Discover The Ridgeway, one of England’s National Trails, running for 139km (87 miles) between the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Avebury in Wiltshire and Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Following an ancient chalk ridgeway used for thousands of years, this low-level, well-maintained trail passes iconic landmarks such as the Uffington White Horse and can be comfortably completed in around a week by walkers of all abilities.

This comprehensive Cicerone guidebook makes planning and walking the Ridgeway a straightforward, enjoyable, and stress-free experience. With detailed route descriptions for all 12 stages and an OS map booklet with the route line clearly marked, it provides everything you need to plan and navigate this iconic National Trail at your own pace, in either direction.

• Detailed route descriptions are provided for the Ridgeway from east-to-west and west-to-east, so you can choose your preferred direction while enjoying the same high level of navigational detail
• A route summary table and trek planner provide details on daily distances (between 8 - 17km), ascents and facilities along the route so you can tailor the trip to your experience and available time 
• Accommodation listings with contact information are included for key centres such as Avebury, Wantage, Streatley, Wendover and Tring
• Historical details on prehistoric monuments are included, like Avebury stone circle (UNESCO site), Uffington White Horse, Wayland's Smithy and nearby archaeological sites
• The separate pull-out map booklet featuring precise 1:25,000 OS mapping and route line is an essential tool for navigating the trail with confidence

Trace Britain's oldest road through two National Landscapes, the North Wessex Downs and the Chiltern Hills, with this guidebook, your key to a week-long Ridgeway National Trail adventure. From Avebury's stone circles to the Uffington White Horse, plan an accessible walking holiday blending low-level paths, history and views for all abilities.

The Ridgeway National Trail – Quick Facts

Trail name: The Ridgeway National Trail  
Location: Southern England (Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire), UK  
Total distance: ~139 km / ~87 miles  
Typical duration: ~6–9 days end‑to‑end  
Start / Finish: Avebury (Overton Hill) → Ivinghoe Beacon  
Route type: Long‑distance National Trail in 12 stages  
Difficulty: Easy to moderate; low‑level and waymarked, suitable for all abilities  
Terrain: Chalk ridge tracks, paths through North Wessex Downs & Chiltern Hills  
Navigation: Detailed descriptions with 1:50 000 OS maps + separate 1:25 000 map booklet  
Highlights: Prehistoric sites (Avebury, Uffington White Horse, Wayland’s Smithy) & wide open views

Author Highlight

“The third section of the Ridgeway takes us along the crest of the chalk ridge, passing some truly impressive sites. First up is magical Wayland’s Smithy, a Neolithic Long Barrow; then we arrive at Whitehorse Hill, where a short walk past the earthworks of the Iron Age Uffington Castle brings us to the stunning 3000-year-old stylised galloping figure of the Uffington White Horse looking out over The Manger and the Vale of White Horse.”

- Steve Davison, author of The Ridgeway National Trail 

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 Facilities near to the Ridgeway
Appendix C Accommodation near to the Ridgeway
Appendix D 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

February 2023

Orchard Close B&B

August 2017

Updates

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.