Wiltshire, in South West England, is a county of wide chalk downs, ancient monuments, and timeless villages. Known for Stonehenge and its prehistoric landscapes, Wiltshire is also one of England’s most rewarding destinations for walking holidays and outdoor adventures. Trails here cross open ridges, wind through river valleys, and link heritage sites that date back thousands of years.
From the Wessex Ridgeway to the Ridgeway National Trail, Wiltshire offers walkers panoramic chalk landscapes dotted with Iron Age hillforts, Neolithic barrows, and iconic white horse carvings. The county also includes part of the Cotswold Hills National Landscape, making it a place where history, culture, and scenery meet on every footpath.
The Ridgeway
An 87-mile National Trail known as “Britain’s oldest road,” running along chalk ridges from Avebury through the North Wessex Downs to the Chilterns.
Wessex Ridgeway
A 62-mile route from Marlborough to Lyme Regis, crossing Wiltshire’s downs and valleys before heading into Dorset.
White Horse Trail
A 90-mile circular route linking eight of Wiltshire’s famous chalk hill carvings, as well as Avebury and Stonehenge.
Kennet & Avon Canal Path
Flat, easy walking along Wiltshire’s stretch of this famous canal, passing locks, aqueducts, and market towns like Devizes.
Wiltshire’s walking hubs include Avebury, with its vast stone circle and connections to the Ridgeway, and Marlborough, a market town surrounded by chalk downs and a gateway to the Wessex Ridgeway. Devizes is another base, set on the Kennet & Avon Canal with access to flat waterside walking.
