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Walking the Ridgeway National Trail

A guide to walking the Ridgeway National Trail in south-east England, that takes you on a journey through 5,000 years of human history. Discover the fascinating sights our ancestors have left us, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Avebury, the famous Uffington White Horse, Neolithic burial mounds and Iron Age hill forts.

The 87-mile (139km) long trail, which follows good tracks and paths and, by not exceeding 300m, is fairly low-level throughout, typically takes between five and seven days to complete. 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 as well as excursions to nearby towns and villages.

Publisher: Cicerone Press Ltd

ISBN: 9781852848743 (second edition)

Publication Date: November 2016 (reprinted 2021)

The book is available from local bookshops, direct from the publisher cicerone.co.uk, or from online sellers, including Bookshop.org.
Riodgeway Trail cover
1:25,000 Route Map Booklet

A pocket sized booklet providing all the mapping you need to walk the Ridgeway National Trail. This booklet, which is available separately, is included with the guidebook to the trail, and shows the full route on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps.

Publisher: Cicerone Press Ltd

ISBN: 9781852849351

Publication Date: November 2016

The map booklet is available from local bookshops, direct from the publisher cicerone.co.uk, or from online sellers, including Bookshop.org.
New Forest map
Walking the Ridgeway National Trail takes you on a journey through a landscape steeped in history, following old trackways that have been used since prehistoric times past the remains of Neolithic burial mounds and Iron Age hill forts with commanding views. On the way there are plenty of distractions just off the route, from picturesque towns and villages with thatched cottages and cosy pubs, to historic churches and interesting museums.

The Ridgeway has been here for thousands of years, so take your time and enjoy the journey. Rest a while and listen: high above the skylarks sing, far off a church bell rings, the wind rustles through the trees, sweeping views stretch out over the rounded chalk hills with wide open skies. Imagine the travellers that have been this way before, where were they going and why. Whether you do one continuous walk, or prefer to spread the pleasure over weeks or years, you’ll never forget your journey along the Ridgeway.
Barbury CastleCoombe Hill monumentLooking towards Uffington Castle and Whitehorse HillIvinghoe Beacon from Steps HillLiddington CastleWaylands Smithy Neolithic long barrowThe Ridgeway following the River Thames the railway bridge at MoulsfordFollowing Smeathes Ridge down to Ogbourne St GeorgeThe ancient Uffington white horse
CONTENTS
Introduction section - this briefly covers the history, geology and nature of the area as well as giving details on your planning walk

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)

Appendices: route summary tables; itinerary planner; accommodation near the route; useful contacts; and further reading
Ridgeway map