The Ridgeway National Trail

Follow Britain’s oldest road on the Ridgeway National Trail, a 139km (86 mile) journey from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. This ancient trackway winds along chalk ridges and open downs, passing Neolithic burial mounds, Iron Age hill forts and sweeping viewpoints across the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns. With gentle gradients and well-waymarked paths that rarely rise above 300m, the Ridgeway National Trail offers relatively easy, low-level walking suitable for all abilities. The route is presented in 12 manageable stages of 8–16km (plus a separate pull-out map booklet) and is described in both directions, allowing flexibility for shorter itineraries or a relaxed week-long traverse across southern England. Step-by-step stage-by-stage route descriptions for the Ridgeway National Trail between Avebury and Ivinghoe Beacon, presented in both directions and including detours to nearby prehistoric and historic sites such as Uffington White Horse and Wayland’s Smithy. Each stage features 1:50,000 OS mapping alongside detailed navigation notes, distance, terrain summary and estimated walking times, plus a separate pull-out 1:25,000 OS mapping booklet covering the entire Ridgeway National Trail. Comprehensive accommodation and refreshment listings for inns, B&Bs, pubs and village cafés, with public transport information for each stage to help plan flexible start and finish points. Historical and archaeological background on the Ridgeway National Trail, exploring its prehistoric origins, hill forts, ancient monuments and centuries of use as a trading and droving route. GPX files for the Ridgeway National Trail available for download, enabling straightforward navigation using GPS devices or smartphone mapping apps. A handy route summary table and facilities planner offering quick reference for daily distances, services and logistical details along the Ridgeway National Trail. Plan your Ridgeway National Trail adventure with confidence and explore ancient landscapes, chalk hill panoramas and thousands of years of history with this comprehensive guidebook.

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