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The Ridgeway Walk "One of the main ideas of organising this walk is to create interest in the unique character of the downland countryside and to preserve the right of way along this very ancient trackway." Thus commented Peter Smith of Reading YHA Group on the occasion of the group's third challenge walk along the Ridgeway between Marlborough and Streatley in 1964. Friends of the Ridgeway will, I am sure, agree with the ideas expressed by Peter. And you will be glad to know that, today, Reading Group is still inviting people to come to the area to see if they can walk 40 miles in one day. Details of the 2007 walk and other information can be obtained from the walk's website at http://ridgeway40.org.uk.
History of the Ridgeway Walk In 1962, Reading Local Group of the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) organised a challenging walk for other members of the YHA - a walk along the entire Ridgeway west of Streatley to be completed at one go! The group became involved in this activity almost by accident when another YHA group started to organise the walk but then backed out because they felt they didn't have enough resources to marshal the event. Having organised it once, Reading group decided to continue it as an annual walk and it has become a popular fixture with many walkers returning year after year.The original route was the Ridgeway as it appeared on the map. Later, they revised the route to avoid some road walking and to ensure that the length of the walk was 40 miles. This was before the inauguration of the Ridgeway National Trail. In the first five years, entrants had the option of walking in either direction between Marlborough and Streatley youth hostels. This involved a heavy commitment for marshals, most of whom camped out at their checkpoints the night before the walk. Camping out on the Ridgeway, even in spring, can be very cold and one marshal recollects being kept awake by a gale and the fear that his tent would be blown away. With the closure of Marlborough hostel in 1966, the walk became a one way event (west to east) with Streatley hostel as the base. There is no time limit to complete the walk as the group felt that completing the walk itself was enough of an achievement. But it has meant there were many instances of the organisers having to wait up into the small hours of the following morning for the last of the walkers to come in. On the other hand, some 'walkers' were very fast. In 1965, Alan Blatchford, who inaugurated the Tanners Marathon in Surrey and went on to found the Long Distance Walkers Association, ran the 40 miles in 6 hours 22 minutes. Not satisfied with that, he ran back 10 miles along the course to meet his wife who was proceeding 'at a more normal rate. Alan completed about 60 miles in 12 hours. At the other end of the scale, two ladies who entered the event in 2003 thinking it was a two day event, gamely went on to complete the walk in just over 14 hours. Commenting in 1979, the then organiser, Norman Griffin, said that the first few years were a bit of a shambles with problems such as a soup urn being left in the wrong place and marshals getting lost. But, as time went by, all these teething troubles were sorted out. Today, there are nine checkpoints, most of which provide light snacks, ambulance personnel on hand to deal with blisters and anything more serious which might happen and radio communication between checkpoints to track the progress of the walkers. All this is designed to give every entrant the best chance to complete the walk. For those who prefer a shorter distance, a 20 mile walk is held on the same day as the 40 mile walk over the second half of the 40 mile course. For trail runners, who like a race, a 40 mile run is also held.
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| Photograph: Copyright Natural England / Tina Stallard | ||
