Uffington White Horse – England’s mysterious chalk hill horse

I’ve seen photos of the Uffington white horse for years along with many pictures of all the mysterious giant chalk figures in England. So when I was house sitting near Oxford this summer I set out to see the Vale of the White Horse and find out more about these ancient chalk figures that dot the English countryside.

The Vale of the White Horse stretches about 18 miles from Swindon to the outskirts of Abingdon within the Chiltern Hills. This is a beautifully peaceful area of Oxfordshire with large stretches of farmland, small rivers and streams that meander carelessly over the land. The White Horse is a figure carved into an Oxfordshire hillside.

English countryside view from White Horse Hill Uffington stretching out with small fields and grasslands.

The Vale of the White Horse

aerial view of the Vale of the Uffington White Horse

There are 16 known white horse hill figures in the UK and the Uffington one is the most well known. Visiting White Horse Hill is free of charge and the area is managed by the National Trust. The Uffington white horse walk is a clearly marked hiking trail through the White Horse Hills.

The hill is a section of the Berkshire Downs escarpment and offers views of the Vale of White Horse to the north. The most optimal views of the figure can be seen from above or from the opposite side of the Vale, specifically near the villages of Great Coxwell, Longcot, and Fernham.

Dragon Hill Uffington

Dragon Hill is a natural chalk hill with an artificially flattened top on the slope of White Horse Hill. Legends say that Saint George killed the dragon here and where there is a bare patch of grass is where the dragon’s blood was spilt. Historians believe that the site may have been an Iron Age ritual place associated with the White Horse.

A debate has raged for many years as to what exactly the Uffington White Horse represents. Its funny little beak would seem to indicate that it may be a dog or some type of predatory cat species. But it has been known as a horse since the 11th century and so it remains the White Horse of Uffington.

What does the Uffington White Horse represent? Historians believe that the chalk horse is a tribal symbol perhaps connected with the builders of Uffington Castle.

Who made the Uffington white horse? Archaeologists believe that the most famous chalk horse is the Uffington White Horse and it is believed to have been made by the Belgic tribe in Southeast England between 50BC and 50AD.

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Uffington White Horse, England's mysterious chalk figure

The White Horse is carved into the chalk hillside just above Uffington. The Huffington white horse date appears to be around 1400 BCE and just above the White Horse is Uffington Castle which is a neolithic hill fort. A short walk away you will find Wayland’s Smithy and ancient long Barrow site.

There is a National Trust car park on site, free to English Heritage members.and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Uffington Horse is by far the oldest of the white horse figures in Britain and is of an entirely different design from the others inspired by it.

Uffington White Horse, England's mysterious chalk figure

In order to preserve the crispness of the chalk outline every few years, the National Trust organizes a regular cleaning and scouring which simply means refilling the chalk outlines. On Chalking days the volunteers arrive at the hill with hammers, grab a bucket of chalk and smash the chalk into a paste which is then used on the paths and outlines of the horse.

During the Second World War, the Uffington White Horse had to be covered in grass and hedge trimmings as it could easily have been used as a navigational figure for bombing raids. 

How to see the prehistoric Uffington White Horse

Where is the white chalk horse? You can see the horse on White Horse Hill where there is an Uffington white horse car park pay and display which is signposted off the A420 Swindon to Oxford Road. It is about 80 miles west of London and 25 Southwest of Oxford.

Uffington Castle mound near the white horse carving
Uffington Castle mound

To climb to the horse is free but from the parking lot, it’s a hell of a long walk and really steep. The winds whip around you up there and can feel like they are going to blow you over and the truth is while the views are pretty spectacular you can’t actually see the horse outline from too close up.

views from the white horse of uffington
views of the Oxfordshire countryside from the White Horse

The Uffington White Horse lies along the ancient Ridgeway track which is reputed to be the oldest road in the world. It was one of the major cross country routes as long ago as 6000 years. The best place to view the Vale of the White Horse is from the Ridgeway path.

arial view of the White Horse of Uffington

There are good viewpoints from across the Vale of the White Horse in the villages of Great Coxwell, Longcot and Fernham, about 3 or 4 miles away. You can also see the horse if you drive north of it on the B4507 but, as there is no place to pull over and park you’ll only be able to see it in passing.

view from the Ridgeway of the Uffington White Horse

What to see in the Vale of the White Horse

Uffington Castle

What did Uffington Castle look like? Perched atop White Horse Hill, just south of the famous White Horse itself, Uffington Castle occupies a commanding position. While commonly labeled as an ‘Iron Age Hillfort,’ recent excavations have shed light on its true origins.

Uffington White Horse, England's mysterious chalk figure
©Geograph.org.uk

It was established during the late Bronze Age, likely around the eighth or seventh century BC. During this period, the fort featured early ramparts, substantial timber gates, and an accompanying linear ditch. These structures may have been connected to Hardwell Camp, or Wayland’s Smithy.

Waylon’s Smithy

Wayland’s Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the Horse. It sits along the Ridgeway that also runs behind Uffington Castle. This national trail is a footpath that runs from Overton Hill near Avebury to Buckinghamshire.

Waylonds smithy near the white horse chalk figure
Wayland’s Smithy entrance to the tomb

The name Wayland comes from Wodin or Odin the Norse god and could mean that the barrow mound at Wayland’s Smithy is far older than Anglo-Saxon times. Walter Scott’s Elizabethan novel Kenilworth features both the stone chambered tomb and a character named ‘Wayland Smith’.

Great Coxwell Barn

Another pretty cool sight you may want to stop for is the Great Coxwell barn. This medieval tithe barn is considered the greatest in the country. William Morris that phenomenal Victorian designer called it “the finest piece of architecture in England.”

Coxwell Barn near the White Horse of Uffington
©Andrew-Mathewson-CC-BY-SA-2.0.

The Barn has an honesty box for your donation to its upkeep but there is no set admission charge.

Thatched cottage

Where to stay in the White Hill Horse Vale

If you want to stay in the area you couldn’t do better than the gorgeous thatched The White Horse Inn which is in the centre of Woolstone which you pass through on your way to view the White Horse.

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The White Horse Inn

This little village is the epitome of what I love about England, dark shady lanes and a brook babbling away in the background with a tiny waterfall. The thatched cottages were covered in roses with English gardens laying at their feet.

The three-storey house that overlooks the pub was said to have been built to allow its owner to spy into his neighbours garden. The rest of the village houses are thatched and some built with chalk walls.

the house built to overlook a neighbour

The White Horse is not only a character-filled pub but it offers 6 en-suite rooms for £75 per room.

The White Horse is one of Britain’s oldest inns and with its thatched roof, oak beams, log fires and warm welcome, is probably one of its most beautiful as well.

Thomas Hughes of ‘Tom Brown’s Schooldays fame is said to have written his books here and The White Horse is mentioned in J.K.Rowling’s new book, Lethal White.

Statue of Alfred the Great in Wantage near the Uffington White Horse

Wantage – the birthplace of Alfred the Great

Wantage is a historic market town in Oxfordshire which is not far from the Uffington White Horse.  Worth a visit Wantage is to be the birthplace of Alfred the Great and a statue stands in the market square as a memorial.

Uffington White Horse, England's mysterious chalk figure

There is a statue of King Alfred, striking a suitably heroic pose, in the market square. Quite apart from Alfred, Wantage is a pretty town, with its weekly market and some lovely architecture.

Uffington White Horse, England's mysterious chalk figure

There are some great drives around Oxfordshire, I simply jumped into the car and began driving. Have you just driven not looking for anything in particular just to explore?

Some more reading material on travelling in England

Things to do in Kenilworth Warwickshire

8 of the best country pubs in Warwickshire a road trip

20 Magnificient Cathedrals in England to see

Visiting the magnificent Kenilworth Castle

Visiting Warwick Castle 1000 years of turbulent history

William the Conqueror’s Norman Castles

23 Stunning English Manor Houses

Author

  • Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

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