Interested in camping on The Ridgeway? Read on. Both times I walked The Ridgeway National Trail, I stayed at B&Bs. But now that I have more camping experience under my belt, I’m feeling the call to return and walk The Ridgeway another time and camp along the way. There aren’t a lot of campsites along The Ridgeway, which means that you may have to choose between some long days or staying at a hostel or B&B once in a while.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this blog post, which means that I may earn a small commission if you click on these links and make a purchase. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I am also a participant in other affiliate programs. 

Camping on The Ridgeway

There are places to camp near both ends of The Ridgeway, and several places to camp along the way. While wild camping is technically not legal in most parts of England, the National Trails website suggests that most landowners along The Ridgeway won’t mind you camping as long as you’re a respectful camper (ask the landowner for permission, pitch near sundown and depart by sunrise, start no fires, leave no trace). When I walked the trail the second time in 2020, I saw two older women who were wild camping along The Ridgeway.

Marlborough

Marlborough is located just 6 miles from The Ridgeway, and if you use the Trailblazer guidebook, there are maps included to guide you from Marlborough to the start of the trail. There’s a simple little campsite located in Savernake Forest, at the edge of Marlborough, where you can stay. It’s mostly popular with caravans, but there’s a big grassy field where you can pitch a tent.

When I stayed there, the toilets were very clean, but there were no showers. There’s a massive Tesco Express just down the road that you can walk to from the campsite in case you need any last minute items for your trip. The campgrounds also have a little shop with the basics.

You can book directly via the website, but if you give them a call they may give you a discount. Phone number: 01672 515195

Sparsholt Firs

Down Barn Farm is located just 300 meters from The Ridgeway National Trail. It’s a B&B but they also have six camping pitches for tents. They can also provide cooked meals and a packed lunch for the trail. The camping fee is £5 per person.

Learn more here. Booking is required, even for tents.

Court Hill

The Court Hill Centre (a youth hostel) is close to The Ridgeway—much closer than Letcombe Regis or Wantage, which are the two villages nearby. The tea room is nice for a cup of tea at the end of a long day’s walk, the courtyard is perfect to relax outdoors in the afternoon, and the meals are very inexpensive and good. The staff are very friendly.

Camping is £8.50 per person, and you can get cooked meals. An evening meal is £8.50, breakfast £6.50, and packed lunches are £6.50.

Booking is required, and you’ll have to phone to book a room. See their website for more details.

Crowmarsh Gifford

Just 1 1/4 miles (2 km) mile off the Ridgeway is the village of Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford. You have two options to pitch your tent here. There is a village store and two pubs, and Wallingford has even more dining options.

Bridge Villa Camping and Caravan Park offers tent pitches. Toilets, showers, and laundry facilities are available. Prices range from £16-28 depending on the time of year.

Located alongside the River Thames is Riverside Park and Pools, where camping is £20 a night.

Watlington

White Mark Farm is located just off The Ridgeway and has 40 tent pitches available. There are toilet and shower facilities, and you can pay to charge your phone if needed. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk into Watlington, which has pubs, restaurants, and a Co-op to restock your supplies. Camping is £10, and it’s advised to book online using their booking form.

You can also try champing (church camping) at St Leonard’s Church. From £55 per night for an adult, you have access to one camp bed, camp chair, blanket, and cushion per person. Champers have exclusive access to the church from 5 pm to 9 am, except on Wednesday, which is bell practice from 7 to 8 pm.

Learn more and book here.

Wendover

You have two options near Wendover. In the hamlet of Kings Ash, near Wendover, there is the Corner Farm Campsite. Their fees are £10 per person. They have cold water taps, a sink for washing up, and two toilets with hot and cold water in the sinks.

The other option is Hill Farm Campsite, located two miles off The Ridgeway, with 10 tent pitches. The cost is £15 for one person and one tent, and £5 per extra person. There is a cold drinking water tap within the tent field, a sink for dishwashing with hot water, a kettle (tea and coffee for the Ridgeway walkers), and a power socket. There are three separate toilets with a power shower, which are operated with a token and run for 5 minutes before turning off.

Ivinghoe Beacon

Located in Ivinghoe, Town Farm Camping & Caravanning offers tent pitches for £15 per person. You can rent a fire pit for £6 and you can purchase firewood for £8 per bag, including kindling and starters.

The Ridgeway resources

There are three main resources I recommend:

• The Ridgeway: British Walking Guide: Planning, Places To Stay, Places To Eat (Trailblazer Guide), by Nick Hill and Henry Stedman
• The Ridgeway A-Z Adventure Atlas
• Alone on The Ridgeway: One Woman’s Solo Journey from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon, by Holly Worton (me!)

Related articles

• The Ridgeway National Trail: Events on The Ridgeway
• Walking the Ridgeway: Planning Your Ridgeway Walk
• Walking The Ridgeway National Trail: Hillforts Along The Ridgeway
• Ancient Sites to Explore: Hillforts Near The Ridgeway National Trail
• Hiking Mistakes: Top Mistakes I’ve Made Walking Long Distance Trails

Other trails you might be interested in

• Walking the South Downs Way: Planning Your Adventure
• Walking The Downs Link: Planning Your Downs Link Walk
• Walking the Wey-South Path: Planning Your Wey-South Path Adventure
• St Swithun’s Way

Related podcast episodes

• 376 Holly Worton ~ Long Distance Walks: Time and Space to Think and Reflect
• 359 Adam Wells ~ How To Prepare For Your First Long Distance Trail
• 354 Stephen Marriott ~ The Life-Changing Magic of Walking a Long-Distance Trail

Related reading

Alone on the Ridgeway is the inner journey my solo 87 mile walking adventure along one of England’s National Trails in 2016. This book is ideal for walkers who are new to doing a long distance trail, as it includes practical information and how to prepare for such a journey.

The main focus, however, is my inner journey as I reconnect with myself on the trail. This is not a guidebook or a book full of cultural and historical details. It’s designed to help you decide whether the Ridgeway is the right trail for you, and if so, how to start planning for it.

Save to Pinterest!