Summary (by AI): Visiting Wittenham Clumps, a place I had wanted to explore for years, was a fantastic experience that rewarded my hike with a marvelous view across the Oxfordshire plains.
Blog: Wittenham Clumps is a place that’s been on my radar for quite a few years now, so it was great that the ABC tour finally gave me the opportunity to go and visit it properly.
Even if you haven't stood on top of them, you can see the Clumps from quite a long way around. They aren't far from where I live in Oxfordshire, so we drive past them regularly and see them sitting there in the distance, perched on top of those distinctive little hills. I’ve even had the chance to see them from a different perspective on the water; when you take a boat trip along the River Thames, you actually pass right underneath them, which is a fantastic experience.
For this trip, I decided to park up in Dorchester. It’s a lovely little village, nestled away and full of character. Luckily, the main road bypasses it, which has helped it retain its historical feel—and there are a couple of great little pubs there, too. From Dorchester, you can set off on a brilliant walk that takes you across the River Thames and straight up onto the top of the Clumps.
The Clumps themselves are essentially the wooded summits of two hills, Round Hill and Castle Hill. Interestingly, the beech woods at the top are widely cited as the oldest hill-top plantations in England, with the trees having been planted back in the 1740s. Locally, they are often affectionately known as the "Sinodun Hills," and they've served as a landmark for centuries, even inspiring famous landscape artists like Paul Nash.
It’s quite a hike to reach the summit, but it is definitely worth the effort. Once you're up there, you’re rewarded with a marvelous view back across the Oxfordshire plains and over toward Didcot. Apparently, the site attracts around 200,000 visitors a year, making it a very busy spot. Fortunately, I was able to visit "off-season" on a midweek day, so I had a relatively quiet, fantastic walk to a place I’ve always wanted to explore.
The Map: