MARK The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway is one of Britain's oldest walking routes — a 140 km trail following the ancient chalk ridge used for over 5,000 years. Often called Britain's oldest road, it runs from Overton Hill in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns.
The full trail guide — stats, the route day by day, what it really feels like, and the planning detail you need to walk it.
At a Glance
- Best Season: April–October
- Terrain: Chalk ridges, woodland, farmland, ancient sites
The Route
🏔️ Route Character
The Ridgeway follows the high chalk spine from the Wiltshire Downs, past the Uffington White Horse and Wayland's Smithy, across the Thames at Goring, and through the beech woods of the Chilterns to the iconic Ivinghoe Beacon.
It's accessible, well-waymarked, and ideal for beginners — a gentle, historic walk with big skies and ancient landscapes.
🧰 Route Breakdown
- Day 1 — Overton Hill → Ogbourne St George — Open chalk downland, wide tracks and ancient earthworks — a gentle, scenic start.
- Day 2 — Ogbourne → Sparsholt / Wantage — Rolling ridges, big skies and historic barrows.
- Day 3 — Sparsholt → Goring — Chalk hills, woodland, and a descent to the Thames Valley.
- Day 4 — Goring → Watlington — Crossing the Thames and approaching the Chilterns on wooded ridges.
- Day 5 — Watlington → Wendover — Chiltern Hills, beech woods and open viewpoints — gentle and scenic.
- Day 6 — Wendover → Ivinghoe Beacon — Steeper climbs and a panoramic ridge to an iconic finish.
Practical
⚠️ Difficulty & Hazards
- Navigation: Very easy — one of the most straightforward national trails; still carry a map.
- Terrain: Chalk ridges, woodland, farmland and gentle climbs.
- Fitness: Manageable daily mileage for beginners and families.
- Weather: Chalk ridges can be windy and exposed; check Met Office forecasts.
- Accommodation: B&Bs, pubs and campsites — book ahead in Goring and the Chilterns.
🌠️ Who This Route Suits
- Beginners
- Families
- Intermediate walkers
- Anyone wanting a gentle, historic multi-day walk
Not ideal for
- Walkers wanting mountain terrain — this is an easy, low-level ridge
📱 Parking & Logistics
- Getting there: Start at Overton Hill, near Avebury — reached by bus from Swindon.
- Finish: Ivinghoe Beacon is a short walk from Tring station.
- Resupply: Regular villages along the route.
🧰 GPX & Map Notes
On OS Explorer maps 157, 170 and 171. Very well-waymarked; a GPX helps with stage planning.
⭐ MX Summary: Britain's oldest road — a gentle 140 km chalk ridge from the Wiltshire Downs to the Chilterns, rich in ancient history and easy walking.