Ridgeway Path     Part 3

Above image is of Goring Bridge , where the Ridgeway Path crosses the River Thames.

Start: SU118680  Map Multimap   Aerial photo

End:   SP959168  Map Multimap   Aerial Photo

shown in red on the map, the blue line is the Thames Path.

This route guide is in 3 parts:-

• Part 1 - Introduction and Basic Information

• Part 2 - Route from Overton Hill to the River Thames

• Part 3 - Route from the River Thames to Ivinghoe Beacon

Part 3 - The River Thames to Ivinghoe Beacon

There are many ancient trackways converging on Goring as there is a point that the River Thames was able to be forded, today you cannot ford the Thames as the water level is kept higher to allow boats to go up to just beyond Lechlade, using weirs to maintain the water levels and locks to pass the boats through. The Thames Path another National Trail,  crosses at this point. It is shown on the map at the top of this page, in blue.

The traditional extension to the Ridgeway was up the Icknield Way to the beacon, The Ridgeway path does not follow this, but uses a number of paths and other features that allow you to see more items while on the journey.

Grims Ditch, thought to have been an ancient boundary marking, has been running near the Ridgeway, and to the north in many sections along the path we have taken. In most cases it is just below to the north, and accessible in many places. We mentioned before one access point near Scutchamber Knob, however the Ridgeway Path now runs in Grims Ditch for a number of miles in a straight section.   Location: Grims Ditch, nr Nuffield, Oxfordshire Grid Reference: SU642874 Ceremonial County: Oxfordshire Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Google Location Guide: Gallery: Link: Wikipedia

Image from Wikipedia

Watlington White Mark is a triangular mark cut out of the turf to expose the white chalk beneath on the hills south of Watlington. It is said have been created by Edward Horne, the vicar of Watlington, in 1764, who was  ashamed of his spire-less church. By cutting this shape in the hills, when he looked from his upstairs vicarage window over the church, towards the Chilterns, the tower by all appearances was topped by a spire.

Location: Watlington White Mark, Watlington, Oxfordshire
Grid Reference: SU700938	Ceremonial County: Oxfordshire
Map Link: Multimap	Aerial photo: Multimap   Google
Location Guide:	Gallery:

The path passes Tring Park and crosses the Grand Union Canal before also passing Bledlow Cross, another hillside marking in chalk.

Location: Bledlow Cross, nr Chinnor, Oxfordshire
Grid Reference: SP769009	Ceremonial County: Oxfordshire
Map Link: Multimap	Aerial photo:
Location Guide:	Gallery:

Whiteleaf Cross  - another chalk mark.

Location: Whiteleaf Cross, nr Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
Grid Reference: SP821038	Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire
Map Link: Multimap	Aerial photo: Multimap
Location Guide:	Gallery:

Passing through Chequers (watched by close circuit TV).

Near Wendover, Combe Hill has a memorial to Boer War casualties. Unveiled in 1904, this has been hit by lightening several times and nearly destroyed. It was restored in 1939, but then had to be camouflaged in the second world war so that enemy pilots could not navigate by it.  It contains a long list of people remembered, you can get this list and more on each person mentioned and more information from www.roll-of-honour.org/Buckinghamshire/CoombeHillBoerWar.html

 

Pitstone Windmill is not on the Ridgeway Path but is not far away.   Location: Pitstone Windmill, nr Ivinghoe, Bucks Grid Reference: SP945157 Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Google Aerial Photo Location Guide: Pitstone Windmill Gallery:

The end of the path is at the Ivinghoe Beacon,  providing good views across the countryside and view of the hillside feature at Whipsnade, which is a lion cut into the chalk hillside. Although the end of the path its not quite the end of your walk as you have to walk back down off the beacon.

Location: Ivinghoe Beacon, nr Ivinghoe Aston, Buckinghamshire
Grid Reference: SP959168	Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire
Map Link: Ordnance Survey Multimap	Aerial photo: Multimap
Location Guide:	Gallery:
Links: Wikipedia

Return to Part 1

Nature Reserves on or near the Ridgeway Path 

National Trails http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/

Wikipedia 

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Grid(s) or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Classification from the Grids above. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

By: Keith Park	Section: Walks	Key:
Page Ref: Ridgeway_path3	Topic: Walks	Last Updated: 04/2009

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