The Ridgway: Hike the 5k-year-old pathway that's Britain's oldest road
The Ridgeway, Britain's oldest road, is an 87-mile prehistoric trackway rich in history, connecting Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire, featuring ancient sites and attracting increased foot traffic post-pandemic.
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The Ridgeway, recognized as Britain's oldest road, is an 87-mile prehistoric trackway in southern England, used for at least 5,000 years. It connects Overton Hill in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire, traversing the chalk hills and offering a serene escape from the surrounding urban areas. The path is rich in history, featuring Neolithic burial mounds, Iron Age hill forts, and the famous Uffington White Horse, a chalk figure over 3,000 years old. Designated a National Trail in 1973, the Ridgeway recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, attracting increased foot traffic, particularly post-pandemic.
The trail is divided into two sections by the River Thames, with the western part characterized by open chalk downs and historical sites, while the eastern section features wooded areas and quaint villages. Walkers can enjoy the tranquility of the landscape, which has changed little since the 1700s, and experience the local culture through rural pubs and B&Bs along the route. Despite modern interruptions, such as roads and golf courses, the Ridgeway remains a popular destination for those seeking to connect with nature and history.
Recent discoveries, including ancient skeletons unearthed during construction work, highlight the ongoing archaeological significance of the area. The Ridgeway continues to be a place of exploration and reflection, embodying a deep connection to Britain's past while inviting contemporary visitors to experience its beauty.
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- Several users share personal anecdotes about walking or cycling The Ridgeway, emphasizing its ancient feel and scenic beauty.
- There are discussions about the historical claims regarding The Ridgeway's origins, with some questioning its status as a prehistoric route.
- Users recommend resources such as books and podcasts for further exploration of The Ridgeway and other ancient paths.
- Some comments highlight the challenges of navigating The Ridgeway, especially in winter conditions.
- There is interest in the feasibility of accessing The Ridgeway via public transportation for hiking trips.
12 commentsFor 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...
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.
Checkout the White Horse and nearby ancient monuments, too https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffington_White_Horse
Here's a playlist, it's got the ridgeway and many other interesting places. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL72jhKwankOhU9PaMnSMA...
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.
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