Ridgeway East - 4 1/2 Days
This itinerary is for those who can reach Goring station in the morning. Goring is a ten minute train ride from Reading station and therefore accessible to most people in the south-east of England. We will meet you there, take your bags, and you can enjoy a leisurely stroll up The Ridgeway to Wallingford. The 52 mile walk (including walks to and from accommodation) averages 11.5 miles with the longest day being 13.4 miles.
4.5 walking days
5 nights accommodation
Walking distance 51.8 miles
Average daily distance 11.5 miles
Longest day 13.4 miles
Total ascent 4,360 feet
Most ascent in one day 1,290 feet
The path is well-signposted but can be hilly, particularly towards the end.
Although shown below as west to east, it can be reversed and walked east to west.
Itinerary
Day 1 Goring to Wallingford 6.7 miles (80 feet of ascent)
The Journey Arrive by train at Goring station where we will meet you and take your bags to Wallingford.
For the next six miles you’ll be following a river. In fact, you may even wonder why it’s called The Ridgeway. But the route it follows, which is on the opposite side from the Thames Path, is delightful and far superior than its illustrious neighbour. You will look down on Cleeve Lock where Pete Townshend wrote much of Quadrophenia whilst renting the lock-keeper’s cottage. You will pass the pretty villages of South and North Stoke and follow the river as far as Mongewell, once home to Carmel College, a Jewish boarding school. You can walk past the decaying buildings and visit the derelict church of St John the Baptist overlooking the river.
The Destination Just past Mongewell, The Ridgeway turns sharply east and away from the river. You, however, will follow the river for a further mile to the historic town of Wallingford, its castle once the site of many a battle during the English Civil War. The ruins of the castle are free to visit. You can learn more at the museum where you can find out about the town’s connection with Agatha Christie.
You will stay at The Coachmakers, small inn on the outskirts of the town and closest to The Ridgeway. Home cooked food is available in the evening or you can walk five minutes into town for more variety.
Day 2 Wallingford to Watlington 11.2 miles (1,220 feet of ascent)
The Journey: Back on The Ridgeway the Path heads east away from the Thames along a fascinating track known as Grim’s Ditch – probably an ancient border separating tribes. Next the trail takes on some variety, passing through bluebell-filled woods, fields ripe with seeds, and even a golf course (keep alert!). There are some interesting buildings to see: Nuffield Place, which is at a distance, was home to Sir William Morris, as in the motor car. Ewelme Park, Swyncombe House and the lovely St Botolph’s Church are all seen from the Trail.
The Destination The Path is following a track running about 100 feet and just under a mile above the “spring line”, where the nearby towns and villages can be found. The first of these is Watlington, accessed via a country lane perfectly safe to walk on.
Here you will find the only hostelry offering rooms: the Fat Fox. This reopened in 2024 following a long closure and has become popular with Ridgeway walkers. The rooms are housed in a converted barn at the back of the car park and away from the bustle of the pub.
Day 3 Watlington to Cadsden 13.4 miles (1,180 feet of ascent)
The Journey: This is your longest day. The Trail starts by regaining the straight and level track at the foot of the Chilterns, passing Chinnor to your left. If lucky you might catch a glimpse of the steam train that runs to and from Princes Risborough.
Past Wain Hill it takes quite a southerly loop over Lodge Hill and over the railway line close by Saunderton Tunnel to skirt the edge of Princes Risborough. Whiteleaf Cross, home to another chalk carving, is your next hill. Down the other side you will arrive at The Plough, your home for the night.
The Destination: You won’t find accommodation much closer to the Trail than The Plough at Cadsden. Its website describes itself as “The Pub of Prime Ministers”. Why? Because their country seat, Chequers, is nearby. In fact, you will walk through the grounds tomorrow. But don’t let that put you off. It’s a jolly nice inn.
Day 4 Cadsden to Wigginton 11.4 miles (1290 feet of ascent)
The Journey: Suitably rested you must tackle another hill. This time it’s Pulpit Hill, home to Grangelands Nature Reserve. Look out for orchids and butterflies.
You exit Pulpit Wood through the grounds of Chequers, the country seat of the Prime Minister. Make sure you heed the warnings and stay on the Path!
Past Chequers is another series of wooded hills which will take you to the Crimean War Monument before descending to Wendover, an attractive market town with plenty of shops and restaurants.
Beyond Wendover, the path passes through woods and fields until you enter Tring Park and the glorious King Charles Ride.
The Destination: Wigginton is a small hill-top village with a single pub, the Greyhound. Although the pub doesn’t offer breakfast, the village shop and cafe is just next door and offers breakfast from 8.30am. We’ll give you a voucher to compensate. As Wigginton is on the outskirts of Tring, the pub is sometimes referred to as the Greyhound, Tring. It should not to be confused with tomorrow’s Greyhound which is at Aldbury and sometimes called the Greyhound, Tring.
Day 5 Wigginton to Ivinghoe Beacon 9.0 miles (600 feet)
The Journey: Although only a 5.5 mile walk to the end of The Ridgeway, provision must be made for returning to the nearest accommodation which is in Aldbury.
After a sharp descent from Wigginton through fields you cross the A40 via a footbridge and then the Grand Union Canal and arrive at Tring Station (some distance from Tring!).
The Ridgeway recaptures the high ground towards the end of the walk climbing through Aldbury Nowers, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, emerging from the woodlands to open ground leading to the terminus of Ivinghoe Beacon.
The Destination: As Ivinghoe Beacon is some distance from any accommodation, you will need to partly retrace your steps to cover the 3.5 miles to the Greyhound at Aldbury, a charming village inn. We say “partly” because only a mile is on The Ridgeway, the rest being on public footpaths through woods. We’ll provide you with directions.
The inn lies in the heart of the village which is set in a conservation area. It’s a popular film location and was featured in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
Tring Station is just under a mile away. There’s a footpath running alongside the road so it’s quite safe to walk. But, with luggage, you might want to book a taxi.
Prices
Prices inclusive of bed and breakfast plus baggage transfer between hotels. A map and guide book is also included. You will have unlimited access to our local team in the event of difficulties.
Price per person assuming shared occupancy: £595
Price per person assuming single occupancy: £960
Rest days can be purchased but prices vary depending on category of hotel.