The Ridgeway National Trail: Did you know?
The Ridgeway is a fantastic long-distance walking route through the south of England. Walking the Ridgeway National Trail takes you on a journey through a landscape steeped in history, following old trackways that have been used since prehistoric times past the remains of Neolithic burial mounds and Iron Age hill forts with commanding views.
The Ridgeway National Trail
Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon described in both directions
£17.95
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.
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How long is the Ridgeway National Trail?
The Ridgeway runs for 86 1/2 miles (139km) between Avebury and Ivinghoe Beacon and can be walked in a week. On the way, there are plenty of distractions just off the route, from picturesque towns and villages with thatched cottages and cosy pubs to historic churches and interesting museums, so you may want to take additional time to explore nearby.
How difficult is the route?
The Ridgeway is a comparatively easier national trail with gentler terrain. The route is a fairly low-level (never going above 300m) and well-waymarked walk, following mostly good tracks and paths. It is suitable for all abilities. It can be split into 6 - 12 days to allow additional detours to explore the local area and reduce the distance travelled per stage.
How do you get to the start?
Swindon railway station, which is on the main line from London Paddington to Bristol and South Wales, is located 21km (13 miles) by road to the north of Overton Hill, the start point of the route, with regular daily bus services from Swindon to Devizes/Trowbridge via Avebury. Alternatively, Pewsey railway station, on the line from London Paddington to the south-west, is located 15km (9½ miles) by road to the south of Overton Hill, with bus links via Marlborough to West Overton and Avebury (except Sundays).
When is the best time to walk?
The route can be tackled at any time of year; however, if you are walking the full trail, it is best completed in spring or autumn, which offers better walking conditions and more settled weather. Spring and early summer are also the best times for wildflowers and wildlife along the route, especially in the Chilterns.
What is so special about the Ridgeway?
At 5000 years old, the Ridgeway is Britain's oldest trail. The Ridgeway, often called ‘Britain’s oldest road’, offers a fascinating history stretching back thousands of years. The earliest inhabitants of the area were nomadic hunter-gatherers who travelled through the wooded landscape over 10,000 years ago, shortly after the end of the last ice age.
What are the highlights of the route?
The Ridgeway National Trail lies within two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): the North Wessex Downs and The Chilterns. There is also a concerted effort by the Friends of the Ridgeway, the Chiltern Society and the newly formed Ridgeway Partnership, to help preserve this special area for future generations.
The western half of the walk, from Avebury to the little village of Streatley, travels along the northern edge of the North Wessex Downs AONB passing a number of impressive prehistoric sites including the Uffington White Horse, Wayland’s Smithy and several Iron Age hill forts. The eastern half travels through the Chilterns AONB, a much more intimate, wooded landscape overlying the chalk hills, along the way there are some great viewpoints such as Whiteleaf Hill and Coombe Hill, looking out over the Vale of Aylesbury. The route ends with a grand view from Ivinghoe Beacon.
What about the wildlife?
It's a great walk for wildlife enthusiasts - it is possible to spot deer, dormice, woodpeckers and red kites along the way. You should have plenty of opportunities for catching glimpses of local wildlife. Alongside the River Thames, you may see the vivid turquoise-blue and orange flash of a kingfisher, while the ever-present ducks and mute swans will keep you company. In the ancient woodlands, you may hear the drumming knock of the great spotted woodpecker or the raucous call of a jay. The open chalk grasslands support a myriad of butterflies, plants and birds. High above you might spot a buzzard or a red kite.Red kites were successfully re-introduced between 1989 and 1994, and their numbers have steadily increased: you’d be unlucky not to see one, especially along the eastern half of the Ridgeway.
How does the trail link to the Greater Ridgeway?
Running diagonally across southern England, from the south coast in Dorset to the Norfolk coastline, the Greater Ridgeway offers a much more challenging long-distance route. This 583km (363-mile) route follows four distinct long-distance paths:
- The Wessex Ridgeway – covering 219km (136 miles) from the Dorset coast at Lyme Regis to Marlborough in Wiltshire.
- The Ridgeway National Trail
- Icknield Way – running for 206km (128 miles) from Ivinghoe Beacon to Knettishall Heath near Thetford
- Peddars Way National Trail – the Greater Ridgeway follows part of this national trail northwards for 79km (49 miles) through Norfolk from Knettishall Heath to the coast at Hunstanton.
What is included in the Ridgeway guidebook?
The Cicerone guidebook has been updated and now includes a mapping booklet of the entire route of the Ridgeway using 1:25k OS mapping - we hope you find it useful. The booklet is free with the book or can be purchased separately for £7.95.
After completing your walk, please take time to complete the Ridgeway feedback form available from the National Trails website: this allows the National Trail team to pick up on things that people either have a problem with or would like provided; plus, when you complete the form, they’ll send you a certificate and/or a cloth badge.
The Ridgeway Map Booklet
1:25,000 OS Route Mapping
£7.95
Map of the 87 mile (139km) Ridgeway National Trail through the south of England from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. This booklet is included with the Cicerone guidebook to the trail, and shows the full route on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps. Presented in 12 stages in the guidebook, the trail typically takes 6-8 days.
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The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path
130 mile national trail - Norfolk's best inland and coastal scenery
£12.95
The 130 mile Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail combines the best of inland and coastal walking, and is ideal for people new to long-distance walks. Beginning near Thetford, the route heads north west to near Hunstanton, then follows the heritage coast to Hopton-on-Sea, taking roughly one week to complete.
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