Well done and the part about the bloke who passed you on crutches with a knee brace and an arthritic dog cracked me up! Thanks for sharing the views and your sense of humor.
Just finished a similar 67 hour Ridgeway walk this week. Worth noting St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe and church at Nuffield. Both with water taps and also when open they both have tea/coffee making facilities and cake/biscuits for a donation. Such lovely churches (many on the route) and wonderful trust and generosity.
Thank you for making this video Jonathan. I'm due to walk the Ridgeway myself this Summer, it being my first national trail and your video has been nothing less than inspirational.
The Ridgeway is a good first national trail just be sure to collect water whenever you can. Thank you for your comments, although walking last year I did not bother making videos, comments like yours might make me rethink that for the next section of the SWCP. Enjoy the Ridgeway.
Thanks, I most certainly will! Hope to see more content from you soon mate, it's great finding videos from people getting outdoors in my neck of the woods.
Thank you for the video. I’m planning on walking the Ridgeway next year but from Ivinghoe Beacon to Avebury as I’m then continuing down to Stonehenge and then across to Glastonbury Tor.
@@RichardShortland-Neal that’s a great walk, I did the three stones way and found a wild camping spot near Stonehenge, I woke early to a frost it was magical. Enjoy
Great walking Jonathan. You are so determined and tough. Well done and thanks for the trip. Hope you don’t ditch the camera because I would miss your journeys.
I love seeing this video, it reminds me of my two long distance walking holidays in southern England, in 2018 and 2019. A month each time, a mixture of wild camping, pub gardens etc and an AirBnB now and then. I loved it. My second trip I did a part of this walk but in the other direction (Marlborough, Ogden St George, Barbury Castle, Avebury). I can really relate to the painful times, I have a dodgy ankle and can mostly only do minimal distances each day, about 6 or 7 miles, because it gets too inflamed to continue. (I have sometimes done longer and really paid for it!) So it would take me a bit under two weeks to do the full Ridgeway. Due to COVID I don't know if I'll ever be back to the UK but I just got the wish tonight to experience the wonderful country walking and wild camping vicariously and your video was perfect.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comment, it helps to think of such comments when walking because sometimes (when tired) I do think can I be bothered to film. Hope you get be here soon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. I was a bit concerned about your back pain but relieved to see you not only finished the walk but did it with an apparent spring in your step. I’m sure the bacon sarnie and coffee (always an excellent combo) might have helped. And the observation about the chap on crutches with the arthritic dog made me laugh out extremely loudly. Already looking forward to your next adventure
Glad you enjoyed it, the old bloke actually ask me if he could help! I am going back to the South West Coastal Path next month, hopefully it will not be as painful.
@@JonathanDowe thanks for the reply , have walked the Ridgeway umpteen times so knew every blade of grass as you walked along , it was like visiting an old friend :)
Hello Jonathon, I've just watched this video, you done a great job filming and explaining the journey and you physical barriers. Can I ask, if you were to do it again, what would you change? Mileage per day? What items to leave out of your pack to reduce weight? How did you treat your sore and blistered feet, what did you use? What advice would you give to someone wanting to attempt the walk? Thanks in advance for taking time to read and reply, I appreciate your time. Well done 👍🏻
Hello Ivor, happy to help. I do walks of this length quite often and am always changing bits here and there. I think the two biggest changes I have made recently are to buy meals on route, it reduces pack weight and tastes so much better than the dehydrated meals and means I have a more of a snack in the evening. The second change is I am a convert to guide books, helps see stuff I would otherwise miss and helps with sorting out where I am going to by the meals (see point 1). As for mileage I have adopted a rule 20 miles or 10 hours walking in a day, normally I end up doing a few more than twenty but it work for me, I have done less but I end up setting up camp to early and I have done 32 miles in a day but would not do it again if I can avoid it. I treated my feet with compeed plasters work a treat, but just used injinja lining socks on the West Highland Way and did not get a single blister, so I will be sticking with them for a while. The Ridgeway is a lovely walk I hesitate to say it’s easy but it’s not has hard as many, take note of the water taps I mention and keep hydrated. There is the one section with chalk make sure you are aware of any hot spots on your feet and sort them quickly (I didn’t). Enjoy, when are you thinking of doing it.
@@JonathanDowe thanks for you advice. I am planning to tackle it next weekend, I purchased 'Walking The Ridgeway' handbook by Cicerone, it's very informative. I see that most walkers do the trail in Four or five days, I have the luxury of having no time limits and will try to enjoy each day with breaks between dawn and dusk. Hoping the weather is favourable but I have all the necessary gear to cope with all weathers
I've enjoyed your video & will take onboard the lack of water in parts. I have already completed half the walk from Goring to Ivinghoe & will be taking on the second half later this year... I'm comfortable with filtering water so I'll keep my eye open for animal troughs... Did you plan your wild camp spots or just free style along the way ??
Thanks for the comments, I use google maps and os map to identify good camping spots based on how far I think I will walk. It pays to look for a couple of spots, just in case the mileage is over under estimated or the spot is unsuitable. Good luck.
Just an update on the back problem I had. My chiropractor suspects in compensating for my blistered foot I inflamed my joint in my pelvis and my initial tightening of my hip belt locked it in place, when I released the hip belt it began to sort itself out. Interestingly he did advise if it had been a back problem tightening the hip belt would have been a good idea. No problems now, except a stretching of my iliotibial band on the outside of my right leg caused by leaning to the left, this will sort itself out with time and massaging.
@@TheBridget1953 sorry it would have been a good idea but did not think of it at the time. The video is in order so should give you an idea of the locations.
The one I mention in the video is at Hackpen Hill and I was wrong with 1827 it was actually 1838 for the coronation of Queen Victoria. Are you thinking of the one at Dragon Hill, there are a few in the area.?
Well done and the part about the bloke who passed you on crutches with a knee brace and an arthritic dog cracked me up! Thanks for sharing the views and your sense of humor.
Just at train station to do for days on the SWCP hopefully no repeats of that. Next video a couple of weeks to see how I got on.
Just finished a similar 67 hour Ridgeway walk this week. Worth noting St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe and church at Nuffield. Both with water taps and also when open they both have tea/coffee making facilities and cake/biscuits for a donation. Such lovely churches (many on the route) and wonderful trust and generosity.
Yet another excellent account of a great trip. Many thanks.
Appreciated thank you.
I'm doing this walk next month, starting from the other end at ivinghoe beacon, so I think these water points will be very useful. Thanks.
Good to discover you,doing this in 2 weeks👍
Enjoy it’s a great walk hope the weather is kind, I am on Offa’s Dyke currently and the weather is perfect.
Thank you for making this video Jonathan. I'm due to walk the Ridgeway myself this Summer, it being my first national trail and your video has been nothing less than inspirational.
The Ridgeway is a good first national trail just be sure to collect water whenever you can. Thank you for your comments, although walking last year I did not bother making videos, comments like yours might make me rethink that for the next section of the SWCP. Enjoy the Ridgeway.
Thanks, I most certainly will!
Hope to see more content from you soon mate, it's great finding videos from people getting outdoors in my neck of the woods.
Thank you for the video. I’m planning on walking the Ridgeway next year but from Ivinghoe Beacon to Avebury as I’m then continuing down to Stonehenge and then across to Glastonbury Tor.
@@RichardShortland-Neal that’s a great walk, I did the three stones way and found a wild camping spot near Stonehenge, I woke early to a frost it was magical. Enjoy
I really enjoyed this lovely video,new fan here debs xx.......
Thank you, new North Downs Way video coming this week
Great walking Jonathan. You are so determined and tough. Well done and thanks for the trip. Hope you don’t ditch the camera because I would miss your journeys.
Thank you Jenny, my wife calls it stubborn - I prefer your kind words. Not going to ditch the camera, who would I talk too?
Thanks for sharing. Another trail I'd like to do, good to see that wild camping on the Ridgeway isn't as difficult as I was lead to believe.
Yes I had heard mixed reviews on wild camping it, but I had no problems. Pitch late, leave early and LNT.
Another top video. Thanks for sharing
My pleasure
I love seeing this video, it reminds me of my two long distance walking holidays in southern England, in 2018 and 2019. A month each time, a mixture of wild camping, pub gardens etc and an AirBnB now and then. I loved it. My second trip I did a part of this walk but in the other direction (Marlborough, Ogden St George, Barbury Castle, Avebury). I can really relate to the painful times, I have a dodgy ankle and can mostly only do minimal distances each day, about 6 or 7 miles, because it gets too inflamed to continue. (I have sometimes done longer and really paid for it!) So it would take me a bit under two weeks to do the full Ridgeway. Due to COVID I don't know if I'll ever be back to the UK but I just got the wish tonight to experience the wonderful country walking and wild camping vicariously and your video was perfect.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comment, it helps to think of such comments when walking because sometimes (when tired) I do think can I be bothered to film. Hope you get be here soon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. I was a bit concerned about your back pain but relieved to see you not only finished the walk but did it with an apparent spring in your step. I’m sure the bacon sarnie and coffee (always an excellent combo) might have helped. And the observation about the chap on crutches with the arthritic dog made me laugh out extremely loudly. Already looking forward to your next adventure
Glad you enjoyed it, the old bloke actually ask me if he could help! I am going back to the South West Coastal Path next month, hopefully it will not be as painful.
What's not to like about Wiltshire? Thanks for the video. Tim Nottingham
Couldn't agree more!
Great video , I’m liking the tent muchly , what is it ?
It’s a six moon lunar solo, there is a video review of it on the channel. Glad you liked the video.
@@JonathanDowe thanks for the reply , have walked the Ridgeway umpteen times so knew every blade of grass as you walked along , it was like visiting an old friend :)
Hello Jonathon, I've just watched this video, you done a great job filming and explaining the journey and you physical barriers. Can I ask, if you were to do it again, what would you change? Mileage per day? What items to leave out of your pack to reduce weight? How did you treat your sore and blistered feet, what did you use? What advice would you give to someone wanting to attempt the walk? Thanks in advance for taking time to read and reply, I appreciate your time. Well done 👍🏻
Hello Ivor, happy to help. I do walks of this length quite often and am always changing bits here and there. I think the two biggest changes I have made recently are to buy meals on route, it reduces pack weight and tastes so much better than the dehydrated meals and means I have a more of a snack in the evening. The second change is I am a convert to guide books, helps see stuff I would otherwise miss and helps with sorting out where I am going to by the meals (see point 1). As for mileage I have adopted a rule 20 miles or 10 hours walking in a day, normally I end up doing a few more than twenty but it work for me, I have done less but I end up setting up camp to early and I have done 32 miles in a day but would not do it again if I can avoid it. I treated my feet with compeed plasters work a treat, but just used injinja lining socks on the West Highland Way and did not get a single blister, so I will be sticking with them for a while. The Ridgeway is a lovely walk I hesitate to say it’s easy but it’s not has hard as many, take note of the water taps I mention and keep hydrated. There is the one section with chalk make sure you are aware of any hot spots on your feet and sort them quickly (I didn’t). Enjoy, when are you thinking of doing it.
@@JonathanDowe thanks for you advice. I am planning to tackle it next weekend, I purchased 'Walking The Ridgeway' handbook by Cicerone, it's very informative. I see that most walkers do the trail in Four or five days, I have the luxury of having no time limits and will try to enjoy each day with breaks between dawn and dusk. Hoping the weather is favourable but I have all the necessary gear to cope with all weathers
@@titanicicaproduction sound like you are sorted, I have used those guides and found them good. The luxury of time is a wonderful thing, enjoy.
@@JonathanDowe thanks 👍🏻
@@JonathanDowe just another quick question please Jonathon, is a map and compass essential for this journey?
I've enjoyed your video & will take onboard the lack of water in parts. I have already completed half the walk from Goring to Ivinghoe & will be taking on the second half later this year... I'm comfortable with filtering water so I'll keep my eye open for animal troughs... Did you plan your wild camp spots or just free style along the way ??
Thanks for the comments, I use google maps and os map to identify good camping spots based on how far I think I will walk. It pays to look for a couple of spots, just in case the mileage is over under estimated or the spot is unsuitable. Good luck.
Hi Jonathan Can you say if the ridgeway is well signposted as i hate getting lost and having to walk back a mile our two Des
Yes it is well sign posted and the track on the ground is fairly clear, not over grown at all when I did it. Enjoy
Just an update on the back problem I had. My chiropractor suspects in compensating for my blistered foot I inflamed my joint in my pelvis and my initial tightening of my hip belt locked it in place, when I released the hip belt it began to sort itself out. Interestingly he did advise if it had been a back problem tightening the hip belt would have been a good idea. No problems now, except a stretching of my iliotibial band on the outside of my right leg caused by leaning to the left, this will sort itself out with time and massaging.
Hi do you remember the water points
OnLy as much as I show in the video, what info are you after?
A map with where the water points are so I could plan where and when I need water
@@TheBridget1953 sorry it would have been a good idea but did not think of it at the time. The video is in order so should give you an idea of the locations.
Not sure of your white horse date 1827 thought the one near the Ridgeway dated from the late Bronze Age
The one I mention in the video is at Hackpen Hill and I was wrong with 1827 it was actually 1838 for the coronation of Queen Victoria. Are you thinking of the one at Dragon Hill, there are a few in the area.?