The Ridgeway

You will start your walk near the village of Avebury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the largest stone circle in Western Europe can be found. Right from the start, The Ridgeway will take you up onto higher ground, revealing wonderful views down into the valley. As you proceed on the Trail – a broad track through open landscapes of the North Wessex Downs – there will be numerous other prehistoric sites waiting to be explored. Highlights will include the Iron age fort of Barbury Castle and Liddington Castle, the Neolithic long barrow at Wayland’s Smithy, and the Uffington White Horse (deep lines of trenches filled with crushed white chalk that form the outline of a 100m-long horse). As this part of The Ridgeway is quite remote, it is likely that you will be walking in blissful solitude, and only meet a couple of dog-walkers or fellow Ridgeway-hikers on the way – probably a welcome break from the day to day hustle and bustle of cities. Beyond the Goring Gap, the route descends into the valley of the River Thames, and the Trail will continue its journey into the Chiltern Hills AONB - a much softer landscape.

As the Trail reaches the Thames, it changes its character. Instead of vast, open landscapes, the dominant theme will be woodlands, which will provide a refreshing and tranquil backdrop for the ascents and descents of the Trail. This section of the Trail is the perfect blend of riverbank walking and ascending into the Chilterns. Here, The Ridgeway passes through or near small picturesque villages and market towns such as Wigginton, Aldbury, Princes Risborough, Wendover, and Tring. Highlights of this section will include the Chequers Estate (traditional country home of the prime minister), spectacular views over the Vale of Aylesbury, and the final climb to the tip of Ivinghoe Beacon, after which you will be rewarded with splendid views and a wonderful sense of achievement.