When planning a trip to Berkshire, one simple question comes first: should open landscapes take centre stage, or should heritage be the deciding factor? The destinations offer both, but in different ways: Greenham and Crookham Commons combine open heathland with a clearly dated change in land use; at Walbury Hill, the focus is on a striking landform and a named hillfort. The Three Downs Link adds another option: a riding, walking and cycling route through Berkshire.
Greenham and Crookham Commons: heathland and history
Greenham and Crookham Commons are the largest continuous area of open heathland in Berkshire. After decades of military use, the Commons were officially reopened for public use on 8 April 2000. Both their present-day public use and their military past are therefore part of understanding the site. This dated transition makes the Commons a destination where open landscape and local land-use history can be explored together.
There is also practical guidance for planning a visit: the main paths on Greenham and Crookham Commons are level and accessible to people with limited mobility, cyclists and horse riders. This statement applies to the main paths. Check the access information before setting out if its current status matters to your plans.
Walbury Hill and Walbury Camp
Walbury Hill is the highest chalk down in England and the site of Walbury Camp, the largest hillfort in Berkshire. The two superlatives refer to different scales: the landform is considered in comparison with all of England, while the hillfort’s size is compared with other sites in Berkshire. A hillfort is a fortified site on high ground; this makes the archaeological character of the place understandable alongside its landform.
Walbury Camp is recognised as a Scheduled Monument in recognition of its national importance. This adds a distinct heritage perspective to the hillfort’s significance. Visitors who want to give equal weight to landscape and history when choosing a destination will find both themes at this named site—but they do not mean the same thing: chalk down describes the landform, while hillfort describes the structure.
Explore Berkshire actively
The Three Downs Link is a riding, walking and cycling route through Berkshire. It offers a way to explore the region on foot, by bike or on horseback. Route conditions and waymarking may change, so check the latest information before setting out on a specific trip.
Greenham and Crookham Commons offer a different starting point for planning: the focus there is on the level main paths and their accessibility for certain user groups. Cycling and horse riding are activities mentioned for both destinations; for the Three Downs Link, its route through Berkshire is part of the description. This comparison helps you tailor your choice to your preferred activity without treating the two destinations as one shared route.
Choose the focus for your hotel search
When searching for hotels in Berkshire, it helps to first decide what kind of trip you want: open heathland and its history of use, Walbury Hill with its landscape and hillfort, or an activity on the Three Downs Link. When choosing accommodation, consider its exact location in relation to the places you plan to visit.
Discover more destinations: Wasing, Thatcham, Pangbourne, Newbury, Hungerford, Easton, Reading, Inkpen, Wokingham, East Ilsley, Chieveley, Lambourn, Midgham, Streatley, Compton, Crockham Heath, Bradfield, Theale, Winnersh, Frilsham, Wickham.
For the main travel overview: South East England.
