Geographical Magazine Discovering Britain: The twin peaks of the Berkshire Downs Written by Rory Walsh 2020 For this month s Discovering Britain trail, Rory Walsh encounters a view of twin peaks on the Berkshire Downs
Most winter sports fans seeking a challenge probably wouldn’t think of an Oxfordshire village. Yet Little Wittenham, near Didcot, has not one but two seasonal slopes. Round Hill and Castle Hill are a pair of peaks that literally stand out from surrounding flat fields. Circular and almost symmetrical, their nicknames include the ‘Berkshire Bubs’ and ‘Mother Dunch’s Buttocks’ (the former after old county boundaries, the latter a previous Lady of the Manor). The hills are commonly known though as Wittenham Clumps. When snow settles, their banks make an enjoyable course for sledging: ‘There’s a side of Round Hill that offers a good long run. It’s quite steep, not for the faint-hearted.’