The Trail

The Friends of The Ridgeway concern themselves with the whole length of the Ancient Ridgeway track-ways along the chalk downs of Southern England, from Norfolk to Dorset, and their natural aspects and features.  Much of the central section of  this ancient track is now The Ridgeway National Trail, 85 miles long, opened in 1973.   Starting at Overton Hill, near Avebury in Wiltshire, the path ends at Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire.  It is linked to the east coast by the Icknield Way (105m) and Peddars Way (94 m); and to the south coast by the Wessex Ridgeway  (136m). Like The Ridgeway, The Peddars Way is a National Trail, but the Icknield Way and the Wessex Ridgeway have not yet been adopted by the Countryside Agency.

Click here to see more details on the proposed Great Stones Way project.

News, April 2010: Oxfordshire CC Countryside Service, in consultation with the police, has installed four concrete blocks on The Ridgeway between Britwell Salome and Aston Rowant in the Watlington area, where the Trail is a Restricted Byway, as a barrier to stop illegal vehicle use.  Recent abuse of the Trail by off-roaders has caused considerable damage to the surface, and Thames Valley Police has had to make several arrests.  Henley Standard reports the Countryside Service spokesman stating "It is imperative that we stop vehicles engaged in illegal activity from using The Ridgeway, which is one of the most popular waking and riding routes in the county.  We are willing to take the measures necessary to ensure that the route can be enjoyed by legitimate users."  The Friends of The Ridgeway much appreciate this robust attitude and action.

Photograph of the blocks on the Ridgeway, provided by a member.

The National Trails Office is the semi-detached  civil service department that is responsible for The Ridgeway. It organises the Ridgeway Volunteers who undertake practical work on the Trail.
Its web address is www.nationaltrail.co.uk
E-mail to Nationaltrails@oxfordshire.gov.uk

See the section on The Ridgeway in the National Trails site for many details about the Trail.

The Ridgeway National Trail begins (or ends) at Overton Hill near Avebury, in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area of protected landscape covers 1,730 sq km (668 sq miles), a broad arc including east Wiltshire, southern Oxfordshire, west Berkshire and north Hampshire. It was designated in 1972 to conserve and enhance the special qualities of one of the largest tracts of chalk downland in southern England which is least affected by development.

The North Wessex Downs AONB Council of Partners, of which the Friends of the Ridgeway is a member, collaborate to promote sustainable development and enjoyment of the area.  The AONB office is in Hungerford. For more information visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk or call the office: 01488 685440.

Click here for a report on the opening of the Ridgeway Link Path.

You may also find the Vale & Downland Museum in Wantage interesting.

See also our Users' Guide for tips on accommodation, available guides etc.