Steve Davison

Discover the ancient landscapes and rich heritage of southern England on the Ridgeway National Trail. Stretching 139km (87 miles) from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire, this historic trail follows chalk ridges, rolling downland, and wooded valleys along Britain’s oldest road. The Ridgeway National Trail is a mostly low-level route, suitable for all abilities, that takes 6 to 9 days to hike. This map book provides all the mapping you need to walk the Ridgeway National Trail: Features 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping, showing the full route line with clarity and precision. Covers the trail in both directions, from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon or vice versa, presented in 12 stages. Includes detours and diversions to nearby historic and archaeological sites, from Neolithic burial mounds to Iron Age hill forts. Compact and portable design, sized to fit easily in a jacket pocket or daypack. An accompanying Cicerone guidebook, Walking The Ridgeway, is also available and includes a copy of this map booklet. Extracts from the OS Explorer map legend are provided for easy reference while on the trail. Whether you are exploring ancient trackways, enjoying scenic chalk downs, or planning a week-long walking adventure, this map booklet ensures you can navigate the Ridgeway National Trail with confidence and ease.

Follow Britain’s oldest road on the Ridgeway National Trail, a 139km (86 mile) journey from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. This ancient trackway winds along chalk ridges and open downs, passing Neolithic burial mounds, Iron Age hill forts and sweeping viewpoints across the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns. With gentle gradients and well-waymarked paths that rarely rise above 300m, the Ridgeway National Trail offers relatively easy, low-level walking suitable for all abilities. The route is presented in 12 manageable stages of 8–16km (plus a separate pull-out map booklet) and is described in both directions, allowing flexibility for shorter itineraries or a relaxed week-long traverse across southern England. Step-by-step stage-by-stage route descriptions for the Ridgeway National Trail between Avebury and Ivinghoe Beacon, presented in both directions and including detours to nearby prehistoric and historic sites such as Uffington White Horse and Wayland’s Smithy. Each stage features 1:50,000 OS mapping alongside detailed navigation notes, distance, terrain summary and estimated walking times, plus a separate pull-out 1:25,000 OS mapping booklet covering the entire Ridgeway National Trail. Comprehensive accommodation and refreshment listings for inns, B&Bs, pubs and village cafés, with public transport information for each stage to help plan flexible start and finish points. Historical and archaeological background on the Ridgeway National Trail, exploring its prehistoric origins, hill forts, ancient monuments and centuries of use as a trading and droving route. GPX files for the Ridgeway National Trail available for download, enabling straightforward navigation using GPS devices or smartphone mapping apps. A handy route summary table and facilities planner offering quick reference for daily distances, services and logistical details along the Ridgeway National Trail. Plan your Ridgeway National Trail adventure with confidence and explore ancient landscapes, chalk hill panoramas and thousands of years of history with this comprehensive guidebook.