The Wessex Ridgeway
The Wessex Ridgeway is around 138 miles long and connects Marlborough in Wiltshire to Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. At Avebury the path connects to the Ridgeway Path. These two paths, along with the Icknield Way and Peddars Way, form the Greater Ridgeway.
The Wessex Ridgeway passes through beautiful Wiltshire and Dorset countryside, and for most of the walk there is plenty of choice of lunchtime and evening stopping places.
Accommodation
As mentioned above, there is plenty of accommodation, which we have split into
Hotels & Inns and Bed & Breakfast. Guest Houses are included with Bed & Breakfast. While we realise many guest house accommodation is better than some hotels, in order to avoid confusion we have opted for the simpler option. We have used the term `inn' in its proper meaning of a pub which provides accommodation rather than just a romantic term for a pub.
We are always looking to improve our information, and welcome accommodation recommendations.
Restaurants and Pubs
We have attempted to give as much information as possible, but restaurants and pubs are notoriously changeable. We have provided information, where known, of pubs serving real ale and/or food, and if they are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. We would be grateful for any updates and additions to our pubs and restaurants lists.
Guidebooks & Maps
Guidebooks
Please note the Wessex Ridgeway is marked on 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey `Explorer' maps.
The Greater Ridgeway: From Lyme Regis to Hunstanton
By Ray Quinlan. ISBN 1 85284 346 2
Guide to the four paths making up the 363 mile Greater Ridgeway:
| Wessex Ridgeway: | Lyme Regis to Avebury |
| Ridgeway: | Avebury to Ivinghoe |
| Icknield Way: | Ivinghoe to Knettishall Heath |
| Peddars Way: | Knettishall Heath to Hunstanton |
Despite containing four paths, the book is smaller than many other guidebooks. The guide contains Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map extracts for the whole route, and includes path description and other helpful information. Unfortunately, the Wessex Ridgeway is described from Lyme Regis to Avebury direction, and omits the Avebury to Marlborough section.
Walk the Wessex Ridgeway in Dorset
By Priscilla Houstoun
This guidebook covers the Dorset section of the walk.
Walk the Wessex Ridgeway in Wiltshire
By Brian Panton.
The guidebook includes maps, although we advise buying the OS maps in addition. Not available through Amazon.
Wessex Ridgeway
By Anthony Burton. ISBN 1 85410 613 9
Recreational Route Guide, including OS 1:25,000 map extracts
Unfortunately, the book seems out of print.
Maps
Please note the Wessex Ridgeway is marked on 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey `Explorer' maps.
We would advise buying the 1:25,000 Explorer maps by Ordnance Survey. They show much greater detail than the 1:50,000 scale maps, and make the walk a much more pleasurable experience.
Six Explorer maps are required:
EX 157 Marlborough & Savernake Forest
EX 143 Warminster & Trowbridge
EX 130 Salisbury & Stonehenge
EX 118 Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase
EX 117 Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis
EX 116 Lyme Regis & Bridport
Buying the guidebook and maps
Click on the guidebook or map image to go to our own Amazon page, where they can be bought online.
Public Transport
We have included, wherever known, information at the relevant Wessex Ridgeway location pages. In addition, the following is very useful for the Avebury to Erlestoke section:
www.wiltshireandbeyond.co.uk
Wessex Ridgeway
Mileages and Services Table
Please click on a location to open the page displaying accommodation, Camping, Pub and Restaurant information for that location.
NOTE: Figures after the `+' sign indicates miles off route
| LOCATION | CUMULATIVE |
FACILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough | - | H,B&B,R,PH,CS,Bus |
| Avebury | 6¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Bus |
| Heddington | 13½ + ¾ | PH |
| Devizes | 16½ | H,B&B,R,PH,Bus |
| Urchfont | 22 | PH |
| Market Lavington | 25¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Bus |
| West Lavington | 26¾ | H,R,PH,Bus |
| Erlestoke | 31¼ + 1 | B&B,PH |
| Edington | 32¼ + 1 | R,PH |
| Bratton | 35 + 1 | B&B,R,PH,Bus |
| Westbury | 37 + 1¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Train,Bus |
| Upton Scudamore | 38¼ + 1 | Inn,B&B,R |
| Warminster | 40½ + ½ | H,B&B,R,PH,Train,Bus |
| Heytesbury | 47¼ | B&B,R,PH,Bus |
| Upton Lovell | 49¼ + ¾ | Inn,Bus |
| Corton | 49½ | Inn,Bus |
| Hindon | 55½ | Inn,R,Bus |
| East Knoyle | 57 + 1 | B&B,PH |
| Donhead St Andrew | 63¾ | R,PH |
| Ludwell | 65¾ | Inn |
| Tollard Royal | 70¾ | Inn,R |
| Ashmore | 73 | B&B |
| Iwerne Courtney | 79 | R,PH |
| Shillingstone | 82½ | B&B,PH |
| Ibbertson | 85½ | PH |
| Sydling St Nicholas | 102 | Inn,R |
| Maiden Newton | 104½ | R,PH,Train,Bus |
| Beaminster | 115½ | H,B&B,R,PH,CS,Bus |
| Marshwood | 131 | PH |
| Lyme Regis | 138 | H,B&B,R,PH,Bus,Sea |
Legend
| B&B | Bed & Breakfast Accommodation |
| C | Camping |
| CS | Camping Shop |
| H | Hotel or Inn Accommodation |
| PH | Pub or Bar |
| R | Restaurant, Bar Meal or Tea Shop |
| YHA | Youth Hostel |
Contact us
If you want to email us with comments or amendments to our Wessex Ridgeway information, wish to add to our free listing, or wish to upgrade to Superior Listing, please right-click and copy the link below and paste into your email facility: