The Ridgeway - West Section
Explore the western Ridgeway at your own pace on a reduced-length self-guided walking holiday. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.
The Ridgeway - West Section
https://www.contours.co.uk/The-Ridgeway-West-Section
A walk along Britain's oldest road through the ancient landscapes of the Wessex Downs and the Chiltern Hills.
From £515 per person
An ancient track established by prehistoric man once stretched across the country from Dorset to Norfolk, and the Ridgeway follows it from East Kennet to Ivinghoe Beacon. The trail passes through two distinct landscapes on the way: the rolling North Wessex Downs, and a landscape of beech woodland and farmland dotted with historic towns in the Chiltern Hills.
The long and rich history of these areas is clear throughout, in extraordinary stone circles, ancient barrows, and the striking figure of the Uffington White Horse. The Ridgeway walk is a well-signposted and manageable route overall, and is well worth exploring.
The Ridgeway is part of the Great Chalk Way, a 400-mile-long trading route traversing the south east of England. Contours Holidays don't currently cover the complete trail, but our Peddars Way itineraries may also be of interest for anyone stitching together a Great Chalk Way hike.
We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.
Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.
From £515 per person
Here on the western side of the Ridgeway, the rolling fields and gentle ridges of the Wessex Downs host fascinating historical and archaeological sites. Uffington Castle, White Horse Hill, and the plethora of prehistoric barrows and Iron Age hill forts come together to create an engaging tapestry of sites to explore.
This section of the trail eschews the most difficult climbs of the Ridgeway, too, in favour of smooth trails and approachable inclines, making an ideal dip into excellent countryside.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIDW1 | From East Kennett(T) to Goring | 3 days walking | £515 | |
| RIDW2 | From East Kennett(T) to Goring | 4 days walking | £635 | |
| RIDW3 | From East Kennett(T) to Goring | 5 days walking | £760 |
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“After having just finished the Cotswold Way 2 days previous, it was nice to walk on a wide track with gentle slopes!”Ms Miller, USA
“Very well organised and with very British accommodations. Would recommend the holiday to others for sure.”Mr Aebi, Switzerland
“Your organisation of accommodation and luggage transfers worked well (only a pity you couldn’t arrange better weather for us!)”Mrs Gowers, UK
“The walk was great although snow and cloud limited views on some of the days. Accommodation was generally very good and food options excellent.”Mr Hamnett, Australia
“Lovely walk in interesting countryside with super accommodation. Perfect short break.”Mr Hughes, UK
“I had a very pleasant hike along the Ridgeway and was fortunate to have excellent weather. Everything from booking to accommodations was well done. The trail itself has some less exciting bits”Ms Groves Winninger, Canada
Dog friendly