Latest news with #Uffington
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK's oldest road that's 87-miles long and was used by people 5,000 years ago
The Ridgeway National Trail is Britain's oldest road, and dates back to over 5,000 years ago. The 87-mile prehistoric track was used by travellers, shepherds and warriors Touted as Britain's oldest road, the Ridgeway National Trail is a timeworn path that has witnessed over 5,000 years of footsteps. Starting at the World Heritage Site in Avebury, Wiltshire, this prehistoric track spans 87 miles and culminates at Ivinghoe Beacon, known for its breathtaking vistas in the Chiltern Hills. The trail not only offers a walk through history but also guides explorers past an array of remarkable sites, from Neolithic tombs to the folkloric Uffington White Horse, and diverse habitats like Barbury Castle, Wallingford Castle, and even the whimsical Pitstone Windmill. The Sanctuary, dating back to about 2500 BC with its original configuration of wooden posts and stones connected to Avebury, is now indicated with concrete markers denoting where these structures once stood. National Trails revealed the longstanding significance of the trail by stating: "For, at least 5,000 years and maybe many more, people, including drovers, traders and invaders, have walked or ridden The Ridgeway." They further explained: "As part of a prehistoric track, once stretching about 250 miles (400 Km) from the Dorset coast to the Wash on the Norfolk coast, it provided a route over the high ground for travellers which was less wooded and drier than routes through the springline villages below." Currently, the storied path is a favoured spot for hikers, runners, cyclists, and horse riders, drawn by both its natural splendour and its deep historical roots, reports the Express. The Ridgeway National Trail, spanning an impressive 87 miles across the English countryside, is teeming with history and stunning landscapes. Two unparalleled Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – the North Wessex Downs and The Chilterns – beckon explorers along this divided six-section path known for its breathtaking scenery from West of the River Thames to the enchanting East. The trail boasts awe-inspiring vistas of open downland, secluded tracks, and a treasure trove of historical sites in the West, while walkers can indulge in the scenic beauty of wooded valleys, flourishing nature reserves, and idyllic villages in The Chilterns. TripAdvisor user Louise Head shared her experience, saying: "The walk to see Wayland Smithy is so worth it. It is a beautiful place so atmospheric. "The walk up too White Horse hill is a lovely walk thoroughly recommend it." Another hiker from Aberdeen marvelled at the ancient connection, writing: "The Ridgeway follows an 87 mile long route used since prehistoric times by travellers and herdsmen. "It's amazing to think you're treading in the footsteps of our ancient ancestors." One more trekker added: "The trail runs from Overton Hill to Ivinghoe Beacon, but of course you don't have to walk it all! We walked a section in the Chilterns, and midweek it was very quiet. It's a well signposted route offering lovely views over rolling countryside." A TripAdvisor user from Exeter shared their experience: "Myself and a friend rode the full length of the ridgeway, starting in West Kennet and picking up the Swan way and Icknield way riders route east of Streatley where the Ridgeway itself becomes a footpath. "We averaged 18 - 20 miles per day which was a nice easy pace allowing time for sightseeing. "Our total mileage was 103. It is a lovely ride with stunning scenery and little roadwork. We found horse friendly B&B's along the route which meant we had to carry less gear. Highly recommend!"
The Independent
20-04-2025
- The Independent
Intercity rail adventures
'Earphones off, put your phones away.' The railway staff in high-visibility jackets were serious about safety. They were evacuating hundreds of travellers from one stricken train to another. And that required barking instructions to passengers so they had no distractions from the task ahead. Maundy Thursday had ended an hour earlier. The day before Good Friday is always one of the busiest on Britain's railways. Besides the usual commuter traffic, plenty of travellers make long-distance journeys to their Easter destination. Many of them were wisely seeking to dodge the Network Rail engineering projects that temporarily gum up parts of the network. The 7.35pm from Exeter via Bristol to London Paddington was fairly full as it pulled out from Swindon for the final stretch to the capital. But close to the ancient Uffington white horse, the GWR train struck an unfortunate animal that had strayed onto the tracks. I happened to be chatting to the train manager at the time. Our conversation, like the train, came to an abrupt halt. 'That was a sudden stop,' he said, and went off to investigate. The collision left the train damaged and unable to continue. The train manager did a sterling job in keeping passengers informed while Network Rail staff were summoned and logistics for an evacuation put in place. Another train was fetched from a depot and parked alongside our own. I have never experienced moving from one train to another before. I envisaged that some specially designed footbridges would be deployed, each rather like a ship's gangway, from one doorway to another. In fact, the passengers had to make their way down a metal step ladder to the track ballast. 'Give your bag to the man there,' we were told. 'Turn around and climb down the ladder.' Three railway staff were on the ground to assist passengers as they climbed down one ladder and up another. Bulky luggage up to and including a bicycle was transferred across, too. As you can imagine, this performance took some time. Everyone arrived in London four hours late, in the early hours of Good Friday. We were lucky: some passengers suffered a delay twice as long. The 6.30pm from London King's Cross set off for the northbound journey to Edinburgh Waverley shortly before a lineside fire broke out at Knebworth, near Stevenage, which closed the East Coast main line. Passengers sat and stewed for five hours before the line reopened. The LNER train valiantly continued north. It reached Doncaster still five hours late – just in time for a Network Rail engineering train to break down ahead, blocking the line. When that obstruction was finally cleared, the train had to travel slowly through North Yorkshire because of an engineering 'possession' of the fast line. A sunrise that no one on board had planned to see happened as the train called at Alnmouth in Northumberland around 6am. Eventually, the train arrived in the Scottish capital at 7.15am – just two minutes before the Caledonian Sleeper, which had taken the West Coast main line, turned up from London Euston. Both these extreme delays were tough for passengers, but even more difficult for the railway staff who worked through the night to get everyone safely to their destinations. Good work. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you
