チェッケンドンの天然記念物・トップ11

This is a natural spring on the side of the Shiplake Hill here. This structure features a stone carving of an elephant. It was built by the Knollys family, who bought the Blount's Court estate in 1841. Why an elephant? - I've not been able to find out, apparently, it's a bit of a mystery!

A most beautiful place in Oxfordshire

A small nature reserve containing the ruins of one of Britain's most important castles, open to the public.

Meander through beech, oak, and ash trees on this beautiful section of walking through Lambridge Wood. The area has been declared a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Hartslock Nature Reserve is a beautiful, south facing chalk downland hill, which affords breathtaking views over the River Thames and Goring Gap. The grassland, which is surrounded by ancient hedgerows and woodland, is home to myriad species of plants and animals, some of which are extremely rare. As such, it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

This fragment may be the remains of a castle building. It stands on what was the edge of the inner bailey, the bustling central courtyard of the castle. The Norman motte dominates the courtyard: when capped by its original stone tower it must have been a formidable sight. Imagine the bustle and noise of medieval daily life here: the smells of the bakery, the shouts of men, the neighing of horses, and the hammering of armourers. https://www.wallingford.co.uk/files/wallingford_castle_meadows_walk.pdf

Although you are less than 35 metres above the river valley, this vantage point gives you a 180 degree view of the Thames Valley between Henley-on-Thames and Hambleden Mill. You should be able to see the river in places. At this point, the river follows an arc, which is an ‘incised meander’. At some time in the past, the natural sinuosity of the river channel has been cut down into the landscape, preserving it in a fixed position. This view is at its most colourful in the autumn when many of the trees turn yellow, brown and red. This is also a good place to see red kites gliding on the wind and to hear skylarks singing overhead.