Public Transport for The Ridgeway
One of the joys of walking The Ridgeway is the relative remoteness and the absence of motorised vehicles, like cars and buses. Ironically, that can also be a blessed nuisance when you need to get to or from one of the surrounding towns. On this page, we're listing the public transport we're aware of. If you know of any more, please let us know.
If there is no suitable bus service, or you would prefer a taxi, please try one of the local taxi firms.
Please note: Most of the following links are to timetables on other sites which might be slow to load, or change without us noticing. Links to timetables are being updated as we find new ones. If you do find any broken links, or out-of-date timetables, we'll be grateful for the feedback.
Bus stops closest to The Sanctuary in Ogbourne St.George:
Arriving by bus? Ask for the bus stop at the Marlborough end of the village, we are about 50 yards (or 50 metres) from the stop. The bus stop location codes (and links for live bus times) are from Bus Times.
Stagecoach service 80 from Swindon to Ludgershall, For Route 80, just outside The Sanctuary (in the village)
Going north to Swindon (opposite side to phone box): 4600WIA12931 Going south to Marlborough (by old phone box): 4600WIA12930
The Salisbury Reds (was Wilts and Dorset) Route X5 from Swindon or Pewsey. This route stops on the village by-pass, and does not come through the village itself. From the bus stop on the A346, it is a five minute walk.
For route X5, on the main road (A346)
Going north to Swindon (Bus shelter) : 4600WIA12936 Going south to Marlborough and Salisbury (Downs Golf Club): 4600WIA12935
Marlborough to Bedwyn railway station :
Marlborough railway station closed 60 years ago, but there is a connecting bus to Bedwyn railway station for trains to Newbury, Reading and London.
Route 20 (Marlborough - Bedwyn - Hungerford)
or
Route 22 - Marlborough - Bedwyn
Marlborough to Avebury and Overton Hill:
The Route 42 bus (Calne - Marlborough, via Avebury)
run :
* Mondays to Saturdays (except Public Holidays)
* NOT on Sundays
For Overton Hill, get off at the West Kennett Telephone Box stop. Then walk 600m east alongside the A4 to Overton Hill, then turn north onto the official "Ridgeway". Or cross the A4, walk 2Km south and join the eastern-end of the Wessex Ridgeway, and walk west all the way to Lyme Regis.
Stonehenge:
The Route X5 bus is the best option for public transport to Stonehenge, getting off the bus at Amesbury Sub Station or the next stop Amesbury, near Countess Services. Then walk to Stonehenge via Half Moon Clump and Old King Barrows.
Please note: as far as we know this service does not run on Sundays. We're not sure about the Henge Hopper either (Avebury-Stonehenge shuttle service). It seems to have disappeared. At Stonehenge Visitors Centre, there is a Salisbury - Stonehenge shuttle bus.
Foxhill:
There are two bus stop for Routes 46, 48, or X48 between Swindon and Marlborough or Hungerford. Foxhill Shepherds Rest (NE-bound) or Foxhill Shepherds Rest (SW-bound)
Bishopstone and Ashbury:
These villages are on the Swindon - Lambourne route 47. The same route has a bus stop 340002013RWN where the B4000 road crosses The Ridgeway path. For a rail connection, get the bus to Swindon, which goes roughly every two hours, Monday to Saturday. Please note: no service on Sunday.
From Uffington Castle and the White Horse, the best bet for public transport on a Monday to Saturday is the bus from Ashbury to Swindon. i.e. walk the 4Km (2.5 miles) back down into Ashbury and wait for the bus by the Rose & Crown pub.
Sparsholt Firs, Letcombe Bassett and eastwards:
The two B&Bs at Sparsholt Firs (Hill Barn and Down Barn Farm) are on the uplands away from villages. The most regular buses are from Wantage Market Place which is an extra 6Km's walk. e.g. X32/32A from Wantage to Didcot Parkway.
If you're waiting for a bus in Wantage in the Market Place, the King Alfred's Head (Bar and Bistro) is a nice place to wait. They will (by arrangment) accept bags for people who are walking the Ridgeway, if you stop there for lunch.
Further east:
West Ilsley and West Ilsley
A bus to Newbury that goes via West Ilsley, adjacent to All Saints Church and East Ilsley, near Church Hill
Goring and Streatley