The Ridgeway National Trail

Follow Britain’s oldest road on the Ridgeway National Trail, a 139km (86 mile) journey from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. This ancient trackway winds along chalk ridges and open downs, passing Neolithic burial mounds, Iron Age hill forts and sweeping viewpoints across the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns.

With gentle gradients and well-waymarked paths that rarely rise above 300m, the Ridgeway National Trail offers relatively easy, low-level walking suitable for all abilities. The route is presented in 12 manageable stages of 8–16km (plus a separate pull-out map booklet) and is described in both directions, allowing flexibility for shorter itineraries or a relaxed week-long traverse across southern England.

• Step-by-step stage-by-stage route descriptions for the Ridgeway National Trail between Avebury and Ivinghoe Beacon, presented in both directions and including detours to nearby prehistoric and historic sites such as Uffington White Horse and Wayland’s Smithy.
• Each stage features 1:50,000 OS mapping alongside detailed navigation notes, distance, terrain summary and estimated walking times, plus a separate pull-out 1:25,000 OS mapping booklet covering the entire Ridgeway National Trail.
• Comprehensive accommodation and refreshment listings for inns, B&Bs, pubs and village cafés, with public transport information for each stage to help plan flexible start and finish points.
• Historical and archaeological background on the Ridgeway National Trail, exploring its prehistoric origins, hill forts, ancient monuments and centuries of use as a trading and droving route.
• GPX files for the Ridgeway National Trail available for download, enabling straightforward navigation using GPS devices or smartphone mapping apps.
• A handy route summary table and facilities planner offering quick reference for daily distances, services and logistical details along the Ridgeway National Trail.

Plan your Ridgeway National Trail adventure with confidence and explore ancient landscapes, chalk hill panoramas and thousands of years of history with this comprehensive guidebook.

Seasons

The Ridgeway can be undertaken at any time of the year, although between early spring and the end of autumn offers the chance of more settled weather and better walking conditions; parts can get muddy/slippery in winter. Spring and early summer are great for wild flowers, including carpets of bluebells, especially in the Chilterns; cooler autumn weather gives great autumn colour.

Centres

Avebury, Wantage, Streatley and Goring, Wallingford, Princes Risborough, Wendover

Difficulty

Fairly low level (not exceeding 300m) walking to suit most ages and abilities; no difficulties apart from some short steep uphill and downhill sections, can be muddy in winter, some road crossings and sections along quiet country roads and lanes that require extra care.

Must See

Make to time to explore Avebury – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – including the Neolithic stone circle and henge, West Kennet stone avenue and the West Kennet long barrow.
Visit the remains of Iron Age hillforts such as those at Barbury and Liddington for commanding views.
Wonder at the famous Uffington White Horse galloping over the downs and visit nearby Wayland’s Smithy Neolithic long barrow.
Wander through the Chiltern beechwoods and admire the great views from Coombe Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon.

Route summary table

Stage facilities planner

Route profile

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

Safety and emergencies

Waymarking, access and rights of way

Using this guide

Maps and GPS

Cycling and riding the Ridgeway

The Ridgeway online

The Great Chalk Way

Protecting the countryside

The Ridgeway

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

Appendix A Useful contact information

Appendix B Accommodation table

Appendix C Further reading