The Wansdyke and Ridgeway Downs
The Wansdyke network extends across the chalk ridge country around Marlborough and Savernake Forest in Wiltshire. The Kennet valley and the Vale of Pewsey run east-west across the network area, with canals, lush watermeadows and pretty villages. The Downs on either side are a complete contrast. You ride along escarpments with wonderful views over Swindon and the flatter country to the north. The downs are littered with ancient earthworks, sarsen stones and Bronze Age barrows and, in the west of the network, you can ride through Avebury stone circle, which is 5,000 years old.

The going is generally good with long, grassy canters over the downs, which contrast with gentle farmland and hidden valleys. Although there are some hills, the going is not too challenging, and there aren't many gates.

2, 3 and 4-day place to place rides back-to-start plus a choice of 2 one-centre holidays with 3 "petal" or day rides each. All but one host have stables, and the area is good for mountain biking. The Wansdyke and Ridgeway Downs networks are sub-divided by the M4, and you can combine them to make a linear ride of up to 6 days, but you can't ride back to start.
The photo above left shows Bobbie and Herbie from Bridle Rides by Ramsbury Manor, and the one below it is of them on Sugar Hill, an all-time great canter. The photos below were taken in Hippenscombe Bottom and on the Wayfarers Walk, scenery which is typical of the chalk downs in the south of the network.
The Ridgeway Downs is further north and east, extending from the open chalk downs around Lambourn eastwards across Berkshire and south Oxfordshire towards Didcot and the A34. There's a lot of open downland dotted with racehorse gallops, and there are wonderful views from the Ridgeway Path, which runs along the northern edge of the network, over the Vale of White Horse. The bulk of the network area is to the south of the Ridgeway, and mainly comprises of secluded chalk valleys and arable farming country. The hills are fairly gentle and there are almost no gates, so it's a great starter network for first-time bridle riders - although the long canters will suit experienced ones too!
We are currently looking for a new host near Didcot, and until we find someone suitable, there's just a 2-day place to place ride back to start and a one-centre holiday with 3 petal or day-rides. Both hosts have stables, and you can combine the petal and place to place rides to make up to 4 riding days. You can also combine the Ridgeway Downs and Wansdyke networks if you want a longer linear ride (not back to start).
You may have seen the Icelandic ponies in the photo above right, which is typical of the Ridgeway Downs at harvest-time on some of our adverts