Wessex Ridgeway

Recreational Route: Southwest England

Marlborough to Lyme Regis
219km/136 miles

A route from deepest Wiltshire along ancient paths via the edge of Salisbury Plain and Cranbourne Chase to the Dorset Coast.

The route was devised by local Ramblers during the 1980s in support of the RA's aim to establish a single National Trail along the ancient trackways linking the south coast of England to the Wash. Although National Trail status is yet to be achieved the route is recognised by the local authorities and was opened in 1994. It links to the Ridgeway National Trail near Avebury and walkers can then continue along the Icknield Way and Peddars Way to Hunstanton (see the Ridgeway page and Greater Ridgeway guidebook below for more information).

Connects with

• East Devon Way
• Hardy Way
• Imber Range Perimeter Path
• Jubilee Trail (Dorset)
• Kennet and Avon Walk
• Liberty Trail
• Macmillan Way
• Monarch's Way
• Ridgeway
• South West Coast Path

Highway Authorities

• Dorset
• Wiltshire

Accommodation

Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path

Luggage transfer

• Rio's Taxis (Yeovil - Lyme Regis)

Holiday providers

include Bobs, Explore Britain

Maps

The route is shown on recent editions of these maps.

Publications

• Walk the Wessex Ridgeway in Wiltshire by Brian Panton. Order here!
  Guidebook including detailed maps.
• Wessex Ridgeway by Anthony Burton, ISBN 1 85410 613 9. Aurum £12.99
  Recreational Route Guide with OS 1:25,000 map extracts
• The Greater Ridgeway from Lyme Regis to Hunstanton by Ray Quinlan, ISBN 1 85284 346 2. Cicerone £12.95 + p&p.
  Compact guide describing 583km/363-mile route along the Wessex Ridgeway (Lyme Regis to Avebury), Ridgeway National Trail (Avebury to Ivinghoe), Icknield Way (Ivinghoe to Knettishall Heath) and Peddars Way National Trail (Knettishall Heath to Hunstanton) with OS 1:50 000 map extracts, route descriptions and background information. See the Ridgeway page for more information.