The key characteristics of the Berkshire and Malborough Downs are:

116. Berkshire and Malborough Downs

The key characteristics of the Berkshire and Malborough Downs are:

• High, large-scale rolling chalk downland characterised by intensive arable farming, sparse woodland cover and few hedges or hedgerow trees becoming more enclosed towards the east.

• Dramatic scarp on northern edge.

• Well-wooded dip-slope characterised by mixed farming with tree-lined arable fields. 

• Tree belts and clumps punctuate the skyline in many places. 

• Dry valleys forming deep combes with steep slopes and some remnants of grazed chalk grassland.

• Scattered small hamlets clustered along valleys with fast chalk streams, wet and grazed pastures, hedgerows and small woodland blocks.

• Includes the Vale of Pewsey's meadows and orchards and the beech avenues and ancient oak glades of Savernake Forest.

• Many sites of archaeological significance including numerous scattered barrows, Neolithic stone circles, earthworks, Roman roads and ancient tracks, and also the distinctive chalk white horse carvings characteristic of this area.

• Historically linked to the Chilterns landscape by the Ridgeway which runs along the top of the chalk scarp.

• Horse gallops are a common feature linked to the numerous racing stables on the Downs.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.