The Ridgeway - West in pictures

The Ridgeway (West) in pictures

Foreword:

An ancient track crossing high ground between Avebury in Wiltshire and Goring in South Oxfordshire. Four friends. Forty-five miles. One heatwave...

Day 0.1 We walked into Avebury and wandered between the many Sarsen stones that run through and around the village. Very atmospheric.

Day 0.2 Having immersed ourselves in ancient history we then convened to the Red Lion pub for beers food and planning.

Day 1.1 After a visit to The Sanctuary monument we posed for a picture before setting off. Some of us may have been overdressed for the weather.

Day 1.2 The Ridgeway is so well signposted that its practically impossible to become lost. Also, ridge walking is either a case of forward or backward, so that helps.

Day 1.3 Typically, the views we enjoyed were open and far-reaching. Add glorious sunshine and it was perfect hiking.

Day 1.4 It remained warm even as the afternoon faded away and we neared the end of our first day.

Day 2.1 The second day started where day one left off: Same surroundings, same trail, same scorching heat. Nobody was complaining.

Day 2.2 Wayland's Smithy ancient long barrow us an excuse to take a break. It's atmosphere and it's isolation meant that we spent much longer than planned and it left a lasting impression on us all.

Day 2.3 The idyllic vllage of Letcombe Regis and the Greyhound Inn, our overnight stop at the end of the second day.,

Day 3.1 The start of Day three and a rare information board.

Day 3.2 We reached The Wantage Memorial, an impressive but rather isolated monument.

Day 3.3 The trail developed into a wide grassy plateau where hikers, cyclists, and riders shared the trail.

Day 3.4 This seemed like the perfect place to break for lunch and watch the world go by.

Day 3.5 after the wide grassy plateau we reached an underpass carrying the A35 overhead. The terrian changed again once we had passed under it.

Day 3.6 Finally our three day hike ended at Goring on the bank of the Thames. after three days of unrelenting sunshine all we wanted was beers - cold and sparkling.