The Ridgeway National Trail in Southern England is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales and the latest addition to Macs Adventure's range of self-guided walking holidays in England. The Ridgeway runs for 87 miles through rural England to the West of the River Thames. Much of the trail follows an ancient chalk ridge used by prehistoric man and the section of the Ridgeway that the National Trail follows today is in fact just a small section of the ancient Greater Ridgeway.

The original route dates from more than 5000 years ago and was a network of tracks that stretched from Lyme Regis on the Dorset Coast to Hunstanton on the Norfolk Coast. Today, this National Trail is a delightful walk through quiet valleys and tranquil rural villages. This is one of the easiest National Trails and although there are of course steep hills on most days, in general, the walking is easy.

Highlights along the Ridgeway include the remote and open landscape of the North Wessex Downs, the stone circle in Avebury and the intriguing White Horse Hill. One of the joys of walking in England is not only the gentle landscape but the mark that man has put on it. The charming English villages of the Thames Valley near Goring capture the very essence of rural Britain and you will find yourself tempted to stop and enjoy pubs, shops and tea rooms for far longer than you should.

This walk is best enjoyed in between six and 8 walking days if you want to walk the entire 87 miles of the national trail. Alternatively, it lends itself well to short walking breaks and weekends due to it's easy to access from London and good transport links. Walking it over a couple of long weekends is also a great option if your holiday is limited.

The walk is very well waymarked throughout so navigation is easy and there are a number of excellent maps and guidebooks which cover the route. The easy nature of the walking, great accommodation and relaxing rural scenery make this the ideal introduction to the National Trails of England and Wales. If you are tempted by the delights of walking the Ridgeway why not book one of our Walking Holiday Packages or Short Walking Breaks. These include hand-picked accommodation in local B&B's, guesthouses, country inns and hotels, door to door baggage transfer, comprehensive information pack and emergency support. For more information on The Ridgeway why not visit call or email our walking experts today.