West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive
Getting up a gallop in a Ferrari F430 Spider through the valleys of the horses
Where: Newbury and the valley of the horses
Car used: Ferrari F430 Spider
Appropriate choice for valley of the horses
"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
"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
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...
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
"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!"
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.
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.
And you didnt avoid Swindon judging by the pic of the car outside the Dick Lovett Showroom
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
The last bit, chain hill, as previous poster has said, is great - several miles long, well sighted downhill, with a few chicanes
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