The Ridgeway in Wiltshire

The Ridgeway is a national trail, and commonly known as the Britain’s oldest road, it has been travelled for over 5000 years. It follows a ridge of chalk hills northeast from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon to the northwest of London stretching a total of 87miles.

A popular walking, running, cycling and horse-riding route; The Ridgeway starts in Wiltshire and passes through the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. On The Ridgeway you can expect wide, open views of rolling chalk downland and dotted with archaeological monuments including Stone Age long barrows, Bronze Age round barrows, Iron Age forts and one of Wiltshire’s famous White Horses at Hackpen Hill.

Avebury and Marlborough, as well as Swindon and its surrounding area provide great bases to stay, or relax with a well warned drink or meal after exploring the trail. You will pass through and close to a number of picturesque villages including Ogbourne St George, Ashbury and Bishopstone where you will find a great selection of B&B’s, Self-catering properties and Inns.

You won’t be short of Flora and Fauna either in the chalk grassland that you can find a long the hole trail. You can expect to see carpets of bluebells during May, a huge variety of birds and some relatively rare butterflies.

The route varies in difficulty and terrain, but overall is safe and can appeal to walker and mountain bikers of all skill level land experience.

Here are some walks that take in the Wiltshire section of The Ridgeway;

Barbury Castle and the Ridgeway

8 km/ 5 miles 1 hr 30 mins - 2 hrs Easy

A delightful downland walk for a clear day. Part of the route is along the Ridgeway, said to be Europe's oldest road. The Iron Age hill fort of Barbury Castle is believed to be the site at which Cynric defeated the Britons in 556AD.

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Walk 6 - West Lavington and Salisbury Plain

9.6 km/ 6 miles 2 hours Moderate

West Lavington is situated in the heart of Salisbury Plain, and the village itself is so long that it has joined with the adjacent hamlet of Littleton Pannell. The first part of this walk is on the Wessex Ridgeway, which then meets the Imber Range Perimeter Path for a short while, before dropping back into the valley and returning to the village.

Magnificent views across the hills, woods and villages can be savoured, along with unusual flora and fauna.

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You can find more information on The Ridgeway here.