Where rolling escarpments, ancient landmarks, and timeless villages create one of England’s most historic trails.
The Ridgeway National Trail, stretching 87 miles (139 km) from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Overton Hill near Avebury in Wiltshire, is one of the most iconic walking routes in southern England. Often described as Britain’s oldest road, it has been walked for over 5,000 years and today offers some of the best walking holidays and outdoor adventures across the chalk landscapes of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. The trail crosses both the Chilterns National Landscape and the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, combining sweeping views with deep history — from Iron Age hillforts and prehistoric monuments to medieval villages and ancient trackways.
Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire
From Ivinghoe Beacon, the trail follows the chalk escarpment with far-reaching views over the Vale of Aylesbury. Passing Tring and Watlington, the route threads through the Chiltern Hills National Landscape with its beechwood ridges and ancient paths.
Oxfordshire & Berkshire Downs
Beyond Goring Gap, the Ridgeway crosses the open Berkshire Downs within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape — a landscape of wide skies, racing stables, and ancient landmarks such as Wayland’s Smithy long barrow and the Uffington White Horse.
Wiltshire Finale
The final stage approaches the great prehistoric complex around Avebury, where stone circles, Silbury Hill, and West Kennet Long Barrow mark one of the UK’s most atmospheric walking destinations.
Villages such as Goring, Streatley, Wantage, Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, and Avebury make excellent bases, with cosy inns, pubs, and B&Bs along the route. Larger hubs like Tring, Swindon, and Oxford provide access points for weekend walking breaks.
Luggage transfer services and self-guided holiday packages are widely available, making it easy to enjoy the Ridgeway without carrying a heavy pack.
