The highway stetches 87 miles and continues to be well-liked with travellers to this present day.
The highway continues to be well-liked (Picture: Getty)
The oldest highway within the UK has a 5,000 12 months historical past and continues to be well-liked with travellers in the present day. The Ridgeway is extensively recognised as being the oldest within the nation, and is even ranked among the many oldest on the earth.
It spans 87 miles from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. The traditional, elevated highway has been used all through historical past, together with by prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval travellers. A lot of the Ridgeway is now off-road however is a public path that has remained well-liked.
Alongside the best way, travellers can cease off at Neolithic lengthy barrows, Bronze Age spherical barrows, Iron Age forts and see white chalk figures lower into the hills.
Immediately, individuals can journey the route on foot, by bike or by horse. If you wish to cowl the entire distance, it may be accomplished in lower than every week.
The Ridgeway is likely one of the shorter Nationwide Trails within the UK, so it’s typically an introduction to lengthy strolling for many individuals. For those who stroll 15 miles a day, it would take six days to finish.
There are additionally loads of campsites alongside the best way, in addition to B&Bs and lodges. The highway’s place to begin is in Avebury and runs in a north-easterly path.
Nationwide Path defined: “West of the River Thames, The Ridgeway is a broad observe passing by the North Wessex Downs Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence (AONB) and is commonly fairly a distance from villages or cities.”
They added: “East of the Thames, The Ridgeway travels by the more-wooded and intimate hills and valleys of the Chilterns AONB the place, in addition to additional archaeological treasures, there are a number of nature reserves wealthy within the wildlife present in chalk grassland habitats.
“Within the Chilterns, The Ridgeway goes near or by a number of villages and small cities the place refreshments and different services are simply accessible.”
Travellers can benefit from the Ridgeway all 12 months spherical, with spring by to autumn offering one of the best views, situations and wildlife. For these strolling the route in Could, they’re typically met with a surprising bluebell show by the Chiltern woodlands.
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