4000 to Ashbury, it's impossible to resist a detour and head east on the B4057 again, as far as the turnoff for Uffington. Heading up this tiny road to the famous white horse carved on the hillside is memorable indeed - you're rewarded with simply stunning views across the landscape below. But at the top, right above the white horse itself, it suddenly turns into a rutted track more suited to 4x4s than Ferraris, so it's time to turn around and go back on the B4057 westwards.

"At Ashbury, I head for Bishopstone. Desperate to avoid Swindon, I'm tempted by a ring around the south. At Hinton Parva, a left turn signposted Foxhills takes you up a narrow hill and up on to some more fabulously open country. You pass over the M4, then go straight over a staggered crossroads (crossing the A346) heading towards Wroughton on the B4005. Once at Wroughton, it's time to head south on the A4361. Once again you climb up the landscape and reach glorious open country. With light traffic, there's plenty of opportunity for more sweeping cornering and opportunities to overtake slower-moving machinery.

That's a dream drive right there
That's a dream drive right there
"I reach the A4 and head west for a couple of miles where there's another white horse in the hills on the left just before reaching Cherhill. It's time to turn around here and head back east along the A4, which on this stretch is very little-trafficked and extremely wide. As a result, it's very easy to find yourself going, ahem, rather more quickly than perhaps you'd expected; and there are speed camera signs up here, so take care. The A4 remains superb all the way to Hungerford and on to Newbury, with plenty of stretches suitable for overtaking.

Why it's a dream drive:
"As someone who suffers the arterial cloggery of south-eastern English roads every day, identifying decent driving roads not too far from my Berkshire doorstep is a real obsession of mine. Luckily, not far west of Reading this series of valleys that really do it for me.

Pay heed to this sign...
Pay heed to this sign...
"What better way to experience West Berkshire's white horses than in a car with a prancing nag badge on its nose? The Ferrari F430 Spider booked in for another feature is pretty much the perfect tool for the challenging combination of sweeping high-speed A-and B-roads, punctuated by spectacular views of the downs."

Highlights and lowlights:
"One thing is paramount on this route: keep a very, very keen eye out for racehorses. Approaching the town of Lambourn, a gamut of stallions suddenly appears on the road, performing a shuffle between stables. I haven't the first clue about horses but even I can tell that these animals ooze the sort of pedigree that would make the Ferrari a cheap nag in an insurance claim. It's time to haul up sharply and slot out of 'Race' mode, and shush the exceedingly loud exhaust. Unfortunately I can't shush the ultra bright paint and blingy gold wheels, which perhaps explains why the horses are passing by so nervously. In full auto mode, the F430 switches seamlessly from an intense gallop to the docile pace of a donkey through Lambourn.

A white horse, not a prancing one
A white horse, not a prancing one
Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"Avebury announces its presence with spectacular avenues of stones on either side of the road, imbuing an atmosphere of other-worldliness. And luring hundreds of tourists, of course. As I'm one of them, Avebury makes a great stop-off point. The Red Lion here is the only pub in the world built in the middle of an ancient stone circle - and in fact was actually built out of old standing stones.

If your stomach is growling there are several lunch options on the route. The budget one (well, not too expensive, anyway) is to hook a left to Stitchcombe and follow the River Kennet as far as Ramsbury, where you'll find The Bell- regularly voted one of the best pubs in Berkshire. If you're feeling flush, just as you reach the junction with the A34, take a left on to the B4000 and look out for The Vineyard at Stockcross - a very fine noshery, with prices to match. The wine cellar here is world-renowned, so take care choosing your favourite plonk. The most expensive bottle on the wine list is £8,880!"

Follow the route here.


Author
Discussion

StarmistBlue400

Original Poster:

3,028 posts

217 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
The Wantage to Lambourn road is awesome and one I have hooned along many times.

Great write up smile

RB Will

9,662 posts

239 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
All very much my own stomping ground. Based in Swindon but with family in Lambourn. Have sampled these roads in much exotica thanks to my brother but most extensively in my own cars.

I have to say much of the roads around Lambourn have deteriorated in quality over the last couple of years. I used to hold some silly speeds around there but now worry about potholes and uneven road.
I would say that the section from Wantage - Wroughton is very much hot hatch, Evobaru territory as the roads are mostly narrow, bumpy and lined with unforgiving banks especially the Ashbury - Foxhill section.
My E30 used to be bouncing on the bumpstops, my friend couldnt get his Atom above about 50mph without it trying to throw him off the road, my Imprezas have proven bloody awesome but tyre does leave tarmac at numerous points and the P1 will whack its chin on a couple of the cambered corners if I dont slow up and taking the OHs Mini cooper S around there is like riding a bucking bronco.
I would advise anyone sampling this section for the first time to be very cautions as I have had people following me come a cropper due to the unexpected tightening of corners/ mid corner bumps etc.

The only places I have seen the Police hanging around are on the long straight on the road from Wroughton - Avebury and again on the long wide bit of the A4 from Avebury to Cherhill.

P.S. you missed the bit from Ashbury to Uffington White horse and Avebury to Cherhill off your route map.

Edited by RB Will on Thursday 23 October 13:45

phil4

1,203 posts

237 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Living just outside Wantage, I know these roads quite well. Going South out of Wantage, the B4494 (aka Chainhill road from Wantage end) is fantastically open and with it quite rapid. It's fantastic for a super quick blast.

But my preference would be the A338, down to Great Shefford. It's not super open, but also not slow. Nice bends and reasonably empty. And the road surface with the exception of the 30mph our of Wantage is just fine.

Of course the above two don't make for a 2 hour round trip. And your route looks great to me, it's just a shame it didn't include the A338 as that'a a great road.

RB Will

9,662 posts

239 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Also being pedantic the second pic down of the undulating road is not on your route, thats the B4192 to Aldbourne if I'm not mistaken.
And you didnt avoid Swindon judging by the pic of the car outside the Dick Lovett Showroom tongue out

tog

4,516 posts

227 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
RB Will said:
Also being pedantic the second pic down of the undulating road is not on your route, thats the B4192 to Aldbourne if I'm not mistaken.
And you didnt avoid Swindon judging by the pic of the car outside the Dick Lovett Showroom tongue out
Can I be pedantic too? Ramsbury (like most of this route) is in Wiltshire, not Berkshire.

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Without being a massive bore and peeing on everyones parade, the articles reference to horses is quite correct - there are thousands of the bloody things around here

To be honest, this area is simply not really suitable for anything more than 6/10ths hoonage. Any more and you will encounter some horse in the middle of the road and you will not be able to react. Horse culture is so ingrained in this area, you WILL have seven shades of manure kicked out of you if you transgress. Which is fair enough I guess. Berkshire farmers are sturdy lads and they won't like you flash tits in your fancy cars threatening their nags. I know this because my brother in law is a farmer in the Lambourn area..

Lovely area though. I live to the south and east of that area but visit it often.

grenpayne

1,975 posts

161 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
All these roads are very familiar to me too, they're all on my list for early Sunday morning run outs in my Caterham. I particularly love the B4494 and if it's trafic free, it's a wonderful road. If you ever see a bright yellow Seven on these roads it'll be me biggrin

hashluck

1,611 posts

274 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
phil4 said:
But my preference would be the A338, down to Great Shefford. It's not super open, but also not slow. Nice bends and reasonably empty. And the road surface with the exception of the 30mph our of Wantage is just fine.

Of course the above two don't make for a 2 hour round trip. And your route looks great to me, it's just a shame it didn't include the A338 as that'a a great road.
This

Amizade

284 posts

224 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
RB Will] the P1 will whack its chin on a couple of the cambered corners if I dont slow up[/footnote said:
Lol....I was thinking that must have been expensive, until I realised you were referring to a Scooby..not a McLaren !!

RB Will

9,662 posts

239 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Yeah I have renamed my car "The Letdown" as now whenever someone asks what I drive I say P1 and they light up, then realise it's a Subaru and I'm not a millionaire lol

Have to disagree with the poster a few up about havin to drive slow because of horses around Lambourn. Been hooning round there for 12 years now and never seen a horse on the road on that loop. That's the beauty of the area so many miles of gallops and byeway that it's one place nags don't seem to be a problem. Only place I have encountered them on the road is in the village itself and that's a 30-40 limit anyway

jontysafe

2,351 posts

177 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
grenpayne said:
All these roads are very familiar to me too, they're all on my list for early Sunday morning run outs in my Caterham. I particularly love the B4494 and if it's trafic free, it's a wonderful road. If you ever see a bright yellow Seven on these roads it'll be me biggrin
I'm sure I've seen you! I would have been going in the opposite direction in a red Westie.

Anatonic

114 posts

158 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
As a Wantage resident, I regularly see a number of Caterhams up along the B4494 on the Ridgeway, especially on Sunday mornings when I'm out peddling the Trophy! Also see a number of bikers as it's a fav with them too. Sometimes I'll just head as far as where the M4 crosses and turn around at the small road to Chieveley, then come back again. Lovely road when it's early on a Sunday and before I treat the car to a weekly wash...

skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
i have another loop from wantage that i used to like to run (although haven't done much in the last few years).
The last bit, chain hill, as previous poster has said, is great - several miles long, well sighted downhill, with a few chicanes



Shotaro

96 posts

127 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
For a Berkshire loop a fair bit of it is in Wiltshire

OliilO

198 posts

136 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
I've got a few loops out of didcot incorporating some of these roads around the south of Wantage.

My favourites are probably A338 to Great Shefford then across to the outskirts of Newbury and back up to Wantage on the B4494 including chain hill.

For a longer loop, take the same start but after Gt Shefford, keep going south through Hungerford and down to Andover before returning north up the A343 through Hurstbourne Tarrant and Highclere before linking into the B4494.

Personally, the A343 is probably my favourite section as its quick with a decent surface and not much traffic on a Sunday morning.

pjvenda

5 posts

161 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
I can't wait to try these!

Sorry to be boring, but any suggestions of mobile apps good enough to follow a prepared route? Thanks in advance!!

I've used google maps a few times but it gets confused with circular routes (bc they end at the starting point - "you have arrived", it says just after starting) and it won't enable navigation unless very near the starting point, so there is no pausing or resuming, etc.

tjk123

562 posts

229 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Good route. My parents live in Ramsbury so this is familiar stomping ground for me and the M5. Wouldn't wholeheartedly endorse the Bell though - somewhat hit and miss and too far up its own derriere since being subject to a refurb a couple of years back.

tjk123

562 posts

229 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Good route. My parents live in Ramsbury so this is familiar stomping ground for me and the M5. Wouldn't wholeheartedly endorse the Bell though - somewhat hit and miss and too far up its own derriere since being subject to a refurb a couple of years back.

Rhod

19 posts

223 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
skinny said:
i have another loop from wantage that i used to like to run (although haven't done much in the last few years).
The last bit, chain hill, as previous poster has said, is great - several miles long, well sighted downhill, with a few chicanes

We used to 'test' our cars on the Goring to Blewbury stretch of that route. Only condition was that leaving Goring you crossed the NSL at 30mph and entering Blewbury you crossed the 30sign at 30mph. Sweet road of which there's nothing like it here in Canada.

blitzracing

6,387 posts

219 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
I bought my house in Great Shefford on the A338 20 odd years ago for the road, at that point NSL. Then one of the performance bike mags did a piece just like this which was followed in 5 deaths in two years over a twenty mile stretch due to deer and general stupidity. Its now a blanket 50 mph over it, so any hooning is now restricted by law abiding traffic, and Sundays is somewhat madness due to the two wheel population, although they have slowed on average since the 50 mph limit. Its still great at less popular times though, but treat it with respect, we dont want another knee jerk reaction to "the problem".