WAY52:
The RidgeWAY Challenge – 52Km in 1 day
17th April 2027
Get ready for this super charity challenge, which will lead you along the Kennet and Avon Canal, the White Horse Trail and the chalky tops of the Ridgeway and finally home to the charity base in Swindon. To that end, we invite you to lace up your shoes and take on this inspiring adventure, all the while supporting the wonderful charity, WAY; Swindon’s young person-led charity that seeks to deliver high impact, sustainable projects for children and young people, resulting in lasting positive change.
Who Can Take Part?
Whether you’re a seasoned walker or taking on your first big challenge, this walk is for everyone offering people the options to run, walk or just take it easy and see how far you get. Even if you have never walked anything like this sort of distance before, we implore you to take part and give it a try. (If it helps, there will be a support vehicle on call throughout the event).
On the day …
With a start time of 0915 for walkers and 1130 for runners, we will meet outside Melksham Railway Station where we will check your details and maybe following a team picture, the day will begin! As you work out your own best pace, groups will form dynamically in the first few miles. Along the way we will have support stops offering water and snacks, and later around halfway we will offer you a bacon butties and a hot brew for lunch. (Naturally vegetarian options will be available). With good preparation, a positive outlook and a bit of luck, this challenge might just be attainable!
Should the task become just untenable, we will also have a support vehicle on hand to magic you back to Swindon.
Take part as a marshal
Not keen to walk your socks off? We get that. If you want to help make this day a great success, please take a look at this page and volunteer some time to be a marshal. No superhuman skills required, just the ability to drive to a location, and offer some support. You’re help will be mightily appreciated!
The Route
The route is linear and will start at Melksham Railway Station and leads you through 52Km which weaves its way out of Melksham, along the Kennet and Avon canal, past Devizes, up to the heights of the White Horse Trail and finally along the Ridgeway, heading north to Swindon. It follows public footpaths, bridleways, and byways, and a few minor roads too. It is beautifully scenic, but no especially steep hills!
Why 52Km? 52Km for the 52,000 children and young people in Swindon.
A GPX file for the complete route can be downloaded here
See the route on GoogleMyMaps here
Download written route-card for the whole route here
Please remember this is a fundraising challenge too …
This is an exclusive event to raise funds for WAY and all participants will have a target to raise £500. Participant spaces on this event are limited and so only individuals committed to raising funds should book on. WAY reserves the right to cancel any bookings in the event that no reasonable endeavours have been made to raise funds. After booking on this event, each participant will be allocated a personal JustGiving fundraising page and will be contacted by WAY who will offer support on how best to raise funds.
Why get behind WAY?
WAY are Swindon’s young person-led charity that delivers high impact, sustainable projects for children and young people, resulting in lasting positive change.
What do I need to bring?
A long day on the trail can require you to have some suitable kit to get you through the journey. Below are some guidelines, and upon booking we will send you a full set of details including a kit list.
Essential
Small day-sack, lined with a waterproof dry-bag/sack
Waterproof coat
Suitable hat for the conditions on the day plus gloves (two pairs if it’s raining)
Comfortable footwear (boots, trainers, shoes – whatever works best for you)
Spare pair of socks
Personal 1st aid kit and personal medications, including blister kit
1.5 litres of fluids
Packed lunch plus plenty of snacking food
Fully-charged phone
Fully charged headtorch
Good to have
Walking shoes / running trainers
Walking poles
Spare socks
Legs of steel and an iron will
A nice line in conversation
Don’t bring/wear
Jeans
Cotton shirt
Wellington boots
Timberland boots
Learn more here about footwear and all things feet:
A personal first-aid kit should include any personal medication and blister plasters. More ideas of what you could be carrying in your first aid kit can be found here.
Learn more – first aid for the outdoors:
- Never be lost – What3Words app
- Recommended First Aid Kit for the Outdoors
- Five Items of Essential First Aid Kit for the Outdoors
- What to do in an Emergency Outdoors
- Heat exhaustion
- Hyponatraemia
Any more questions?
When you register for this event you will receive a set of joining instructions, but if you have any burning questions please message Will using any of the Contact Us boxes and he will be in touch.
