Wessex Ridgeway

Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire

One of the links in a prehistoric route, often called the Greater Ridgeway, from The Wash to the South Devon Coast, this route basically extends the Ridgeway National Trail to the south-west. Passed on the way, through Wiltshire, are the stone circles at Avebury (a World Heritage Site jointly with Stonehenge - see website), the Vale of Pewsey, the northern edge of Salisbury Plain, the Wylye Valley and Win Greene Hill. In Dorset Cranbourne Chase, Cerne Abbas with the 180ft high Cerne Giant and Pilsden Pen are visited before a short route through Devon leads to the finish in Dorset.

The Wessex Ridgeway Project (see website) is a 5-year community based, sustainable countryside recreation project co-ordinated by Dorset Countryside Ranger Service to improve the route in Dorset.

At Marlborough a five-mile link leads to the waymarked Wansdyke Path (14 miles and on OS mapping).

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Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Wessex wyvern on named green discs (Dorset only)
Attributes:	Challenging Horse Ride (Multi User) Downland/Wolds Heritage
Start:	SU187685 - Marlborough, Wiltshire
Finish:	SY343921 - Lyme Regis, Dorset
Web Sites:	Dorset For You - Wessex Ridgeway Avebury and the Ridgeway North Wessex Downs AONB Visit Dorset - Wessex Ridgeway British Walks - Wessex Ridgeway Wessex Ridgeway (Youtube)

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Route Description - PDF	Wessex Ridgeway in Wiltshire : South to North  (Tim Lewis  - April 2018 )
Route Description - PDF	Wessex Ridgeway in Wiltshire : North to South  (Tim Lewis  - April 2018 )
Guidebook	The Wessex Ridgeway : Recreational Path Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 1999 )

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