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Highlights along the Ridgeway

  • Oxford, City of Dreaming Spires
  • Bath Spa
  • Stonehenge and Avebury Stone Circles – World Heritage Sites
  • Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey
  • The White Horse Chalk Carving
  • Incredible Ancient Sites: From Neolithic Barrows to Iron Age Forts


Why Book With Us?

  • Fun and Hassle-Free Trips and Activities
  • All Navigation and Instructions Provided, Luggage Transfers Included
  • Join Like-minded Active People for a week on a 5000 year old road!
  • Friendly customer care team on hand 365 days a year
  • “A walk to remember forever… Every aspect exceeded our expectations…We highly recommend Active England and this opportunity to see what I believe is some of the most beautiful country in the world.” D.E


Got a Question?

Please do not hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We are always on hand to answer any queries you have relating to your tour.

+44 (0) 333 090 3116

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DetailItineraryMapInfoFAQPhotosReviews

Walk the Ridgeway

7 Day Guided
0
  • 7 Days 6 Nights
  • Apr 01 - Oct 31
  • Type: Guided
  • Difficulty : 2/5
  • Country
  • Pickup: Oxford
What to Expect on our Ridgeway Holiday

Return to nature on this 7 day long distance walk following the Ridgeway National Trail, Britain’s oldest road; a route used for at least 5,000 years, by travellers, herdsmen and soldiers. Return to nature, away from the crowds, through ancient landscapes, secluded valleys and woodland.

Iconic Sites near to the Ridgeway

As well as the fantastic hiking, this tour will take you to Oxford, the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ at the beginning of this tour, the World Heritage city of Bath at the end of our trip, as well as the World Heritage Stone Circles at Avebury – think Stonehenge but bigger – and Stonehenge itself. We also visit the famous Highclere Castle (the set for the hit tv show Downton Abbey).

English National Trail Optional Walking Distances

Don’t feel obliged to walk the full distance each day. There are many shorter options for guests, with opportunities to spend more time at the iconic sites, castles, manors, gardens and in the cities for those wishing to walk fewer miles each day.

Photos
Walking the Ridgeway
Highclare Castle Walking tour
Ridgeway Guided Walking Itinerary

Day 1Oxford Walking Tour, Punting (Old Fashioned Boating) Trip Down the Thames

Travel into Oxford, a short 1 hour direct train from London Paddington station. Our guides will meet you at the station and take our group for a guided walking tour of this famous university city, visiting Oxford Colleges, Christchurch Cathedral and lunch in the centre of town. In the afternoon we head out on a punting trip down the Thames. Punts are old-fashioned English boats, with a long pole to propel yourself. Test your punting skills or sit back and relax as you are guided downstream. We have English afternoon tea in the Randolph before heading to our hotel, the Voco Spires, for dinner in the evening.

Mileage: 2-4 miles

Day 2Chalk Grasslands, Huntercombe Manor and Grim’s Ditch

We drive to the Ridgeway at Watlington for our first day’s walk. Through some ancient yew woodlands and up onto the chalk grassland we walk to the National Trust Café at Huntercombe for lunch. Home to one of the most remarkable men of the 20th century, Nuffield Place was built by Lord Nuffield, who manufactured Morris Motor cars with the towering figure of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris. After lunch we continue down the Old Drovers Path, to a series of Iron Age linear earthworks at Grim’s Ditch, and down into Wallingford. We stay in the wonderful Perch and Pike thatched cottage hotel and eat out in a local gastro pub. 

Mileage: 6-8 miles

Day 3Walking the Thames Footpath, Goring on Thames, Goring Gap

We walk the Ridgeway and along the Thames footpath where we lunch in the pretty town of Goring on Thames, with a wealth of cafes and pubs to choose from. We then climb back through the dramatic Goring Gap, the narrowest part of the Thames Valley with the river and a railway nestled between the hills either side. We return to the Perch and Pike in the late afternoon where guests have a free evening and plenty of restaurant options to choose from for dinner.

Mileage: 7-9 miles

Day 4Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey

After breakfast we transfer out to Highclere Castle. Built in the Jacobethen style and with Capability Brown designed gardens, this 5000 acre estate is home to the Earl of Carnavon and was the main filming location of the tv series Downton Abbey. With plenty to explore we spend the morning here before returning to the Ridgeway for an afternoon walk along the National Trail. This evening we stay in West Challow in the Vale of the White Horse and eat out in town.

Mileage: 5-9.5 miles

Day 5The White Horse Chalk Carving

We walk out from our hotel towards the stunning White Horse Hill to see the beautiful ancient chalk carving atop the Ridgeway, 111 foot long and thought to be over 3000 year old. Dropping off the Ridgeway we eat in the White Horse Inn in Woolstone and in the afternoon walk to an ancient long barrow – the burial mound Wayland’s smithy, around to a Bronze Age Fort and then onto the quaint village of Ogbourne St George. Tonight guests dine on their own as we return to our hotel in West Challow.

Mileage: 5-8.5 miles

Day 6Avebury and Stonehenge, World Heritage Sites

This morning we walk to the World Heritage Site at Avebury. The stone circles here are one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village. We can walk right up to the stones here, before travelling on to the famous Stonehenge, erected in its current stone form in about 2500 BC. In the evening we journey on to the spa city of Bath, and to our hotel The Bird where we have our final night’s dinner.

Mileage: 6-10 miles

Day 7Bath Spa and Farewells

After breakfast we say farewell and help everyone with their ongoing travel arrangements. Many choose to stay on in Bath, to explore the Roman Baths and more of the cities celebrated restaurants, theatres, galleries and canals. Please ask if you would like help to organise and book extra days in Bath. There are regular departures from Bath Spa station, only a short walk from your hotel, for an easy and direct 1.5 hour journey into London.

Download Detailed Intinerary

For full information about this tour and to find out all you need to know, download your copy of the detailed itinerary by clicking the button below.

Ridgeway Map
Info

Meet and Greet Location

Oxford Station

Pickup Time

09:00am

Accommodation

Country Accommodation

End of Tour Location

Bath

Price Includes

  • 6 Night’s Accommodation
  • All Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
  • Entry into all iconic points of interest, including: Huntercombe Manor, Stonehenge, Avebury, Highclere Castle
  • Walking Poles
  • Luggage Transfers
  • Transport Throughout
  • Professional Local Guide

Price Excludes

  • International Flights and travel to and from the start / end of the tour
  • Cancellation insurance
  • Items of a personal nature
  • 3 Dinners
  • Lunches and café stops
  • Gratuity for your local guide
FAQ

How far do we walk each day?

This tour does not walk the full Ridgeway route but hops on and off the trail and visiting heritage sites along the way. Your tour will be tailored by your guide to suite your individual preferences, without missing out on any of the stunning views or iconic points of interest. Walking the full distances each day is rated 3/5 in difficulty, meaning it’s appropriate for guests going for a good walk and able to handle a few inclines. Our shorter walking options are rated 2/5, appropriate for guests keen to walk along and up our beautiful hills to get to the panoramic views, and who wish to spend more time looking around our iconic monuments and castles.

Where is The Ridgeway?

The Ridgeway is in Southern Central England, stretching down from Wiltshire, through the Chilterns AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the North Wessex Downs AONB. You can walk the trail in either direction, though on our tours we start at the Ivinghoe Beacon, finishing at Avebury Stonehenge.

What is are the hotels and accommodation like along the Ridgeway?

We have handpicked the best family run, independent and country hotels and pubs near to both the Ridgeway and the Heritage Sites we visit along the way. Cosy and with informal dining, these country hotels are friendly and relaxed, with great menus with locally sourced food and ales.

Read More

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