Ridgeway West - 5 Days
Ridgeway West Avebury to Goring- 5 Days
The Ridgeway West Avebury to Goring, as its name suggests, covers the western half of The Ridgeway. The final day is short allowing walkers the possibility of travelling home from Goring station on the same day. Mention this on the enquiry form if interested.
5 walking days
6 nights accommodation
Walking distance 50.9 miles
Average daily distance 10.2 miles
Longest day 11.8 miles
Total ascent 3,433 feet
Most ascent in one day 831 feet
The path is well-signposted with gentle hills.
Although shown below as west to east, it can be reversed and walked east to west.
Itinerary
Day 0 Arrive at Avebury
Avebury marks the start of The Ridgeway West and you will stay at Dorwyn Manor, a popular bed and breakfast with Ridgeway walkers. Avebury is a world heritage site, home to a large collection of neolithic standing stones, and just a 20 minute taxi ride from Pewsey station.
You might want to spend the afternoon walking around Avebury. Aside from the standing stones, there’s also Silbury Hill, Long Barrow and the Sanctuary. You can also include these at the start of your next day’s walk.
Day 1 Avebury to Ogbourne St George 9.5 miles (583 feet of ascent)
The Journey Although The Ridgeway West officially starts at Overton Hill between West and East Kennet, if staying at Avebury you can take a path from the village and commence walking the Ridgeway at Overton Down. It’s the same distance as from Overton Hill so don’t feel cheated.
Or you can follow our suggested detour and visit Long Barrow and the Sanctuary, passing Silbury Hill along the way, and finishing at the official start of The Ridgeway. It’s an additional 3.5 miles but, as it’s a shorter day, you should have plenty time.
The Path follows a northerly direction across the Marlborough Downs past the White Horse of Hackpen Hill as far as Barbury Castle, one of four iron-age hillforts that you will pass before reaching Goring. From there, the path heads eastwards before dropping down to the Og Valley and Ogbourne St George.
The Destination Ogbourne St George is the only town/village you will meet between Avebury and Goring. So enjoy the fact that you don’t have to detour far to get to your accommodation!
Having said that, it’s still a 0.7 mile walk from the Trail to the inn, through the village passing the ancient church and manor house along the way. This is included in the mileage above. Tomorrow you don’t have to retrace your steps. You can rejoin the Trail by following the disused railway line, now a cycle path.
The Inn with the Well is well named (excuse the pun!), a well sitting in the middle of the bar. It’s a popular place for walkers and cyclists traversing the King Alfred Way.
Day 2 Ogbourne St George to Bishopstone 10.5 miles (770 feet of ascent)
The Journey: Today’s walk starts by retracing your steps through the village of Ogbourne St George and crossing the busy A346, which follows the old Roman Road from Cirencester to Marlborough. The path then heads north to Liddington Castle, another iron age hill fort.
The path turns north east, dropping down to a road which crosses over the M4. The road walk lasts just over a mile and is perhaps the least attractive section of the entire Ridgeway. So you’ll be pleased to to get it out of the way.
Shortly after regaining the ridge, you will see the village of Bishopstone below you.
The Destination: The pretty village of Bishopstone lies 3/4ths of a mile to your north and 200 feet below you. A footpath takes you down a dry valley, past Bishopstone Folly and straight into the village. Remember that you’ll have to walk back up this hill tomorrow!
You will stay at the Helen Browning’s Royal Oak where food is served daily. Helen Browning is somewhat of a celebrity in these parts, running an organic farm as well as a shop on the premises of the hotel. The food is, of course, organic and local.
Day 3 Bishopstone to Letcombe Regis 10.7 miles (831 feet of ascent)
The journey: A hill climb is required prior to walking the Ridgeway West. You will pass the “long barrow” of Waylands Smithy, an ancient burial mound built around 5,500 years ago.
Next comes the Uffington White Horse built around 3,000 years ago. Quite why, nobody really knows although various theories have been put forward. You will pass the flat-topped Dragon Hill where legend has it that St George slew the dragon. The bare grass on the top is where the dragon’s blood spilled. And, below you, is the Manger, a beautiful dry valley. The entire landscape is full of mystery and it’s here that Tolkien drew inspiration for Lord of the Rings.
You will leave the Trail at Gramps Hill where a path will take you down to Letcombe Bassett and then on to Letcombe Regis.
The destination: The village of Letcombe Regis lies a mile and a half north of the Ridgeway It’s one of the further accommodations but you will not be disappointed by the approach. A steep footpath down the hill takes you to Letcombe Bassett from where you can follow Letcombe Brook, a rare chalkstream inhabited by crayfish and water voles, to Letcombe Regis. Letcombe is derived from Ledecumbe meaning the brook in the valley.
Letcombe Regis is home to the Greyhound, a country inn offering food and accommodation.
Day 4 Letcombe Regis to East Ilsley 11.8 miles (694 feet of ascent)
The Journey: This is your last complete day on the western section and the journey continues on high ground, after a steep walk up from Letcombe Regis.
You will be following the ridge throughout the day and, aside from the occasional farmhouse, you will not pass any villages. Throughout the walk you will see gallops and stables, homes to the many horse training centres found in this part of Wiltshire. Lambourn, which lies a few miles to your south, is, after Newmarket, the largest centre of horse race training in the UK. A memorial to Lord Wantage, who fought in the Crimean War, acts as a marker for many a mile.
Shortly before dropping down to East Ilsley you will pass beneath the busy A34. A series of murals have been painted depicting life in the ancient district of “Compton Hundred” . One of them depicts a battle which may be Battle of Ashdown in 1871 where the Danes were defeated by the West Saxons.
The destination: It’s another 1.2 miles to reach your destination of East Ilsley. This time you are heading south (right) and you have a choice of paths: one running alongside the gallops; the other running in parallel, a field’s width away. So you can vary the return journey! At East Ilsley, two inns vie for your attention: the Swan, and the Crown and Horns, both offering decent bed and breakfast accommodation.
Day 5 East Ilsley to Goring 7.8 miles (555 feet of ascent)
The Journey: After four days of walking the Ridgeway West along the top of the Downs, you finally take a long descent down to Streatley and Goring in the famous Goring Gap – where the Thames has broken through the chalk escarpment thus separating the Downs from the Chilterns.
Streatley and Goring are a pair of villages on either side of the Thames which Thames Path walkers will be familiar with. George Michael lived here and his house can be seen from the trail.
It’s remarkable to think that, since Ogbourne St George 33 miles earlier, the Ridgeway has not passed through a single village.
The Destination: There are few places as pretty as Goring and Streatley and it’s therefore a perfect place to stop. Goring is on the left bank and Streatley on the right – although they seem to get along together fine. There are plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants for you to unwind. Take a walk down to the river to see Mill Cottage, former home of George Michael. You will be staying at the Miller of Mansfield in the heart of the village, renowned for its quirky bedrooms.
Goring is well connected to Reading and Didcot Parkway stations so it may be possible to travel back the same day, particularly as the walking day is relatively short.
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: £630
Price per person assuming single occupancy: £990