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What Ridgeway publications and merchandise do you sell?
We sell a range of publications and merchandise which you can use to prepare for your visit, to further develop an interest or to remember your visit. Details of what we sell are on our website under the publications section.
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What attractions/things to do are nearby?
Details of what you can do and see from The Ridgeway can be found in our attractions section. The western half of The Ridgeway National Trail is characterised by the remarkable number of historical monuments that includes the Avebury World Heritage Site with its renowned stone circle, West Kennet long barrow and Silbury Hill. Other notable sites on the western half of the Trail are the Iron Age forts of Barbury Castle, Liddington Castle, Uffington Castle and Segsbury Camp together with Wayland’s Smithy long barrow, and the ancient Uffington White Horse.
At Streatley you’ll cross the River Thames, Britain’s best known river (see the Thames Path National Trail website for details of walking opportunities from the source of the Thames nearly to the sea), and enter the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with its attractive villages and towns. This half of The Ridgeway is also rich in historical monuments such as the stretch of Trail that follows the fascinating ancient earthwork of Grim’s Ditch east of Wallingford, and several Iron Age forts, including the one at Ivinghoe Beacon, the finish of the Trail. Other highlights include Swyncombe Church, the Prime Minister’s country retreat at Chequers, the highest point of the Chilterns at Coombe Hill and the numerous nature reserves along the Trail including the Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve.
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Is camping allowed?
Yes - there are a few campsites near to The Ridgeway. Details are on our website under accommodation. The situation regarding camping on the Trail itself is, in theory, clear enough; The Ridgeway is privately owned and the public right of way along it is for passage only, not for stopping and camping. In practice, however, most landowners do not object if a tent is pitched on the Trail for a night and disappears the next morning as long as no litter is left, no damage done, nor camp fires lit. But PLEASE do not camp in adjoining fields, woods or gallops without prior permission from the landowner.
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Do you organise guided walks/events on The Ridgeway?
Unfortunately, because of cuts to our budget and declining attendance, we are unable to continue to organise a programme of guided events. However our events page will continue to have details of events organised by others that we're aware of taking place on The Ridgeway.
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How do I go about planning an event/sponsored walk?
We get a number of enquiries from people who would like to find out how they can organise a sponsored walk or other event on The Ridgeway National Trail. As a result we have produced some guidelines that we hope will answer your questions.
If your event will have a large number of people attending, say 30 or more, then we would like to hear about it as we find it useful to know in advance what‘s planned so we can advise other events’ organisers which dates and areas to avoid.
Please see this page for guidelines and forms.
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How do I get to The Ridgeway?
The Ridgeway is by and large easily reached with a number of main rail stations near to the Trail. This is particularly true of the eastern side with stations like Goring & Streatley, Princes Risborough, Wendover and Tring near the finish, to name the larger ones. For the western end of The Ridgeway, Swindon is easily reached from London and from there you can take the bus to Avebury, near to the start of the Trail.
We produce an excellent large foldout map/transport planner each June that you can either download for free on our transport page or ask for a hard copy to be sent to you free of charge - please send an A5 SAE with your request to us at our address.
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Where can I park a car close to The Ridgeway?
The following places are close to or on The Ridgeway:
On The Ridgeway at the start at Overton Hill, on the north side of the A4 – 4 ½ miles (7 km) west of Marlborough (grid ref SU 119681)
On The Ridgeway at Hackpen Hill on the minor road between Marlborough and Broad Hinton – 2 miles (3 km) east of Broad Hinton (grid ref SU 129747)
On The Ridgeway at Barbury Castle Country Park – 5 miles (8 km) south of Swindon signed from Wroughton and Chiseldon (grid ref SU 157762)
On The Ridgeway at Fox Hill near Wanborough, 200m northeast of Shepherd’s Rest pub on road to Hinton Parva (grid ref SU 233814)
On The Ridgeway, ½ mile (1km) south of Ashbury on the B4000 (grid ref SU 274844)
National Trust car park for Uffington White Horse, south of B4507, ½ mile (700m) north of The Ridgeway (grid ref SU 293866)
On The Ridgeway at Sparsholt Firs on the south side of the B4001, 2 ½ miles (4 km) south of Childrey (grid ref SU 344851)
On The Ridgeway on the east side of the B4494. 3 miles (5 km) south of Wantage (grid ref SU 417843)
On The Ridgeway at Scutchamer’s Knob, 2 miles (3 km) south of East Hendred off the A417 east of Wantage (grid ref SU 458851)
On The Ridgeway at Bury Down on the minor road from A34 to West Ilsley - signed ‘Ridgeway’ from the A34 (grid ref SU 479841)
On The Ridgeway at the end of Rectory Road, Streatley – west off the A417 (grid ref SU 567813)
Goring-on-Thames public car park (grid ref SU 599807)
On The Ridgeway on the west side of the minor road, 1 mile (1½ km) southeast of Britwell Salome (grid ref SU 681922)
On The Ridgeway on east side of Hill Road, minor road to Christmas Common ½ mile (1km) southeast of Watlington (grid ref SU 698940)
On The Ridgeway on east side of minor road to Bledlow Ridge, ½ mile (1 km) south of Chinnor (grid ref SP 761003)
Princes Risborough public car park (grid ref SP 810034)
Whiteleaf car park, ½ mile (1 km) east of Princes Risborough. Turn right off A4010 at Monks Risborough and car park is on left of the escarpment (grid ref SP 824036)
National Trust car park for Coombe Hill, 1 mile (2 km) southwest of Wendover (grid ref SP 852062)
Wendover public car park (grid ref SP 868077)
Pitstone Hill car park, east of Tring. From sharp bend on B488 ½ mile (1 km) southeast of Ivinghoe, take minor road signposted to Aldbury and car park is on right after ½ mile (1 km) (grid ref SP 955149)
National Trust car park for Ivinghoe Beacon, on left of the minor road to Ringshall, ½ mile (1 km) south off B489 (grid ref SP 962162)
Please be aware that theft from cars parked in the countryside unfortunately does occur and you are advised to leave any unnecessary items at home or, failing that, ensure that anything valuable is locked in the boot of your vehicle. If you choose to park in villages or towns close to the Ridgeway, please park considerately.
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Where can I cycle on The Ridgeway?
Details on where you can cycle are found on our information for cyclists and horse riders page.
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Where can I hire/repair a bike?
For information on cycle repair and hire, see our cycle repair and hire page
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Where can I ride my horse?
Details of where you can ride, park your horse box and services such as saddlers, farriers and riding schools are found on our information for cyclists and horse riders page.
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