Newtown Common and Horris Hill (south of Newbury) 2

Newtown Common

I last did this four mile walk two years ago and was thrilled to spot a Silver Washed Fritillary (predominant colour a gorgeous orange - the largest fritillary with a powerful gliding flight) and and a Dark Green (actually brownish looking) Fritillary. This had such an impact that I remembered it as only last year.

I saw another Silver Washed Fritillary on Tuesday when I walked near Birdlip in Gloucestershire and when we decided to go out for a walk this afternoon I thought of returning to Newtown Common in the hope of seeing another one.

The walk is in a figure of eight. You start at the the entrance to Newtown Common at the top of Jonathan or Jonathon Hill (there are two different signs on opposite sides of the road). You walk first through woodland and then across the very pleasant common, with some lovely Rowan trees covered in their colourful berries.



You cross a minor road, walk along a track and then cross the A339, to begin the Horris Hill section of the walk. The initial section is quite interesting - and rich in butterflies - but most of this part of the walk, around Horris Hill school and the straggling houses of the village feels like it has been tacked on to extend the walk to a reasonable length.

At the end of the loop you pass one of the National Trust's smallest properties - the quarter acre Barn Plot - and cross the A339 again. You are soon in the final section of the walk, through very pleasant woodland back to the start.

From: Rambling for Pleasure: Kennet Valley and Watership Down by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers’ Association Group.

Map: Explorer 158 Newbury and Hungerford

Rating: 2 stars. Newtown common was good, but overall too many roads and houses, and the ever-present traffic noise diminished our enjoyment.


Sightings

I caught a glimpse (I think) of a Silver Washed Fritillary. And we also saw our first Brimstone from this year's generation and a Holly, or possibly Small, Blue. And most of the other species which have featured on recent walks.


Flower of the day

We spotted this Selfheal nestling in a grassy meadow just before the wood at the end of the walk.