Wantage via Ginge

This page revised March 2005

(Updated March 05) Easy to print downloadable map of this route.
Wantage to Ginge
This is an unofficial route from Wantage that completely avoids the A417. It passes instead along minor roads and tracks near the Icknield Way and provides a relaxing journey with lovely views.
Begin at the Lark Hill bridleway opposite the Lord Nelson pub (~410880). From West Lockinge, head east and south along the lanes through East Lockinge to Ginge.
At East Ginge there is a private farm track (coloured red on the map) which starts by Ginge House (448865). Cyclists can use this with the permission of the owner. Please do not obstruct any farm vehicles or movements of livestock: we do not want permission to be withdrawn.
At the end of the farm track turn left for Harwell and right for Rutherford.

(Images produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Multi Media Mapping )

Ginge to Harwell and Rutherford
For Harwell, continue north on the lane to its junction with the Icknield Way (460878) and turn right towards Aldfield Common. There is now a choice of routes. Then:
Either: follow the Icknield Way, now surfaced with rolled hardcore, until you reach the paths behind the Curie Avenue shops which can take you to Curie Avenue. An improved route from the Ickneild Way to Curie Avenue and North Gate will be provided by the tank farm once current construction works are completed.
Or: Take the metalled lane rather than the Ickneild Way until you get to the farm road to Oldfield Farm (466875). Take the bridleway to the right of the farm track which passes through a field, through some trees and via an opening in a fence (474875) to the western end of Curie Avenue.
The sketch map below right shows these options more clearly. (Download full size sketch map image for printing.)

For RAL, after leaving the farm track continue south along the road until it gets to a dog-leg near the edge of the Harwell site (~460857) where a bridleway heads off in an easterly direction. Take the bridleway and then follow the track around the perimeter fence towards Chilton, from where you can access the site via Fermi Avenue. RAL staff have been lobbying for an access point in the fence near the windmills, but in the meantime the long route around the fence must remain.

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(Updated March 05) Easy to print downloadable map of this route. Wantage to Ginge This is an unofficial route from Wantage that completely avoids the A417. It passes instead along minor roads and tracks near the Icknield Way and provides a relaxing journey with lovely views. Begin at the Lark Hill bridleway opposite the Lord Nelson pub (~410880). From West Lockinge, head east and south along the lanes through East Lockinge to Ginge. At East Ginge there is a private farm track (coloured red on the map) which starts by Ginge House (448865). Cyclists can use this with the permission of the owner. Please do not obstruct any farm vehicles or movements of livestock: we do not want permission to be withdrawn. At the end of the farm track turn left for Harwell and right for Rutherford.
	(Images produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Multi Media Mapping )
Ginge to Harwell and Rutherford For Harwell, continue north on the lane to its junction with the Icknield Way (460878) and turn right towards Aldfield Common. There is now a choice of routes. Then: Either: follow the Icknield Way, now surfaced with rolled hardcore, until you reach the paths behind the Curie Avenue shops which can take you to Curie Avenue. An improved route from the Ickneild Way to Curie Avenue and North Gate will be provided by the tank farm once current construction works are completed. Or: Take the metalled lane rather than the Ickneild Way until you get to the farm road to Oldfield Farm (466875). Take the bridleway to the right of the farm track which passes through a field, through some trees and via an opening in a fence (474875) to the western end of Curie Avenue. The sketch map below right shows these options more clearly. (Download full size sketch map image for printing.)
For RAL, after leaving the farm track continue south along the road until it gets to a dog-leg near the edge of the Harwell site (~460857) where a bridleway heads off in an easterly direction. Take the bridleway and then follow the track around the perimeter fence towards Chilton, from where you can access the site via Fermi Avenue. RAL staff have been lobbying for an access point in the fence near the windmills, but in the meantime the long route around the fence must remain.
Return to Routes Index