The Ridgeway - 8 Days & 7 Nights

8 Days & 7 Nights 4.7 Read 26 reviews

A long-distance walk through the open landscapes of the North Wessex Downs.
Visiting the largest Stone Circle in Europe, in Avebury.
The historic remains of Barbury and Uffington Castle.
Discovering the mystery of White Horse Hill.
The attractive villages and small towns past Goring.

The Ridgeway offers walkers a tranquil escape from day to day life, passing two distinct and different landscapes; the open and remote countryside of the Wessex Downs and the quaint villages and chalk grassland of the Chiltern Hills. Often described as Britain’s oldest road, the Ridgeway follows ancient tracks and paths previously walked by herdsman and soldiers as long as 5000 years ago. Starting in Avebury, where you can visit the largest stone circle in Europe, you follow the path across the North Wessex Downs where you will see fantastic views over the rolling hills down to the south.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

If you are looking for an escape from city life and happy to walk without meeting many others then this is the walk for you. From remote, rolling countryside to chalk woodland and attractive small villages, this walk will not disappoint.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

Activity Level & Terrain

The way is on well maintained footpaths, bridleways, across fields and on some minor roads. It does involve some steep ascent and descent from the escarpment but in general the walking is fairly easy.

Navigation

The Ridgeway is a National Trail and is fully way marked and easy to follow. Wooden Posts are usually at every intersection so you should not get lost. A comprehensive guidebook and map are supplied with your holiday.

Accommodations

You will stay in carefully selected B&B’s, guesthouses, country pubs and small hotels. Your room will always have an ensuite or private bathroom. A delicious breakfast is always included.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you, subject to availability. A single supplement is payable.

Solo Walkers

This walking holiday is not available to solo walkers due to restrictions with the baggage transfers.

Included

Hand picked B&B, guesthouse and small hotel accommodation in en-suite rooms wherever possible.
Door to door baggage transfer.
A detailed info pack, guide book and map for the group leader.
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.
GPS tracks and detailed mapping with our Macs Adventure smartphone app.

Excluded

Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk.
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Personal Equipment.

Extras

Additional nights

When To Go

This tour can be enjoyed from April to October and you can start on any date that suits your travel plans.

Getting to the Start

The Ridgeway is well served by public transport and we encourage this for Ridgeway walkers. The closest railway station to Avebury is Swindon (12 miles away) and from here you can catch a bus (30mins) to Avebury. You can reach Swindon from London Paddington in 1 hour. There is no secure parking, limited on street unsecure parking is available.

Getting from the End

If you are walking the full Ridgeway path then you will finish in Ivinghoe Beacon, we use accommodation in Tring for your last night as it is easier for onward travel. There is a train station in Tring and you can reach London Euston in 40 mins. If you are looking to return to Avebury to get your car then you need to go via London to get back to Swindon and then take the bus to Avebury (3 hrs) and many changes.

For your travel plans the best advice can be found on the Traveline Website.

Luggage Transfer

Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Avebury and overnight Day 2 Avebury to Bishopstone 17 miles / 27.3 km Day 3 Bishopstone to Letcombe Regis 10 miles / 16 km

From Bishopstone you soon make your way up to White Horse Hill and Uffington Castle. This is quite a tough climb but its worth it when you reach the top and see these amazing horses cut into the hillside. Dating back to around 800bc the Uffington White Horse is over 100 metres long and its still a mystery how it was so well excavated from the hillside. The White Horse Hill area is one of the highlights of the Ridgeway so take time to relax and enjoy it. Soon you will take the turn off for Letcombe Regis which is just 2km from the path.

Overnight Letcombe Regis

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Greyhound Inn | Inn

You are assured the warmest of welcomes at the Greyhound Inn. This 18^th century free house, located in the centre of the pretty village of Letcombe Regis, is the perfect place to relax and unwind after your day’s walk. This is traditional English Village Inn, where you may enjoy the vibrant atmosphere in the bar and dining area. When you wish to retire to your room, you will find most comfortable lodging, the en suite rooms having Hypnos mattresses on the beds and crisp white linen. Luxury handmade natural bath and body products may be found in the bathrooms. All rooms have everything one would expect, including free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs with Freeview, tea and coffee making facilities (with fresh milk!), and little extras such as homemade biscuits.

Quince Cottage | Bed and breakfast

Quince Cottage is a large thatched house, dating from the 17th Century with later additions. Originally 2 cottages it was converted to one dwelling about 30 years ago. Guest rooms have comfortable beds, flat screen TV, Tea & Coffee making gear and WiFi access.

The Bear Hotel | Hotel

Overlooking the historic market place of Wantage in Oxfordshire for over 500 years, The Bear Hotel has always been a staging point for weary travellers and today provides the perfect venue for a relaxing stop-over. This is the largest hotel in Wantage with 34 en-suite rooms which are all furnished to a modern standard.

Day 4 Letcombe Regis to Goring 15 miles / 24.1 km

This section of the walk is fairly easy with most of the walking on flat broad, grassy paths. On a clear day you can see the Chiltern Hills in the distance which the Ridgeway later travels. After the road crossing, more trees become apparent and the path starts to undulate slightly. You gradually descend into Streatly on the west bank of the River Thames before you cross over to the bustling town of Goring.

Overnight Goring

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Miller of Mansfield | Country Inn

The Miller is a haven of laid back luxury in the idyllic Thames-side village of Goring, overlooking beautiful South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire countryside. All the amenities you require are included in each stylish, individually designed room at the Miller of Mansfield. Overlooking the garden, the informal restaurant serves local produce on its modern British menu. Real ales and fine wines are available in the bar.

Chaddleworth B&B | Bed and breakfast

Chaddleworth is a welcoming house with peaceful and comfortable bedrooms offering tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers and a television in each room. Free wifi is also available. Chaddleworth was built in 1935 and has been a family home for over 20 years. It sits within an acre of well loved garden and is surrounded by fields. The garden used to be the Orchard for the estate known as Cleeve Court. A well known English botanist, plant collector, explorer and author Francis Kindon-Ward had the house build for his first wife Florinda to live in.

Friars Ford | Bed and breakfast

A Victorian Gothic riverside family home set in 16 acres of beautiful grounds with views over the Thames to the Ridgeway. All rooms are comfortably furnished and have free wifi, TV/DVD players and tea and Nespresso coffee-making facilities. As well as the standard bed and breakfast facilities, they are able to offer use of the tennis court and the indoor swimming pool.