Hiking Collection by Dan Hobson
Wessex Ridgeway — An ancient and beautiful ridge hike
13 days
4-6 h/day
259km
4,360m
4,490m
Starting from Marlborough, in Wiltshire, the 138-mile (222 km) trail follows a chalk ridge through the Wessex Downs AONB, into the Wiltshire countryside, and through the heart of the Cranborne Chase AONB and Dorset AONB to finish in the coastal town of Lyme Regis.
The route passes some of the most cherished prehistoric sites in the UK, including West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic burial chamber that is older than Stonehenge, and Avebury Stone Circle, one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain. The trail also explores some incredible ancient hill forts.
Throughout the walk you explore some of the most picturesque scenery in southern England and can expect stunning displays of nature and awe-inspiring views. You can also observe a great deal of medieval architecture and crumbling ruins within the sleepy villages you pass.
Other highlights along the way include: Westbury White Horse and Bratton Camp, Wiltshire’s oldest chalk hill carving on the site of an ancient hill fort; Battlesbury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort with wonderful views; Win Green, the highest point in the Cranborne Chase; Hambledon Hill, one of the best-preserved Iron Age hill forts in Britain; Cerne Giant, the largest and best-known chalk hill figure in Britain; Lewesdon Hill, the highest point in Dorset; Charmouth Beach, one of the best places in the UK to hunt for fossils; and Lyme Regis, an enchanting seaside town on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
For the most part, the route follows the ridge-top and is moderate. However, some sections can be rather steep, especially up and down the chalk valleys. The terrain is a mix of hard-surfaced tracks, old lanes, footpaths through farmland and woodlands, and occasional segments on the road.
The trail is waymarked in the Dorset section with green discs but it can be sketchy in places. There are no waymarks in Wiltshire, so you will need a map and compass as back-up. All things considered, an average level of fitness and some hiking experience is required to tackle this route.
In this Collection, I split the route into 13 stages, each averaging 12.4 miles (24 km). Of course, you can split up each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or a couple of stages.
Every stop is relatively well-served with accommodation. However, places to stay can be limited so it is worth planning in advance and scheduling your rest days accordingly.
To get to the start of the trail, your best bet is to catch a train to Swindon, which is served by direct trains from London and Bristol and has connecting services around the country. From there, you need to catch the X5 bus to Marlborough, which runs hourly.
To get home, the best option is to catch the 9A bus service from Lyme Regis to Exeter city centre and then walk a few minutes to the train station, which also has direct trains to London and Bristol and connecting services around the country.
The Wessex Ridgeway combines with three other long-distance footpaths — the Ridgeway National Trail, the Icknield Way, and The Peddars Way — to form the Greater Ridgeway, an epic country-crossing hike from Lyme Regis to Hunstanton, in Norfolk, that follows an ancient trade route.
For the Ridgeway hiking route, click here: komoot.com/collection/889209/the-ridgeway-discover-3-000-years-of-history-on-britain-s-oldest-trail.
For the Peddars Way, click here: komoot.com/collection/991/hike-the-treasured-peddars-way-and-norfolk-coast-path-in-11-days.
For the Icknield Way Path, click here: komoot.com/collection/954916/hike-seven-counties-on-britains-oldest-road-icknield-way-path.
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Wessex Ridgeway
221km
4,130m
4,260m
Last updated: November 6, 2024
Do it yourself!
Premium
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full route below as a template.
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Activities
18.1km
04:48
180m
150m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
19.2km
05:07
210m
230m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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20.3km
05:26
210m
260m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
20.9km
05:51
460m
350m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
15.6km
04:17
220m
310m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
20.5km
05:29
250m
220m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
18.1km
05:08
400m
390m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
22.8km
06:22
450m
410m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
18.6km
05:15
370m
350m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
21.1km
05:53
370m
460m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
23.4km
06:30
380m
430m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
17.1km
04:56
450m
390m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
22.9km
06:27
430m
550m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
13
Distance
259 km
Duration
71:30 h
Elevation
4,360 m
4,490 m
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