The Ridgeway National Trail
Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon described in both directions
The Ridgeway National Trail
Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon described in both directions
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.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
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852848743
Availability
Published
Published
21 Nov 2016
Reprinted
4 Mar 2025
Edition
Second
Pages
208
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm
Weight
300g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
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
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
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
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