Blewbury is a village of thatched cottages, chalk streams and old cob walls at the foot of the Berkshire Downs, south of Didcot. It has the slightly enchanted feel of a place that has been left alone, and it is no surprise that Kenneth Grahame chose to live here in the years after he wrote The Wind in the Willows. Wander the lanes and you could easily imagine Ratty and Mole somewhere among the willows by the stream.
Above the village, the downs rise in long, smooth curves of grass and arable, crossed by the Ridgeway, an ancient track used for thousands of years, said to be one of the oldest roads in Britain. Racehorses train on the gallops of the downs, and on an early morning you may see strings of them cantering along the ridges. The views from the top stretch over the Thames valley towards the Chilterns.
For riders, the roads around Blewbury are a delight. The A417 runs along the foot of the downs through a string of pretty villages, while the minor roads climb onto the downs with long, open views and fast, flowing curves. Surfaces vary, and some lanes are very narrow, with high banks and blind bends. Watch for horses, cyclists and farm traffic.
As a start and finish, Blewbury is peaceful, though services are limited in the village itself. Fuel and food are available in Didcot and Wantage nearby. For a photo, the downs above the village offer sweeping views, especially in the early morning or late evening light.