Ridgeway National Trail

Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Swindon, W Berkshire, Wiltshire

One of the links in a prehistoric route, often called the Greater Ridgeway, extending from the South Devon Coast to The Wash, comprising the Wessex Ridgeway (Lyme Regis to Overton), Ridgeway National Trail (Overton to Ivinghoe), Icknield Way (Ivinghoe to Thetford) and Peddars Way (Knettishall to Hunstanton).

The Ridgeway is a trail of two contrasting halves, separated by the River Thames. The western part of this National Trail largely follows the route of a prehistoric ridge track along the crest of the North Wessex Downs and passes many historic sites, including Barbury, Liddington, Uffington and Segsbury Castles (hill forts), Wayland's Smithy (long barrow) and Uffington White Horse. Much of the Trail here is along a broad track which used to be rutted, but it has been resurfaced and protected against motorised traffic by regulations. The Avebury World Heritage Site (a joint site with Stonehenge) is close to the start of the route at the Sanctuary.

The eastern part of the National Trail crosses the River Thames at Streatley and then follows the river for five miles before heading east into the Chiltern Hills, mainly along the north-western escarpment. The walking on this eastern section is more varied, along tracks and paths, across open downland, and through farm and woodland, passing Nuffield, Watlington, Chinnor, Princes Risborough (see Swan's Way), Wendover and Tring.

The waymarked Icknield Way-Ridgeway Link (7.5 miles and coincident with the Icknield Way Path on OS mapping) is a linking route from the finish of Ridgeway National Trail at Ivinghoe Beacon (where there are no visitor facilites) to the Chilterns Gateway Visitor Centre near Dunstable. The Link uses the route of the existing Icknield Way Path that has been upgraded to make it stile-free and steps have been added on a steep section.


For National Trails website alerts see 'The Ridgeway Interactive Map (National Trails UK)' below.

AUGUST 2023: There has been a report that part of the Ridgeway route over the M4 outside Swindon, between the B4192 and the Roman Road near Foxhill, is hazardous due to fast traffic and no pavement or verge.

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.

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Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Average Gradients Downland/Wolds World Heritage Site
Start:	SU119681 - Overton Hill, Wiltshire
Finish:	SP960169 - Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire
Open Date:	1973
User Group:	Friends of the Ridgeway Friends of the Ridgeway
Web Sites:	The Ridgeway Interactive Map (National Trails UK) The Ridgeway Walk British Walks - Ridgeway [blog] Chilterns National Landscape - Ridgeway National Trail Chiltern Society - Ridgeway National Trail Friends of the Ridgeway - Walking the Ridgeway Historic UK - The Ridgeway National Trails - Ridgeway The Ridgeway National Trail : Did you know? Angus Watson - Walking the Ridgeway [blog] Annierak - Ridgeway National Trail [blog] Brian's Walks - Ridgeway National Trail [blog] Griffmonster - Ridgeway : Ivinghoe Beacon to Great Kimble [blog] Halfway Hike - The Ridgeway [blog] Jackie McAll - The Ridgeway National Trail : my experience [blog] Jason McDonald's Walking Pages - Ridgeway National Trail [blog] Pete's Trip Reports - Ridgeway [blog] Rambling Man - Planning your Ridgeway Walk Southern Walks - Ridgeway Stephen and Lucy Dawson - Ridgeway [blog] The Hoary Ape - The Ridgeway [blog] Trailman - Ridgeway [blog] Trailplanner - The Ridgeway [blog] A walker's journal - The Ridgeway [blog] Walking the Ridgeway - in 100 seconds [YouTube video] Chris Stuart's Walks - Ridgeway [blog] Ridgeway National Trail [YouTube video] Great Chalk Way

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Ridgeway : a dog walker's guide  (Countryside Books  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Ridgeway: Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon  (Trailblazer  - 2025 )
Guidebook	Ridgeway : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
General Interest Book	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
Guidebook	Ridgeway National Trail: Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon  (Cicerone Press  - 2026 )
Guidebook	Discovering the Ridgeway  ([NO CURRENT SUPPLIER]  - 2002 )
Guidebook	Exploring the Ridgeway  (Countryside Books  - 2000 )
Guidebook	Oldest road : the Ridgeway  (Whittet Books  - 1987 )
Guidebook	Pub walks along the Ridgeway  (Countryside Books  - 2004 )
Guidebook	The Greater Ridgeway : a walk along the ancient route from Lyme Regis to Hunstanton  (Cicerone Press  - 2003 )
Guidebook	Walkers' Britain  (Awesome Books  - 2011 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
General Interest Book	Alone on the Ridgeway : one woman's solo journey from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon  (Tribal Publishing  - 2017 )
E-Book	Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
General Interest Book	Tales of the Ridgeway  (Clive Bowd  - 2017 )
Other	National Trail mug  (Trails Shop )
Badge	Ridgeway enamel badge  (Trails Shop )
General Interest Book	Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )
General Interest Book	Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2020 )

Click to showhide 17 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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