It's a bit bleak up here on the Downs where Franceska is waiting to greet us
And we set off on a good wide track
Chance to look at the rolling contryside
Lots of signs of racing
But plenty of colour on a gloomy day
At least the path ahead is clear
A field of rape providing a bit more colour
A pause to gaze at a very large muckheap
A brief descent
To enter the village of Rockley
Where there is a duckpond and ducks
A nice spot for coffee
Then we head uphill to Fyfield Down
With its Sarsen Stones, one of the most important neolithic sites in Britain
Our leader tries to kid us the stones are sheep
A straight path
Also some wayside bluebells
With more as we pick up the Ridgeway
We stop at one of the White Horses, only 200 years old
And built by the boys of Marlborough College
I'm not a white horse
And I'm a grey with a foot fetish
And we have come to join you for lunch
We continue along the Ridgeway
One of the many clumps of trees forming the familiar Marlborough Downs skyline
And there is our destination, Barbury Castle
Where all paths meet
Part of the old fortifications round the edge of the old hill fort
Photos and captions by Richard, uploaded by Sally