The Ridgeway National Trail: Events on The Ridgeway
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Interested in events on The Ridgeway? Or, conversely, looking to experience this route as a leisurely journey, and don’t want to be frustrated by a trail full of people on a race? Read on to discover running, walking, and cycling events on The Ridgeway National Trail.
When I first walked The Ridgeway in 2016, there was a race that coincided with Day 6 of my walk. By that time, I was tired and achy and couldn’t fathom actually running the route. Since then, I’ve gone on to both walk and run longer distances, including a 100 km race in 2021. That’s why I wanted to share with you some of the ways you can experience The Ridgeway National Trail in a more intensive way.
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Race to the Stones
Held in mid-July, this is probably the most popular event on The Ridgeway National Trail, and I’m pretty sure it’s the one I crossed paths with back in 2016. It’s organized by the Threshold Series, which I’ve never experienced personally, though they’re known for their excellent events.
The route goes from Lewknor to Avebury, ending at the stone circle. There are two distances offered, 50 and 100 km. If you opt for the longer race, you can choose to do it all in one go, or split it up into two days. You can pay extra for camping at the halfway point. If you choose the 50 km race, you can choose to do either the first half (from Lewknor to Wantage) or the second half (from Wantage to Avebury).
This is a race that’s designed for both runners and walkers, which means that the cutoff times are generous. If you finish in under 17 hours, it’s also a Western States qualifying event.
The Ridgeway Challenge 86 Miles
This race follows most of the 86 miles of The Ridgeway, but veers off down Green Street to go straight through the Avebury stone circle and end up right at the Avebury Sports & Social Club in the center of Avebury village. I love the concept of this race, because they’ve retained (more or less) the full distance of The Ridgeway, while ending at such an iconic location. The Ridgeway Challenge is a UTMB Index race in the 100km category.
Ridgeway 100 Century to the Stones
This is a 107, 86, or 48 km cycling race that’s held every September. This is the race that I crossed paths with on my second Ridgeway walk in 2016.
The Druid’s Challenge
This is a unique event: a 3-day, fully supported stage race along The Ridgeway National Trail, held in mid-November. You can sign up for the full 3-day challenge, with or without food and accommodation each night, or you can register for a single day (choosing between days 1, 2, or 3).
Day 1 goes from Ivinghoe Beacon to Watlington. Day 2 continues on to Chilton, just off The Ridgeway. Day 3 end up at Wroughton.
The Ridgeway40
This is a 40-mile challenge walk along The Ridgeway National Trail, between the Avebury Sports and Social Club and Streatley, which is roughly the halfway point of The Ridgeway. Held in May, this is meant to be a challenge, not a race, though runners are welcome. Certificates are awarded to all finishers.
This challenge walk has its origins in the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), and was first organized by the Reading and District Local Group of the YHA. It was a linear walk between the Marlborough and the Streatley youth hostels. The Marlborough hostel closed in 1966, but the Streatley YHA is still open.
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
- 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
- Camping on The Ridgeway: Planning Your Ridgeway Walk
- 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
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.
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