Faringdon Road Down

Downs, Moorland in Berkshire

England

Faringdon Road Down

Barn & barn conversion opposite Sheepdrove Farmhouse Credit: David Kemp

Faringdon Road Down is a picturesque area located in Berkshire, England. Situated on the Downs, which are large areas of rolling grassland, this region is known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife.

The landscape of Faringdon Road Down is characterized by its gently sloping hills and open moorland. The grassy terrain is interspersed with patches of heather, creating a colorful tapestry during the blooming season. The area is also home to several species of wildflowers, adding to its vibrant charm.

One of the main attractions of Faringdon Road Down is its rich wildlife population. The moorland provides a habitat for a range of bird species, including skylarks, meadow pipits, and stonechats. Visitors may also spot kestrels and buzzards soaring overhead. In addition to birds, the area is home to various mammals, such as hares, rabbits, and foxes.

The downs offer several walking and hiking trails, allowing visitors to explore the area's natural wonders. From the top of the hills, stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside can be enjoyed. On a clear day, it is even possible to see as far as the Cotswolds in the distance.

Faringdon Road Down is a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful retreat in the heart of Berkshire. Its unspoiled beauty and tranquil atmosphere make it a popular destination for outdoor activities, picnics, and simply enjoying the splendor of the British countryside.

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Faringdon Road Down Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.540253/-1.5214749 or Grid Reference SU3382. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Barn & barn conversion opposite Sheepdrove Farmhouse

David Kemp

Sheepdrove Farmhouse, Lambourn

Although OS maps show it as 'Sheepdrove Farm', the house seen here is identified on signage as 'Sheepdrove Farmhouse'. The name 'Sheepdrove Farm' actually refers to the Sheepdrove Organic Farm & Eco Conference Centre the location of which is shown on OS maps as Warren Farm in nearby SU3581.

David Kemp

Gallops and road, Lambourn

Andrew Smith

Track and Small Wood, Westcot Down

Larger trees round here tend to occur in clumps of woodland like this rather than be on their own or in hedges. There is a patch of rough ground by the track here where you can leave the car and start off on a nice walk over the downs. Oxfordshire on the right, Berkshire on the left.

Des Blenkinsopp

Passing Number Four

A distance marker along one of the specially surfaced tracks for horses which are a feature of the Lambourn Downs, the Valley of the Racehorse, as roadside signs proclaim. All this area is used for training. I think the black stuff is made from old chopped up car tyres. A bridleway for ordinary horses goes along beside the posh one.

Des Blenkinsopp

Caution, Horses Crossing

I guess there's always an element of risk somewhere like this, where a public footpath crosses a track where racehorses are frequently on the move. Owners The Jockey Club have tried to make it as obvious as they can what's going on.

Des Blenkinsopp

Soft Road for Racehorses

Different from the track we were walking beside a short way back, which looked to be surfaced with shredded tyres, this one seems to be made of shredded carpet or something. All very good recycling, it would appear. More of the ultra neat landscape on the Jockey Club's estate near Lambourn.

Des Blenkinsopp

Carpet for Horses

Another version of the soft surfaces put down along the roads used by racehorses on the Downs. This is a sort of rubberized matting which is nice and pungey to walk along. I'm not surprised the horses like it. A good effect of all this care and attention for horse tracks is that the public rights of way round here don't get churned up nearly so much as in other places.

Des Blenkinsopp

Maintaining the Back Of The Hill

Maintenance is done 9:15 to 9:30 on Tuesdays and Saturdays apparently. That must just be the track surface. Keeping this estate so neat is going to take more than half an hour a week.

Des Blenkinsopp

Gallop, Lambourn, Berkshire

Oswald Bertram

Gallop, Lambourn, Berkshire

Oswald Bertram

Downland, near Lambourn, Berkshire

Oswald Bertram

A field of beans on the flank of Sparsholt Down

The crop here - vast acres of it - is broad beans. The narrow strip of woodland runs along the crest of Sparsholt Down.

Stefan Czapski

Byway on Pit Down

Here running north-east and uphill, shaded by a plantation of beeches. Behind the camera the track leads downhill to Seven Barrows and the road to Lambourn.

Stefan Czapski

Seven Barrows: cattle sheltering from rain

One of the most prominent barrows has a beech tree growing on top of it, and these bullocks were huddling beneath it during a drizzly spell. They soon emerged when the sun came out. Walking round the enclosed area of Seven Barrows nature reserve, I soon realised that there were more than seven mounds. I've seen estimates of two dozen and more - though they may refer to an area larger than the enclosed reserve.

Stefan Czapski

The Seven Barrows nature reserve

This is the site of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery, lying in a hollow on the Lambourn Downs. Walking round the site you soon realise that there are more barrows than the name suggests. My guess would be that the name dates from the centuries when mystical significance was assigned to the number seven (hence Seven Stars, Seven Seas, Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Ages of Man). The enclosed nature reserve is managed by the Berks., Bucks. & Oxon. Wildlife Trust, chiefly to conserve a small population of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly - a scarce species whose distribution has retreated westwards in the last half-century.

Stefan Czapski

Seven Barrows

This hollow in the Lambourn Downs is the site of a Bronze Age round-barrow cemetery. There are a good many mounds (certainly more than seven) but they are crowded together, and many sit in shallow depressions. An individual barrow may appear out of the long grass only as you approach it. The mound with the beech tree is perhaps the most isolated, and certainly the easiest to pick out at a distance. The picture was taken in rapidly changing light (after rain), and the light and shade helps emphasise the uneven relief.

Stefan Czapski

View from the Lambourn-Kingston Lisle road, north of Seven Barrows

The tree marks the remains of a barrow, but the evenness of the ground suggests that the area was formerly ploughed. These days much of the area is race-horse gallops - pretty much permanent grass.

Stefan Czapski

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Faringdon Road Down is located at Grid Ref: SU3382 (Lat: 51.540253, Lng: -1.5214749)

Unitary Authority: West Berkshire

Police Authority: Thames Valley