The Ghost Smith on the Ridgeway
The Ghost Smith on the Ridgeway
Day trip

The Ghost Smith on the Ridgeway

Total miles…
Walk time…
Period—

Oxfordshire/Wiltshire

A myth-heavy ancient trackway day, from Wayland’s hidden forge in the trees to Avebury’s giant circle where the whole village sits inside the spell.

12
Route map0 stops · 3 along the way

Use caution - walking directions may not always reflect real-world conditions.

Plan your visit
Getting there
Best as a drive-with-walks day between Wayland's Smithy, Uffington and Avebury via the Ridgeway landscape.
Parking
Use the White Horse Hill/Ridgeway parking for Wayland's Smithy and the National Trust car park at Avebury.
Best time
Dry days with low sun; the barrow and stones are much better in angled light.
Terrain
Chalk downland, grassy henge paths and exposed ridge walking; muddy after rain.

The trip story

0 stops

    Some site IDs in this trip weren't found in the sheet: waylands-smithy, uffington-white-horse, avebury-henge, west-kennet-avenue

    What remains

    What remains is a landscape that refuses to be one thing: tomb, road, horse and henge all pulling the story along the chalk.

    Along the way

    • walk

      The Ridgeway

      Ancient trackway approach between Wayland's Smithy and the White Horse

    • Pub

      Red Lion, Avebury

      Pub inside the henge for the proper stone-circle finish

    • village

      Avebury village

      Tiny village folded inside the henge landscape