Ridgeway
OVERVIEW
The Ridgeway is a fairly short National Trail, that follows an ancient route across the North Wessex Downs and then across the Chilterns.
The route effectively splits at Goring, where it crosses the River Thames, with the western end seeing more open chalkland, and the eastern end seeing more tracks and tree-lined trails.
Along the route the trail passes through a number of quintessentially English villages - but is most notable for it's ancient history, with sites of interest from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
Originally this formed part of an ancient trading route that ran between Dorset and the Wash (the bit near Kings Lynn in Norfolk), and existed because the chalkland provided a relatively dry route across the countryside.
PRACTICALITIES
The route is easy to split at Goring, but access on and off the trail can be more limited beyond this.
On the eastern end there are train station near the trail at Princes Risborough and Tring, with Ivinghoe Becaon having a bus stop nearby (which links up with Tring railway station).
On the western end you can extend the walk to Pewsey, but otherwise the route is more remote, and any route planning becomes more complex.
Being chalkland, and having stretches on tracks, the path can be hard on feet - and so comfortable shoes are a must.
USEFUL LINKS
Guidebook : Ridgeway GuidebookLDWA Page : Ridgeway National Trail - LDWA Long Distance Paths
National Trail Website : The Ridgeway - National Trails
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