The Ridgeway Path is an ancient footpath that extends from Knap Hill [Map], on the south of the Avebury Plateau, or The Sanctuary [Map], to Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire [Map] - a distance of more than eighty miles following the scarp slopes. From Knap Hill [Map] the Ridgeway Path passes The Sanctuary [Map], Avebury Ridgeway Path [Map] where a path leads to the Avebury Henge East Entrance [Map], Barbury Castle [Map], Liddington Castle [Map], Wayland's Smithy Long Barrow [Map], Uffington Castle and White Horse [Map], Segsbury Camp [Map], Scutchamer Knob, Oxfordshire [Map], Goring, Oxfordshire [Map], Swyncome, Oxfordshire [Map], Chinnor, Oxfordshire [Map], Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire [Map], Boddington Hill Fort, Buckinghamshire [Map], Tring, Hertfordshire [Map], Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire [Map].

3600BC. Wayland's Smithy Long Barrow [Map] is Severn Cotswolds type in Oxfordshire on the Ridgeway Path.

It was first constructed in wood around 3570BC then as a stone monument around 3430BC.

Around 650BC. Liddington Castle [Map] is a Late Bronze Age Early Iron Age Univallate Hill Fort in Wiltshire at altitude 277m sited on a commanding high point close to the Ridgeway Path covering an area of 30000 square metres. Its first occupation dates to around the 7th Century BC. The earthworks consist of a relatively simple oval bank of timber and earth fronted by a ditch, with opposing causewayed entrances on the east and west sides.

Colt Hoare 1812. 1812. Plate X. represents the situation of the Temple at Abury, with its two extending avenues; Silbury hill [Map], the principal source of the river Kennet, the British track-way, groups of barrows, and the line of Roman road between Bath and Marlborough. This Plate may be considered as one of the most interesting views which our island can produce. It unites monuments of the earliest British and Roman antiquity, and will, I trust, convey a more correct and explicit idea of Abury and its environs, than any that has heretofore been given. The Plate No. VIII of Stukeley, is both confused and incorrect, because not drawn from actual survey.

On examining this ground plan, we perceive a degree of symmetry, of which, except upon paper, we could form no conception, nor for which could we give credit to the early Britons. We behold the grand circle placed in the centre of the picture, and the huge mount of Silbury in a line opposite to it¹. Two avenues, like wings, expand themselves to the right and left, as if to protect the hallowed sanctuary, and the holy mount. The eastern avenue, terminates with a circular temple [Map], thus distinguishing it as a place of peculiar eminence. From the winding form of this work, Dr. Stukeley has very ingeniously developed the form of a serpent, and distinguished this temple as one of that class called by the ancients Dracontia.

This plan receives additional interest by comprehending same groups of barrows, which I investigated, the principal source of the river Kennet, a small portion of the British Track-way, passing from the district of South Wiltshire, throughout the whole extent of Berkshire², and a large portion of the Roman road between Bath and Marlborough.

Note 1. Dr. Stukeley remarks that the meridian line passed through the centre of the Grand Circle, and of Silbury Hill; and on making our observations, and allowing for the variation of the compass, we find it still does the same.

Note 2. The course of this ridge-way has already been described, page 45. still does the same.