Discover the next story in our journey along the prehistoric Ridgeway Trail with Genista Astell and Eliza Ader.
Many of the public footpaths in Britain we enjoy for leisure today have been in use for thousands of years. They are integral to the deep historical connection with landscape we all carry with us. Prehistoric trackways, like the Ridgeway, were trodden by traders and travellers who followed the natural contours of hills and valleys before the days of hedges and fences. The Romans built roads which cut straight across that landscape, still primarily used for walking. The Anglo-Saxons created villages and towns with footpaths linked each to another. Public footpaths are in our social DNA.
Many of these pathways are now protected by law and marked on our maps as public rights of way. However, there are thousands of miles of paths which have been lost and hidden from view. The Ramblers are on a mission to discover them before it’s too late. Find out about their Don’t Lose Your Way campaign here.
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