- On trail 16.2 mi 26.0 km
- Walking time 6–7 h
- Ascent 170 m 550 ft
- Descent 330 m 1,100 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
The open downs to the Thames, under a big sky.
Section 3: Sparsholt Firs to Streatley map
Example stay Townsend Farmhouse (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: National Trails route description . Opened 31 October 2026. The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends. The route page's miles stay in the answers below.
The walk
Big skies and racehorse gallops mark the open downs between the White Horse and the Thames. The broad track has few hedges, so it is exposed in bad weather and wide open in good. Segsbury Camp looks straight down into Letcombe Regis. Further on, the trail passes under the A34 through an underpass with a mural, and the long descent ends at Streatley.
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Start of section
Sparsholt Firs
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The view
Segsbury Camp
An Iron Age camp on the edge of the downs, looking "straight down into Wantage and Letcombe Regis", as one walker put it.
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The gallops
Racehorses train on the turf beside the track. One walker watched a lone rider thundering up and down in the rain, despite the soft ground.
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The night
Streatley and Goring
Two villages facing each other across the Thames, with pubs, several beds and a youth hostel right by the path.
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End of section
Streatley
Section 3: Sparsholt Firs to Streatley overview
The ground
- Chalk downs
- Byway
- Exposed
The longest section, on exposed downland with little shelter. The longest of the six, at 17.4 miles on the route page, and exposed in bad weather.
Stops
Refreshments
- Streatley and Goring (pubs)
Toilets
- The route page does not name a public toilet on this section
Before you go
Opposite direction
Streatley to Sparsholt Firs
Walked from Streatley, the day starts with a long climb out of the Thames valley past Lowbury Hill, the site of a Roman temple. Fill your bottles in Goring, because the downs are dry all the way to Sparsholt Firs.
End of section
Sparsholt Firs
Sparsholt Firs to Streatley FAQ
How long is Sparsholt Firs to Streatley?
The route page lists 17.4 miles (27.9 km). The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends.
Is there water on this section?
Do not count on it. The trail body warns of sections with limited access to water, and a water point on this stretch had been capped off by June 2025. Carry enough for the day.
Can I download a GPX for Sparsholt Firs to Streatley?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Days 2 and 3 of the 6- and 7-day share this section, with the night at Letcombe Regis. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 6-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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