The Ridgeway National Trail
Length: 137 km/85 miles
Average time to complete: 6 days
Britain's Oldest Road
Starting in a World Heritage Site much of this 136km (85 mile) long trail still follows the same path over the high ground used since prehistoric times.
The Trail's western half travels as a broad, ancient track along the edge of open, rolling downland where views are dominated by the sky and vast sweeps of land. Once east of the River Thames the Trail enters more intimate countryside where, mostly on narrower undulating paths, it passes through valleys, woodlands, neatly cultivated fields and chalk grassland nature reserves rich in wildflowers.
People have used The Ridgeway for at least 6,000 years and have left numerous monuments to explore. Highlights include Wayland's Smithy long barrow and the spectacular Iron Age forts which line the Trail such as Barbury and Uffington Castles. Add to that wonderful displays of bluebells in spring, chalkland flowers and birds and The Ridgeway is always rewarding.
Horseriders and cyclists can ride all of the western half of The Ridgeway whilst walkers, who can enjoy the whole Trail, take on average 6 days to complete it. Many people, of course, choose to visit a section at a time and good public transport enables this.