The Ridgeway: Walking Britain’s Oldest Road

Britain’s oldest ‘road’ cleaves its way through the heart of England and has been in constant use for 5000 years. The Ridgeway walk follows the chalk hills between Avebury in Wiltshire and Tring in Buckinghamshire – part of a busy Neolithic ‘highway’ that stretched across the country from Dorset to Norfolk.

Highlights
  • The Thames Valley landscape – a mixture of ancient woodlands and well-kept country villages
  • The chalky Chiltern Hills – an undulating path of woodland and wide chalk downs
  • Ivinghoe Beacon – a prominent landmark standing 233m high in the Chiltern Hills
  • The world-famous Avebury Stone Circle – a designated World Heritage Site dating from 2800BC
  • Wayland’s Smithy – a Neolithic tomb site with a fantastic legend attached to it
  • Silbury Hill –the largest man-made mound in Europe
  • Liddington Castle (Hillfort) – an Iron Age hill fort and the site where King Arthur defeated the Saxon army
  • Uffington White Horse – a huge 370ft long white horse dating from the Bronze Age
  • Various fascinating hill forts including Grim’s Ditch, Barbury and Pulpit Hill
  • 8 to 9 nights
  • 87 mls (view km)
  • Overton Hill, Southern England
  • Moderate
  • Mar to Oct
  • £710

Walking the Ridgeway

The 87 mile (139 km) Ridgeway National Trail begins at Overton Hill, near Avebury, and heads east on a long and particularly beautiful stretch of downland path along the North Wessex Downs - with wide, exhilarating views over the rolling countryside of Wiltshire.

In the Dark Ages, The Ridgeway was the main route for the Saxons and Vikings during their advances into Wessex.

The Ridgeway passes through a great number of Neolitic, Bronze age and Iron age sites such as the famous Uffington White Horse. Many observers have noted the proximity of the Ridgeway with the rash of crop circles that have emerged in the countryside alongside the route. The concentric shapes are

Walking Holidays with Celtic Trails

Our team would be delighted to talk to you about an itinerary for a walking holiday on The Ridgeway. Celtic Trails has 20 years’ experience providing tailored, quality itineraries for walkers who appreciate personal service, organisation and comfort.

Call us today on 01291 689774 to start planning your adventure.

Path Walkthrough

The Ridgeway walk map
Our Ridgeway walking route takes you from Avebury Circle to Irvinghoe Beacon

The National Trail is well signposted, and fairly easy to follow with plenty of small village and towns on the way to rest, recuperate and stock up any supplies you may need while walking. Our itineraries work with the prevailing wind, meaning that although long, open sections are exposed to strong winds at times, progress along this direction is a bit easier.

The Ridgeway features many long stretches through field, woodland and rights of way through farmland - mainly gentle walking along ridges and chalk valleys. The route is not without its share of short steep sections, however the majority of the route is fairly gentle and workable. Towards the end of the trail, where the route meets the North Wessex Downs you'll find steep sections are more prevalent. However, walking through this designated Area of Outstanding Beauty, the views you get from a steep climb up the hills are definitely worthwhile.

Walk Gallery

Views of Pewsey valley from Knap Hill
Walking routes along Hackpen Hill
Middle Down, near Alvediston in Wiltshire
View From Irvinghoe Beacon
Uffington White Horse, walking the Ridgeway
Hiking The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway Walking Holidays
Ridgeway Walking Holidays
Walking The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway Walking Holidays
Walking holidays The Ridgeway
England Walking holidays

Our Ridgeway Walking Itineraries

Prices are per person, based on 2 people sharing, single person supplements apply.

Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon

Length: 87 miles/ 140 km | Difficulty: Moderate

Code
Duration
From
TR1
8 Nights / 7 Days
£710 pp
View Itinerary

Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon

8 Nights / 7 Days
Holiday Code: TR1
From: £710 (pp)
Solo walker supplement: £45 (pn)
Single occupancy (groups): £35 (pn)
DayLocationDistance
Day 1:Arrive East Kennet/Avebury
Day 2:Avebury/Overton Hill to Liddlington Hill15.5 miles/25 km
Day 3:Liddlington Hill to Wantage exit12 miles/19 km
Day 4:Wantage exit to Goring14.5 miles/23.2 km
Day 5:Goring to Watlington exit14.5 miles/23.2 km
Day 6:Watlington exit to Lower Cadsden12.5 miles/20 km
Day 7:Lower Cadsden to Aldbury13.5 miles/21.6 km
Day 8:Aldbury to Ivinghoe Beacon and return to Aldbury8 miles/12.8 km
Day 9:Depart Aldbury

Itinerary Information: 8 nights accommodation with 7 walking days. Arrive in Avebury on day 1, walk from day 2 and depart from Ivinghoe Beacon on morning of day 9.

Departure Dates: This itinerary can be walked any time between Mar to Oct. You simply choose which day you would like your holiday to start on.

Rest Days: Should you wish, rest days can be taken at stops along the route, view details.

What's Included: view full details.

Back to all itineraries

TR2
9 Nights / 8 Days
£795 pp
View Itinerary

Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon

9 Nights / 8 Days
Holiday Code: TR2
From: £795 (pp)
Solo walker supplement: £45 (pn)
Single occupancy (groups): £35 (pn)
DayLocationDistance
Day 1:Arrive East KennettAvebury
Day 2:East Kennett/Avebury to Ogbourne St George9.5 miles/15 km
Day 3:Ogbourne St George to Bishopstone exit8.5 miles/13.6 km
Day 4:Bishopstone exit to Wantage exit10 miles/16 km
Day 5:Wantage exit to Goring Gap14.5 miles/23.2 km
Day 6:Goring Gap to Watlington exit14.5 miles/23.2 km
Day 7:Watlington exit to Lower Cadsden12.5 miles/20 km
Day 8:Lower Cadsden to Aldbury13.5 miles/11.6 km
Day 9:Aldbury to Ivinghoe Beacon and return to Aldbury8 miles/12.8 km
Day 10:Depart Aldbury

Itinerary Information: 9 nights accommodation with 8 walking days. Arrive in Avebury on day 1, walk from day 2 and depart from Ivinghoe Beacon on morning of day 10.

Departure Dates: This itinerary can be walked any time between Mar to Oct. You simply choose which day you would like your holiday to start on.

Rest Days: Should you wish, rest days can be taken at stops along the route, view details.

What's Included: view full details.

Back to all itineraries

  • What's Included?

    We include:

    • Good standard accommodation at a mixture of Guesthouses, Farmhouses, local Inns and B&B’s with en-suite or private facilities wherever possible
    • Breakfast
    • Luggage transfers
    • Personal transfer between accommodation and path where necessary
    • Route planning
    • Walk Pack including Trail Guide and OS mapping, itinerary, accommodation directions and holiday planning.
  • Price Info.

    Solo walker supplement: £45 per night

    Single occupancy supplement within a group: £35 per night. Where singles are walking as part of a larger group and are willing to share a Walk Pack, single room occupancy supplements apply.

    Rest days: From £52.50 per person per night.

    Postage overseas: £5.00 (Europe), £10.00 (Rest of the World) per walk pack

    Bank holidays & short notice bookings may incur extra charges.

  • Getting There

    If you're arriving by public transport, you'll want to get the train to Swindon (regular services from the south, east and west) and from there catch the bus to Avebury (No. 49, runs hourly).

    If you're driving down to the start of the route, car parking can be arranged at your first night’s accommodation at a rate of £5 per night (you do not pay for the night you are staying there).

    Nearest railway stations are located in Swindon (for East Kennett/Avebury) and Tring.

    www.nationalrail.co.uk            

    Buses from Swindon to Avebury (approximately 30 minutes journey)

    www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk           

    Taxi transfer can be arranged from Swindon to Avebury on request.

  • Best Time to Travel

    The climate of Wiltshire county area is generally mild, but where you're walking along wide open fields, exposed to the elements you may find quite strong winds.

    Average Temperatures                                           Average Sunshine on South Downs Way                                  Average Rainfall on South Downs Way

Walker Reviews of Our Ridgeway Walking Holidays

Our past clients rated this walk 5 out of 5; read a selection of 17 reviews below.

We chose this walk for its history and archaeology, links to Richard Jeffries, Edward Thomas, following footsteps going back 1000s of years. Also, a chance to see some flowers and birds we don't see at home. The hedgerows, full of elderflower and honeysuckle smelt wonderful. Loved seeing the line of the Ridgeway stretching across the landscape. We have only ever walked with Celtic Trails - they can be relied on to give you all the information and help you need to have an excellent time - no worries!

5 out of 5

June 2019

Everything went smoothly booking the trip. All trip directions and info was very good. Also, the arrangements you made for out cab at the end of the walk was much appreciated. We most enjoyed being able to move along a route with details handled in advance for s, knowing that our evening accommodations were already secured and would be varied, but always very nice.

5 out of 5

August 2018

We have now returned home after a very enjoyable walk in the English countryside. We enjoyed our tour brilliantly. Clearly, your ability to organize tours like ours is working like clockwork and there is nothing much to point a finger at. I will not hesitate to let you organize our next adventure.

5 out of 5

June 2018

Prior to this holiday, we had only ever done walks independently but the smoothness of your organisation has convinced me of using you again. Well worth the extra cost, because you can relax and enjoy the walk.

5 out of 5

August 2019

Previously, we have organised accommodations ourselves and carried our belongings. We have and will recommend Celtic Trails to others - excellent organisation and service, helpful above and beyond the call. The organisation , accommodation, food were all so good, it made the walk totally relaxing and enjoyable.

5 out of 5

July 2019

Celtic Trails provided a better standard of accommodation than other companies we've walked with. I would recommend them to a friend.

4.4 out of 5

June 2019

Celtic Trails are a friendly company with excellent information and first class B&Bs.

5 out of 5

April 2019

Celtic Trails were very helpful.

5 out of 5

September 2018

The best thing was having everything arranged for us. We were also surprised at the amount of wildlife we saw.

5 out of 5

June 2018

Heard of you via word of mouth and you didn't disappoint. You compared very well with another company we have used previously. We most enjoyed the exceptional weather, good walking conditions and beautiful countryside.

5 out of 5

May 2018

Very well organised - we would choose you again. The accommodation was all good/excellent, with good service.

5 out of 5

May 2018

All we can say is THANK YOU!

5 out of 5

May 2018

Just as promised. Excellent.

5 out of 5

May 2018

"Impeccable logistics, we always trust Celtic Trails to select first-rate accommodation - our first choice for walks in the UK."

4.8 out of 5

April 2018

"Celtic Trails' organisation was excellent."

5 out of 5

May 2017

"A brilliant holiday well organised."

5 out of 5

April 2017

"Celtic Trails exceeds expectations. [I enjoyed] taking the walk in the knowledge that everything else was organised for us. I have to admit we did not believe everything would go so smoothly, but everything worked according to your very detailed plans. Thank you for making this such an excellent walk."

5 out of 5

July 2016

Leave your own review of your The Ridgeway Walking Holiday with us here

Enquire About The Ridgeway

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What Happens Next?

We will check your details and come back to you within two working days with a personalised estimate based on your requirements. We will then formally request a deposit of £100 per person (£150 for solo walkers) and book all your arrangements - find out about our full booking porcess here.

Please note this does not constitute a booking confirmation, we kindly ask you to refrain from booking any travel until we have confirmed all your arrangements.

Still Have Questions?

If you are still unsure on any of your requirements, please do enquire with us first and one of our friendly team will be happy to help you with any queries you have.