The Ridgeway is the oldest road in the UK and has been in use for over 5000 years and it is believed to have been an ancient trading route. Some scholars think it could be the oldest road in Europe, and maybe up to 10 000 years old. The term road is misleading as it's actually a dirt/gravel/flint track for the majority of it. Sections of it have been paved over in recent times but these can be avoided with a little local knowledge.

 

Along the Ridgeway as well as beautiful scenery you will find many interesting prehistoric sites such as Avebury, Weylands Smythy burial chamber, and Uffington White horse. All of which are thousands of years old. 

 

What's really interesting about the Ridgeway though, is that the people who built it had the foresight to anticipate that at some point in the future gravel bikes would be invented, and created the ideal car free environment for them to ride on. Truly amazing people!

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Think of the Ridgeway as an ancient main (gravel) road with many smaller roads/tracks sprouting off of it, allowing many miles of off road riding suitable for cross, gravel or mountain bikes.