A nine centre inn-to-inn, self-guided walking tour along the Ridgeway National Trail from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire, England. 9 nights bed and breakfast accommodation, 8 days walking, luggage transfer, guide book and maps.
This Explore Britain National Path walking tour follows that ancient pathway the Ridgeway along a chalk escarpment that extends for 85 miles from Avebury in Wiltshire, with its famous stone circle, to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. On a route of truly ancient origins it should not be surprising to find such an abundance of evidence of early occupation. Bronze Age and early Iron Age have left a remarkable legacy in the form of religious monuments, fortifications, habitations, burial places and agricultural systems. From the first steps it is clear that this is an ancient route.
You spend your first night within yards of the remarkable Avebury Stone Circle. You should arrive early to explore this fascinating village with its five round barrows visible from the path, and nearby are two long barrows and the markers of a stone circle known as the Sanctuary. Striking due north you head over Overton Hill along a broad downland track which winds and climbs the ridge of Hackpen Hill, then leads on to the Iron Age fortifications of Barbury Castle. Shortly the path passes close by Waylands Smithy, a chambered long barrow with a fascinating legend. White Horse Hill, on which Uffington Castle, takes its name from the remarkable, and ancient, chalk figure cut in it. A long and particularly beautiful stretch of downland path passes close by Segsbury camp and within hailing distance of Grims Ditch before reaching Streatley and crossing the River Thames to Goring.
The route now winds its way through the Chiltern Hills, passing beautiful Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire villages, where time has stood still. The hills lie principally on fast-draining chalk and flint soils, which encourage the beech woods for which they are famous. The hills are today much as they were in the Middle Ages - a mainly wooded land of small villages and towns, largely located in valleys and undeveloped by manufacturing industry. The Ridgeway National Trail finally reaches Tring and an extension takes you to Ivinghoe Beacon with extensive views other the Buckinghamshire countryside.

You stop in country hotels, inns and guesthouses along the way, where accommodation is available in twin, double or single rooms, most but not all with private facilities. B&B and luggage transfer between the overnight stays is inclusive.

This tour is operated by Explore Britain Walking based in County Durham in England.

START: Avebury is 9 miles southwest of Swindon in Wiltshire.
FINISH: Tring is about 25 miles east of Oxford.

DAY ONE: Arrival near Avebury. You may arrive anytime after 3pm. You should arrive early to look around Avebury Stone Circle and Silbury Hill and return back to Avebury for tea. Dinner can be taken at the inn in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight near Avebury, Wiltshire, England.

DAY TWO: Walking from Avebury to Ogbourne St. George. 10 miles (16km) and 800 feet ascent. The Ridgeway National Trail climbs to Overton Hill, Marlborough Downs and Hackpen Hill, then descends a lofty scarp and rises again to the Iron Age hill fort of Barbury Castle. A south turn along the scarp of Smeathes Ridge leads to the thatched village of Ogbourne St. George. Dinner can be taken at the inn in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight Ogbourne St George, Wiltshire, England.

DAY THREE: Walking from Ogbourne St. George to Woolstone. 13 miles (21km) and 700 feet ascent. The River Og is crossed at Southend, and the Ridgeway National Trail rises to 600 feet before reaching Round Hill Down. The walk through Iron Age earthworks brings views of the Cotswolds in the distance and Liddington Castle in the foreground. The next stretch, after Shepherds Rest inn, is lovely farm country over fox and Charlbury Hills, rising to 800 feet at Bishopstone. Two miles further on is Waylands Smithy, a Neolithic chambered long barrow thought to have been built at least 4,500 years ago. The next section brings dramatic walking with panoramic views, and the celebrated chalk-hill figure, the White Horse of Uffington, Dragon Hill and the Manger, a huge geological gouge in the earth. You drop down off the ridge to a small village nestling in the hillside. Dinner can be taken at the nearby inn in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight Woolstone, Oxfordshire, England.

DAY FOUR: Walking from Woolstone to East Hendred. 12 miles (19.2km) and 600 feet ascent. You return to the ridge and pass Segsbury Iron Age fort and Grims Ditch, an 8th century boundary mark, before descending to the pretty thatched roof village of East Hendred. Dinner is taken at the nearby inn in the town (not included in tour price). Overnight at East Hendred, Oxfordshire, England.

DAY FIVE: Walking from East Hendred to Goring. 8.5 miles (13.7km) and 400 feet ascent. You return to the ridge and the Ridgeway is now wide and green, then wooded before Scutchamer Knob, a Saxon barrow on the Oxfordshire and Berkshire border. Dropping near Harwell and down Compton Downs, the path is less well defined. It is lovely country down to the River Thames at Goring. Dinner is taken at the nearby inns in the town (not included in tour price). Overnight Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England.

DAY SIX: Walking from Goring to Nuffield. 9.3 miles (14.9km) and 800 feet ascent. Leaving the River Thames behind you gradually move through farmland and into the Chiltern Hills. Here the village houses are made of small bricks, flints and chalk. Dinner is taken at the nearby inn in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight Nuffield, Oxfordshire, England.

DAY SEVEN: Walking from Nuffield to Chinnor. 11 miles (17.7km) and 900 feet ascent. Continuing through the Chilterns the Ridgeway National Trail passes the village of Lewknor to arrive at Chinnor. Dinner is taken at the nearby inns in the town (not included in tour price). Overnight Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England.

DAY EIGHT: Walking from Chinnor to Wendover. 11.2 miles (18km) and 1,400 feet ascent. Moving into Buckinghamshire the hills give way to farmland again with two view points at Pulpit and Coombe Hills. Wendover is one of the biggest towns the ridgeway national trail goes through. Dinner is taken at the nearby inns in the town (not included in tour price). Overnight Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England.

DAY NINE: Walking from Chinnor to Ivinghoe Beacon (return to Aldbury). 13.6 miles (21.8km) and 1,200 feet ascent. You will follow the Ridgeway National Trail out to Ivinghoe Beacon and return more or less the same way to finish at Aldbury. Dinner is taken at the nearby inns in the town (not included in tour price). Overnight Aldbury, Hertfordshire, England.

DAY TEN: Departure. The tour finishes at Aldbury after breakfast.

GRADE C: Between 9 - 12 miles (14 - 19 kms) a day. Waterproof walking boots are desirable. You will start walking about 9:30am and finish at approx. 5pm. These grades are for guidance only. For any grade, depending on weather conditions, it may at times be damp underfoot, so waterproof boots are preferable.