Users' Guide

Compared with the Pennine Way or the Peninsular Coast Path, the Ridgeway is undemanding, with easy gradients. The western half, from Avebury to the Goring Gap, is the classic Ridgeway, a track over open downs. Some sections are  Byways Open to All Traffic, where you are likely to encounter motorbikes or 4WD vehicles, though seasonal Traffic Regulation Orders are enforced during the winter to protect the surface.

New legislation has reclassified the sections that were Roads Used as Public Paths as Restricted Byways. The effect was the legal exclusion of recreational motor vehicles throughout the year.

Much of the eastern half, through the Chilterns, is on footpaths or bridleways.

On the line of the path there are few villages and, particularly on the western section, walkers should take care to carry enough to drink. 

Most pubs are off the line of the Trail, but many are worth the detour. For example, the Royal Oak at Bishopstone

The National Trails website has a very useful section entitled Planning a Trip -- this includes tips about:

Transport
Pubs
Water points

Click on the links in the side menu for more detail about accommodation and maps, as well as to view satellite/aerial images of the famous sites or to find the National Trails Office leaflets describing circular walks from the Trail.

Note our new section entitled Walking the Ridgeway: this section carries material supplied by Anthony Burton, author of a guide to the Ridgeway and presenter of a DVD about the Trail. He has supplied us with material describing each section of the Trail. Click here for more information.