Ridgeway I, Uffington White Horse

Ridgeway II, Wiltshire

Ridgeway III, Oxfordshire

Ridgeway IV, The Manger, Vale of White Horse

Ridgeway V, Buckinghamshire

Ridgeway VI. Chilterns

Ridgeway VII
Wiltshire

Ridgeway VIII
Wiltshire

Ridgeway IX
Wiltshire

Ridgeway X, Wiltshire

Ridgeway XI, Wiltshire

Ridgeway XII, Chilterns

Ridgeway XIII, Oxfordshire

Ridgeway XIV, Oxfordshire

Ridgeway XV, Oxfordshire

Ridgeway XVI, Wiltshire

Ridgeway XVII, Buckinghamshire

Ridgeway XVIII, Chilterns

Ridgeway XIX, Chilterns

Ridgeway XX, Chilterns

“Momently clinging to the things we knew — Friends , footpaths, hedges, house and animals. Till bourne along like twigs and bits of straw we sink below the sliding stream of time.”
John Betjeman, On leaving Wantage, 1972

A photo series made along the Ridgeway, England’s oldest road, during a 6 day walk in September 2013 backpacking and wild camping where possible along the 87 miles from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon. Most of the photos were taken with a 400mm telephoto lens more commonly used for sports and wildlife photography in order to isolate graphic elements in the distant landscape.

For at least 5000 years travellers have used the Ridgeway. Originally connected to the Dorset coast, the Ridgeway provided a reliable trading route to The Wash in Norfolk. The high dry ground made travel easy and provided a measure of protection by giving traders a commanding view, warning against potential attacks.

This photo series was conceived of as a follow-on project from my walk along the Thames last year Sweet Thames, run softly till I end my song.