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The Ridgeway National Trail

Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon described in both directions

ISBN

9781852848743

Availability

Published

21 Nov 2016

Reprinted

2 Nov 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

310g

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Guidebook to the Ridgeway National Trail, an 87 mile (139km) route through the south of England from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Accompanied by a pull-out 1:25K mapping booklet, this guidebook details the trail in both directions and features information on historic sites and facilities along the way.

Seasons

can be undertaken at any time of the year, although the weather and ground conditions are better from spring through to the end of autumn (from colourful displays of flowers in spring to the dramatic tree colours of autumn); a frosty or snowy day on the Ridgeway can be magical - but daylight hours are shorter

Centres

Avebury, Swindon, Marlborough, Wantage, Streatley, Goring, Wallingford, Watlington, Chinnor, Princes Risborough, Wendover and Tring

Difficulty

a fairly low-level (never going above 300m) waymarked walk that follows mostly good tracks and paths, suitable for all abilities

Must See

Two contrasting AONBs: the wide open, chalky North Wessex Downs and the more wooded, intimate landscape of the Chilterns; the stone circle at Avebury to Wayland's Smithy Neolithic burial mound and the Uffington White Horse; great views, short excursions to picturesque towns and villages

ISBN

9781852848743

Availability

Published

21 Nov 2016

Reprinted

2 Nov 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

310g

Overview

A guidebook to walking the Ridgeway National Trail between Avebury in Wiltshire and Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Covering 139km (87 miles), this mostly low-level route is suitable for all abilities and takes 6 to 9 days to hike.

The route is described in both directions and in 12 stages, ranging from 8 to 16 km (5–10 miles) in length. Detours and diversions are included to historic and archaeological sites close to the Trail.

Contains step-by-step description of the route alongside 1:50,000 OS maps
Includes a separate map booklet containing OS 1:25,000 mapping and route line
Handy route summary table and trek planner help you plan your itinerary
Packed with historical information, as well as detail maps showing nearby historic and archaeological sites
Details of refreshments, accommodation and public transport given for each route stage

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Trek planner

Route summary tables

Introduction

Plants and wildlife

Geology

History

Scenery

When to walk

Planning your walk

Getting to and from the Ridgeway

Where to stay

Food and drink

Communications and money matters

What to pack

Health, safety and emergencies

Waymarking, access and rights of way

Using this guide

Maps

Cycling and riding the Ridgeway

The Ridgeway online

The Greater Ridgeway

The Countryside Code

The Ridgeway (West to East)

Stage 1 Overton Hill (Avebury) to Ogbourne St George

Stage 2 Ogbourne St George to Ashbury Folly

Stage 3 Ashbury Folly to the A338 (Wantage/Court Hill Centre)

Stage 4 A338 (Wantage/Court Hill Centre) to Bury Down

Stage 5 Bury Down to Streatley

Stage 6 Streatley to Mongewell Park

Stage 7 Mongewell Park to Watlington

Stage 8 Watlington to Chinnor

Stage 9 Chinnor to Princes Risborough

Stage 10 Princes Risborough to Wendover

Stage 11 Wendover to Wigginton

Stage 12 Wigginton to Ivinghoe Beacon

The Ridgeway (East to West)

Stage 1 Ivinghoe Beacon to Wigginton

Stage 2 Wigginton to Wendover

Stage 3 Wendover to Princes Risborough

Stage 4 Princes Risborough to Chinnor

Stage 5 Chinnor to Watlington

Stage 6 Watlington to Mongewell Park

Stage 7 Mongewell Park to Streatley

Stage 8 Streatley to Bury Down

Stage 9 Bury Down to the A338 (Wantage/Court Hill Centre)

Stage 10 A338 (Wantage/Court Hill Centre) to Ashbury Folly

Stage 11 Ashbury Folly to Ogbourne St George

Stage 12 Ogbourne St George to Overton Hill (Avebury)

Appendix A Useful contact information

Appendix B Accommodation near to the Ridgeway

Appendix C Further reading

Updates

September 2024

High Speed 2 temporary diversion west of Wendover

Stage 10 (p135): on joining Ellesborough Road after descending Bacombe Hill, turn left to a road junction (zebra crossing) and then turn right, following the road across a temporary bridge to a junction. Turn left and cross over the railway bridge; continue as normal following the trail down through Wendover.

East to West: Ivinghoe Beacon to Overton Hill

Stage 3 (p162): head up through Wendover as normal and after crossing the railway bridge turn right to follow the road over a temporary bridge. At the junction (zebra crossing), turn left for 150m and then turn right; now follow the Ridgeway up Bacombe Hill heading towards Coombe Hill.

February 2023

Orchard Close B&B

Orchard Close B&B in Wendover, Bucks is closed and no longer offers accommodation

August 2017

Updates

Appendix B: Accommodation

New entries

Streatley: Chaddleworth B&B; tel: 0771 1420586

Existing entry changes

Kingston Blount: The Cherry Tree pub with rooms is closed and up for sale (may re-open in future)

Ogbourne St George: Foxlynch no longer offers camping or hostel accommodation

Reviews

Pick and choose a section for a day walk.

This guidebook covers the Ridgeway National Trail, an 87 mile (139km) route through the south of England from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Comes with a pull-out 1:25K mapping booklet, and details the trail in both directions featuring information on historic sites and facilities along the way. To walk the whole route in one go would typically take 6 – 8 days, and author Steve Davison describes the walk as “A lowlevel waymarked route suitable for all abilities and for year round walking”, however the walk is also broken down into 12 sections so if you wanted you could pick and choose a section for a day walk.

Life In magazine

My favourite of the many walking guides to The Ridgeway on the market.

When I reviewed the first edition of this book three years ago I chose it as my favourite of the many walking guides to The Ridgeway on the market. The reasons I favoured it then remain with the second edition – it is a handy size (it will fit into the pocket of your anorak), it describes the route in both directions, the text and the mapping are clear (I always favour OS maps in preference to sketch maps) and it contains much useful advice on planning your walks along the Trail. It gives a good overview of the history of the route, its plants, wildlife and geology, accommodation and transport links. Steve Davison makes a very agreeable walking companion – throughout the guide he provides interesting snippets of information about places on and just off the route and there are ample excellent photographs (taken by Steve, I believe).

The second edition contains a few necessary updates to reflect changes over the past three years and includes a handy route planner that I have used with a friend who plans to walk half the Trail later this year. It worked well! However the big difference comes with the provision of a separate route map booklet showing the complete Trail on 1:25,000 OS mapping. This slim and light booklet would be quite adequate to carry with you when walking The Ridgeway and obviates the need to purchase and carry the four individual OS maps you would otherwise need. It is printed on quality paper that looks to me to be capable of resisting the odd shower. The guide and booklet are bound together in a clear plastic cover that certainly would help keep both dry should the rain begin to penetrate your anorak pocket or rucksack. The provision of the map booklet comes at a price, with the second edition being some £4 more expensive than its predecessor. To my mind it is well worth it. If anyone who bought the earlier version wishes to update it, the map booklet is available to buy separately.

Ian Ritchie
Chairman
The Ridgeway Partnership

By Steve Davison

Steve Davison is a writer and photographer who has written a number of books, including several guidebooks published by Cicerone. He has also written articles for a range of outdoor magazines and other publications. A keen hill walker for most of his life, with interests in nature, geology and the countryside, Steve is a qualified Mountain Leader and has also previously worked as a part-time outdoor education instructor. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. Find out more about him at www.stevedavison.co.uk.

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