4-Day Ridgeway Itinerary — Fastpacker Pace

From the trailhead at Overton Hill, the path climbs onto Fyfield Down across open chalk grassland scattered with sarsen stones. The route crosses Avebury Down towards Hackpen Hill, where an 1838 white horse is carved into the escarpment, then continues past Iron Age Barbury Castle and along Smeathe's Ridge with its Bronze Age barrows before descending to Ogbourne St George. Heading north from Ogbourne St George, the trail ascends onto open chalk escarpment past Iron Age Liddington Castle, possibly the legendary Badon Hill. The route follows roads briefly before climbing again over Fox Hill and Kingstone Down. The Royal Oak at Bishopstone sits 400m off-trail, and Woolstone village with the White Horse pub lies a 2km detour from the path crossroads near Woolstone Hill.

Just east stand Uffington Castle and the famous chalk White Horse, a 110m Bronze Age figure carved into the scarp, with Dragon Hill below where legend places St George's dragon. The undulating downland passes the sheltered copse at Sparsholt Firs before reaching Devil's Punchbowl, a striking dry chalk coombe carved into the escarpment. Letcombe Regis lies 2km north of the trail at Round Hill. From Round Hill, broad chalk tracks lead east across arable downland past Letcombe Castle, also known as Segsbury Camp, a 26-acre Iron Age hillfort. The route crosses Betterton Down, with Bronze Age barrows punctuating the ridgeline, before reaching Cuckhamsley Hill, marked by its distinctive clump of trees. Beyond, the path descends gently across Ilsley Downs. Both East Ilsley and Compton villages sit roughly 2km off-trail. The Ridgeway crosses Roden Downs and Thurle Down on broad tracks through mixed downland and arable fields, holding elevation with views across the Berkshire countryside. The chalk escarpment ends abruptly at the Thames, where the trail descends to Streatley before crossing the river bridge into Goring — a major resupply point with pubs, shops, accommodation and a railway station with services to London, Oxford and Reading. A short, level stage along the Thames floodplain leads from Goring to the small riverside village of Moulsford, where the Beetle and Wedge sits beside the Thames offering refreshments.

The trail follows the Thames briefly before turning east through North Stoke, with its medieval wall paintings, and the hamlet of Mongewell. The path crosses Iron Age Grim's Ditch then climbs onto the Chiltern escarpment, entering classic beech woodland at Nuffield. The route winds through Ewelme Park past 12th-century St Botolph's Church, then on tracks that can become muddy in wet weather. Watlington lies 1.5km off-trail. A short, easy stage along beech-lined tracks leaves Watlington and passes beneath the M40 motorway via an underpass — a stark modern contrast to the ancient landscape. Aston Rowant sits 1km off-trail, where the Lambert Arms offers refreshments, lunch and dinner. From Aston Rowant the path heads northeast along hedgerow-lined tracks through characteristic Chiltern countryside. The route skirts south of Chinnor village without entering it before reaching the small hamlet of Wainhill, with beech hangers clothing the surrounding hillsides. The trail continues to Lodge Hill where the terrain opens slightly, offering views across the Chiltern valleys through mixed woodland and farmland. The route then crosses Princes Risborough Golf Course and a railway level crossing to link onto roads south of Princes Risborough, ending the stage at Saunderton.

A steady climb leads through Earl Mitchell Park into mixed woodland, then across Brush Hill Nature Reserve of chalk grassland and beech wood. The path reaches Whiteleaf Hill above the chalk-cut Whiteleaf Cross, then descends through dense, cathedral-like beech woodland of Giles Wood to the hamlet of Cadsden, where The Plough offers refreshments. Heading northeast through Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve, the trail crosses chalk grassland with ancient earthworks. Past Buckmoorend Farm Shop and Kitchen, the route climbs to Coombe Hill at 260m, crowned by an 1904 Boer War monument with sweeping views over the Vale of Aylesbury. The path descends across Bacombe Hill into Wendover, a town with several pubs, shops and a railway station. From Wendover the route climbs onto Cocks Hill and into dense beech woodland through Hale Wood and Northill Wood. The trail follows ancient tracks beneath the high beech canopy, with occasional clearings revealing the surrounding countryside. After passing the hamlet of Hastoe and Bulls Wood — Tring lies 2km north for shops and refreshments — the path descends to the Grand Union Canal and Tring Station. A very short stage along the road from Tring Station leads to Westland Farm. Aldbury village sits 1km off-trail, where the Greyhound Inn, Valiant Trooper, cafés and a village shop welcome walkers. Beyond the farm the trail climbs sharply onto Aldbury Nowers, a chalk grassland nature reserve rich in wildflowers and butterflies. The route continues across Pitstone Hill and Steps Hill, with ancient terracing visible on the slopes, before reaching Beacon Hill at 230m — the official end of the National Trail. A trig point and the prominent Bridgewater Monument, an 1832 Doric column, mark the summit with views across three counties.