Wessex Ridgeway

Walk the Wessex Ridgeway

The Wessex Ridgeway runs for around 136 miles from Marlborough in Wiltshire to Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. The long-distance route follows ancient tracks and high ground through chalk downland, farmland, valleys and villages before descending towards the Jurassic Coast.

From Marlborough, the route heads west towards Avebury through the chalk landscapes of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Around Avebury, the trail passes through a landscape shaped by prehistoric monuments and ancient tracks before continuing south towards Devizes.

Beyond Devizes, the Wessex Ridgeway crosses the Wiltshire countryside towards West Lavington and the northern edge of Salisbury Plain. The route continues through rolling chalk downland towards Heytesbury, Hindon and the countryside around the Wiltshire and Dorset border.

Entering Dorset, the trail reaches the high ground around Ashmore before continuing through Cranborne Chase. Chalk ridges, valleys, ancient earthworks and hillforts characterise this section as the route heads deeper into the county.

The Wessex Ridgeway continues through rural Dorset towards Shillingstone and the countryside around the Blackmore Vale. From here, the trail crosses a succession of ridges and valleys towards the villages of central Dorset.

Further west, the route passes through the countryside around Cerne Abbas and continues across the Dorset hills towards Beaminster. This section becomes increasingly undulating, with long climbs and descents connecting hilltops, valleys, farmland and villages.

Beyond Beaminster, the Wessex Ridgeway crosses the hills of West Dorset towards Pilsdon Pen and the high ground around Lambert's Castle. The landscape begins to open towards the coast as the trail approaches the final stages of its journey.

The route eventually descends through the countryside towards the River Lim before reaching Lyme Regis. The Wessex Ridgeway finishes beside the sea on the Jurassic Coast, completing a journey from the chalk landscapes around Marlborough to the Dorset coast.

Marlborough, Devizes, Beaminster and Lyme Regis provide useful bases for exploring different parts of the route. Although the Wessex Ridgeway can be completed as a long-distance walk, its length and varied landscapes also make it well suited to shorter sections and walking breaks across Wiltshire and Dorset.

Overview

Distance: 136 miles / 219 km
Typical duration: 10–14 walking days
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Start: Marlborough, Wiltshire
Finish: Lyme Regis, Dorset
Terrain: Chalk downland, grassy ridges, field paths, hillforts, farm tracks, woodland, valleys, rural lanes and village paths