The Ridgeway

The Ridgeway is one of 15 National Trails in the UK. It runs for 87 miles from Overton Hill near Avebury in Wiltshire, through Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire, to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. The easiest Hertfordshire access points to the route are at Wigginton and Tring in Dacorum Borough.

The route of The Ridgeway is almost entirely in the countryside, passing through rolling hills, ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands and numerous designated wildlife habitats. True to its name, much of the route is on high ground with the potential for tremendous views across swathes of southern England on a clear day.

The route had its origins circa 5000 years ago and is often described as the oldest road in Britain. It was originally a trading route and its high, dry ground provided a measure of protection by giving traders a commanding view, warning against potential attacks. Its history is very much in evidence along the route, including Iron Age and Bronze age forts, Neolithic burial mounds and prehistoric standing stones.

The present route of The Ridgeway was designated by the Government in 1972, and formally opened as a National Trail the following year. With its 50^th anniversary in 2023, broadcaster, archaeologist and Hertfordshire resident Mary Ann Ochota became Patron of The Ridgeway. Mary Ann is passionate about the countryside and green spaces and in 2024 she was appointed President of the national CPRE charity.

There are a number of guidebooks for The Ridgeway, including ‘The Ridgeway’ by Nick Hill and Henry Stedman which is part of the Trailblazer series of British walking guides, and the Cicerone guide ‘Walking The Ridgeway’. You can also find more information on The Friends of the Ridgeway website and on the National Trails website.