The Ridgeway Trail Map

Discover the ancient landscapes and rich heritage of southern England on the Ridgeway National Trail. Stretching 139km (87 miles) from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire, this historic trail follows chalk ridges, rolling downland, and wooded valleys along Britain’s oldest road.

The Ridgeway National Trail is a mostly low-level route, suitable for all abilities, that takes 6 to 9 days to hike. This map book provides all the mapping you need to walk the Ridgeway National Trail:

• Features 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping, showing the full route line with clarity and precision.
• Covers the trail in both directions, from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon or vice versa, presented in 12 stages.
• Includes detours and diversions to nearby historic and archaeological sites, from Neolithic burial mounds to Iron Age hill forts.
• Compact and portable design, sized to fit easily in a jacket pocket or daypack.
• An accompanying Cicerone guidebook, WalkingThe Ridgeway, is also available and includes a copy of this map booklet.
• Extracts from the OS Explorer map legend are provided for easy reference while on the trail.

Whether you are exploring ancient trackways, enjoying scenic chalk downs, or planning a week-long walking adventure, this map booklet ensures you can navigate the Ridgeway National Trail with confidence and ease.

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 National landscapes: 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

Key to map pages

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

Extract from OS Explorer map legend