The Ridgeway National Trail
| Route Overview | Britains Oldest Road 139 km (87 miles) long, much of it following the ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric man, The Ridgeway offers the chance to get away from the bustle of life in this busy part of England. Perfect, but not too strenuous, for long distance use, this Trail is also ideal for day trips or less. | ||||||
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| Distance - Full | 87 miles / 139.2 km | ||||||
| No. of Days to Complete Route | 8 | ||||||
| Start Point | Overton Hill | ||||||
| End Point | Ivinghoe Beacon | ||||||
| Start point grid reference | su119681 | End point grid reference | sp961168 | ||||
| Type of Route: | Linear | ||||||
| Route Features |
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| Accessibility / Facilities |
Begins near bus route Begins near parking Begins near picnic area Begins near pub Begins near toilets Begins near train station Ends near bus route Ends near parking Ends near picnic area Ends near pub Ends near toilets Ends near train station Picnic area enroute Pub enroute Suitable for Dogs Toilets enroute |
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| Terrain | PROW (Public Right Of Way) | ||||||
| Route Description | The Ridgeway passes through two distinctive landscapes; the open downland of the west and the more gentle and wooded countryside of the Chiltern Hills in the east. In the west The Ridgeway travels as a broad ancient track along the open and fairly isolated top of the chalk downland ridge, often several kilometres from the nearest village. Here, to the south is rolling downland and to the north, at the bottom of the steep scarp slope, the wide expanse of the Thames Valley. The far-reaching views are dominated by the sky, the clouds and small clumps of beech woodland and all you may have for company is a solitary Skylark singing overhead or a hare chasing across an adjacent field. In the past these downs were sheep grazed, but since the introduction of fertilisers earlier this century many areas have been ploughed and planted with crops. However sheep grazing does continue in places and, in others, a characteristic sight is immaculately managed grass tracks, the gallops used for training racehorses. The excellent turf of the downs makes this prime horse country but you need to be up early to see the strings of racehorses exercising. At Goring on Thames The Ridgeway crosses the River Thames entering more intimate and less open countryside. It follows the bank of this famous river along a lovely 8 km (5 mile) rural stretch before heading eastwards into the Chiltern Hills. Mostly on narrower paths, the Trail passes through woodlands, many of them beech, over neatly cultivated fields and across chalk grassland nature reserves rich in wildflowers. In contrast to the western half, although it's usually peaceful here, you're never far from pleasant small towns or attractive villages. | ||||||
| Terrain Details | Most walkers should be able to enjoy the whole length of The Ridgeway since, although there are several hills, it’s not too strenuous compared to some other National Trails. An added bonus is that there are no stiles on the western half of the Trail and only a couple east of the River Thames. You should be aware that The Ridgeway can become rutted and muddy, especially during wet winters, in places where the Trail is legally shared by walkers, cyclists, horseriders, recreational and agricultural vehicles. Cyclists and horse riders can use the entire western half of the Trail (Oxfordshire & Berkshire) as far as the River Thames, and some parts east of the river too. | ||||||
| Additional Info / Warnings | Please note that recreational vehicles are now only legally allowed to use just 16 miles of the western section and mostly only during the summer months, and in reality they represent a small minority of users. | ||||||
| Access Info / Public Transport | The Ridgeway is by and large easily reached with a number of main rail stations near to the Trail. This is particularly true of the eastern side with stations like Goring & Streatley, Princes Risborough, Wendover and Tring near the finish, to name the larger ones. For the western end of The Ridgeway, Swindon is easily reached from London and from there you can take the bus to Avebury, near to the start of the Trail. The National Trails Office produce an excellent large foldout map/transport planner each June that you can either download for free on the transport page of the weblink below or ask for a hard copy to be sent to you free of charge. | ||||||
| Services / Amenities | The Ridgeway National Trail Companion gives details of accommodation, facilities and services along the trail and is available from the National Trail Office - see link below. | ||||||
| Baggage Transfer Services | Many accommodation providers will transport luggage to your next night’s accommodation. Check details via the accommodation map on the weblink below and arrange at the time of booking. The following Companies arrange walking holidays on The Ridgeway and have links on the website referred to below. Contours Walking Holidays Explore Britain Freedom Walking Holidays | ||||||
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| TSE Accommodation Search | |||||||
| More info | The Ridgeway National Trail | ||||||
