INTRODUCTION
PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK
About the Ridgeway
History 9 – How difficult is the Ridgeway? 10
How long do you need? 11
Practical information for the walker
Accommodation 11 – Food and drink 14 – Money 16
Other services 18 – Walking companies and baggage carriers 18
Disabled access 18 – Mountain biking 19 – Motor vehicles 19
Horse riders 20 – Taking dogs along the Ridgeway 20
Budgeting
Camping 20 – Hostels 21 – B&Bs 21
When to go
Seasons 21 – Temperature 22 – Rainfall 22 – Daylight hours 22
Festivals and events 23
Itineraries
Which direction? 26 – Suggested itineraries 26 – Side trips 27
Best day and weekend walks 28
What to take
Keep it light 30 – How to carry it 30 – Footwear 31 – Clothes 31
Toiletries 32 – First-aid kit 33 – General items 33
Sleeping bag 33 – Camping gear 33 – Money 34
Insurance 34 – Maps 34 – Recommended reading 34
Sources of further information 35
Getting to and from the Ridgeway
National transport 36 – Getting to Britain 37 – Local transport 39
Public transport map 42
PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT AND OUTDOOR SAFETY
Minimum impact
Economic impact 45 – Environmental impact 46 – Access 49
Outdoor safety
Avoidance of hazards 51 – Weather forecasts 52 – Health 52
PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE
Conservation of the Ridgeway
Natural England 55 – Campaigning and conservation organizations 57 – Beyond conservation 58
Flora and fauna
Mammals 59 – Birds 61 – Butterflies 64 – Flowers 64 – Trees 66
PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS
Using this guide 67
Marlborough 68
Avebury and around
Avebury 72 – West Overton 76 – West Kennet & East Kennet 76
A walk around Avebury 78 – Avebury to Marlborough walk 82
The route guide
Alternative starts to the Ridgeway 87
Overton Hill to Fox Hill 89
Ogbourne St George 95 – Liddington 100
Fox Hill to Court Hill 102
Bishopstone 102 – Ashbury 106 – Woolstone 108
Down Barn Farm 112 – Letcombe Regis 114
Court Hill to Goring 116
East Ilsley 121 – Compton 122 – Aldworth 126 – Streatley 128
Goring 128
Goring to Watlington 130
South Stoke 132 – North Stoke 132 – Wallingford 134
Crowmarsh Gifford 137 – Watlington 142
Watlington to Princes Risborough 147
Lewknor 147 – Kingston Blount 149 – Chinnor 150
Princes Risborough 156
Princes Risborough to Wigginton 158
Wendover 163 – Wigginton 168 – Tring 169
Wigginton to Ivinghoe Beacon 172
Aldbury 174 – Ivinghoe 177
APPENDIX: THE GREATER RIDGEWAY 179
MAP KEYS 181
INDEX
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