West Ilsley

The settlement itself is quiet and rural, centred around its church with scattered farms dotting the landscape, but what really draws people here is its exceptional position on this historic trail. The Ridgeway passes through on its way across the chalk downs, following a path that's been walked for thousands of years, and you get a genuine sense of how people have moved through this landscape since prehistoric times when you walk sections near the village.

The village makes an ideal stopping point on the Ridgeway National Trail, which stretches 87 miles from Overton Hill near Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. You can walk whatever distance suits you through the rolling downland, enjoying expansive views across the Berkshire Downs. Whether you're after a day walk or longer sections of the trail, West Ilsley works well as a base, and the walking here is relatively gentle compared to other parts of the route.

For shops and services, Wantage is your nearest proper town, though the village itself has limited facilities. The chalk grassland supports wildflowers and downland birds, so binoculars are worth bringing if you're interested in wildlife. This is serious walking country, and despite being reasonably accessible, the Ridgeway here maintains a genuinely remote feel.