Interestingly (to me), I learned about the "ridgeway" just a few days ago, from Jim Leary's episode on the "History Rage" podcast, where historians vent about popular historical misconceptions.
For the Ridgeway in particular, the claim from the podcast is that there is in fact no archaeological evidence that this was a prehistoric routeway, nor that it was a single coherent long-distance entity. The claim is that it appears this way because highland areas and ridges are better preserved, because they're generally not cultivated and are less subject to erosion, so the whole thing is just a selection effect.
Discussion starts around 39:25 in the podcast[1]
Jim Leary has a book about this, "Footmarks: A Journey into our Restless Past"[2].
To be fair, I personally am ill-equipped to assess the claim, and it does look like an interesting place to ramble. The linked article also, to continue being fair, does not call it a road, they limit themselves to calling it a "prehistoric trackway", which may well be defensible.
> For the Ridgeway in particular, the claim from the podcast is that there is in fact no archaeological evidence that this was a prehistoric routeway, nor that it was a single coherent long-distance entity. The claim is that it appears this way because highland areas and ridges are better preserved, because they're generally not cultivated and are less subject to erosion, so the whole thing is just a selection effect.
I had a search around and came across four or five citations claiming that the ridgeway wasn't actually the long-distance path it's popularly known as... all of which were dead links. So I'm inclined to suspect that it really is exactly what it's thought to be; at a minimum I'd want to see a publicly available text for why it's not, rather than a podcast or paid book.
There's no question that the tops of chalk ridges were used for route making in centuries past. They tend to be drier, less boggy and less woody (and safer from attack) than low-lying routes. So it may have not been one long trail, but as a succession of trails, it is still highly likely.
I spent a lot of time walking and cycling the Ridgeway as a kid and teenager.
At one point I lived with my mum in a village just off it, and my dad lived in another village off it about 9 miles away. I walked that route often, alone and with a friend, in all seasons, sometimes through the night.
You definitely have a sense of it being ancient, and it's easy to imagine the people who walked it before you.
Be warned, in winter it can be very challenging to cycle along. It becomes deeply rutted due to off-roaders, and your pedals will strike the side of the deep, water-filled ruts. I cycled the whole thing (in sections) with a friend one winter. Hard work, and fell off many times.
I also have fond memories of the Ridgeway, and especially the White Horse. As a kid we lived in a village 9 miles or so away (perhaps the same place as your dad?).
I used to fly model rockets from the fields by the White Horse. And I'll never forget being made to do cross country running on the Ridgeway from school.
There's so much history and myth tied up with that area. Especially true of the White Horse, Dragon hill (where legend says St. George killed the dragon), and Wayland's Smithy near by.
I'd highly recommend the book "The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot" by Robert Macfarlane in which the writer describes walking the Ridgeway and other walks in the UK and other places. His description of walking the Broomway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Broomway) is particularly enthralling.
Is it feasible to arrive in London and through public transportation get to the ridgeway and walk the whole length of it? While finding accomodation along the way of course.
Always wanted to hike the beautiful and historic british trails with my dog but I never got a driver's license. Didn't realize how important it was until I started to travel as an adult.
I've done this, but in the other direction, by public transport.
Neither end of the Ridgeway is particularly convenient for public transport. Avebury is quite close the western end, and has buses to Swindon (and then trains to London). It's also well worth visiting: a highlight of the trip. At the eastern end you're not so far from Tring train station.
Accommodation is a bit sparse until you get close to London, so it will tend to dictate how far you walk each day. However there are companies that will arrange it, take your luggage, and pick you up / drop you back on the trail. Some B&Bs can also help with this.
(We just carried our stuff and walked to the places we stayed)
"Yes" - with some preparation and a tolerance for walking.
There should be a walking guide online, others have posted links to Ordinance Maps of the ridge.
Your dog may be an issue skirting | crossing farmland on right of ways, loose dogs can and do get shot for sheep worrying or even suspicion of.
Great Britain as an island is only 300 miles (500 km) at it's widest and from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern coast of England, about 600 miles (1,000 km).
ie. most walks are shorter than the Bibbulmun Track.
Thanks, a lot of good info there. Like the length of the trail. I walk 20km a day with my dog regularly so 24km a day doesn't seem unfeasible.
Funny you mention that website because I found this page[1] through google and all the links are 404. They also go through a weird domain called awin1.com which is blocked in my adblocking list.
Love the Ridgeway. Walked a small section recently near Chequers (the prime minister's countryside retreat) and you cross the driveway behind the security barrier!
I was going to flippantly reply that of course, it's just the name of a type of road. But then I thought to check Wikipedia [1] about it first. Quite interesting:
> In western Europe, [...] ridgeways are a typical feature of long-distance ancient routes through rugged, high-rainfall parts of Germany and across the island of Great Britain. These ancient trackways generally ran along the hilltops, only descending when necessary to cross valleys.
> As such, they are an opposite to modern-style roads, which tend to run along the valleys and only ascend when necessary to cross the hilltops.
Genuinely, I appreciate you checking your flippancy. I have the same tendency, as does, I suppose, a whole bunch of people on this website.
And I agree, that is quite interesting. It holds true for The Ridgeway in Enfield (which incidentally is where I was born, which is why I thought of it).
The King Alfred's Way bikepacking route [1] includes part of the Ridgway. I planned to do this last summer, but didn't get chance, and I'm not really fit at the moment enough having barely cycled since last summer, but maybe I'll get around to doing this next year. It does look like a great route though.
I bike packed this route with a good friend 2 years ago and had an absolutely amazing time. Neither of us were super fit but we managed it comfortably in 4 days (although our route planning left a little to be desired - 90 miles in one day along the Ridgeway was a mistake).
The Ridgeway itself was arguably the most challenging part of King Alfred's way - a couple of large climbs, plus large sections of very rocky terrain made it tough going at points.
Overall though, a beautiful route and I would highly recommend it!
For the Ridgeway in particular, the claim from the podcast is that there is in fact no archaeological evidence that this was a prehistoric routeway, nor that it was a single coherent long-distance entity. The claim is that it appears this way because highland areas and ridges are better preserved, because they're generally not cultivated and are less subject to erosion, so the whole thing is just a selection effect.
Discussion starts around 39:25 in the podcast[1]
Jim Leary has a book about this, "Footmarks: A Journey into our Restless Past"[2].
To be fair, I personally am ill-equipped to assess the claim, and it does look like an interesting place to ramble. The linked article also, to continue being fair, does not call it a road, they limit themselves to calling it a "prehistoric trackway", which may well be defensible.
[1] https://www.historyrage.com/episodes/episode/69e607e6/histor...
[2] https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/footmarks-a-journey-into-our...