The Ridgeway Mystery: You NEVER knew!

Welcome to this weeks video which takes a look at how Doggerland and how the shrinking ice during the Mesolithic may have influence the Ridgeway and its formation. We also take a look at the Great Chalk Way. A new route lauched in October 2024, combining some pre existing national trails and pathways. The route is 400 miles long and takes you from The Wash all the way to Lyme Regis.

*To be very clear, the views represented in this video by me, are indeed my own little theory and do not nessecarily those represented by others in the video. I mean.... they might be, but I didn't ask*

Join this channel to get access to perks:

Videos To Watch Next:

Usual notices:
1. We are not historians. We enjoy researching and learning, and with that we enjoy sharing our journeys with you. That said, sources for information often listed below with credits.
2. Corrections. Whilst we make every attempt to not include any errors, research, and piecing stories together from dozens of sources sometimes leads to one or two. I will note here if any are found:

Errors
1. My graphics always need improvement, so the examples shown of the maps from doggerland are essentially me drawing them, and not intended to be wholey accurate.

Credit and thanks for assets

Filter: Snowman Digital and Beachfront
B-Roll Maps: Google Maps and Google Earth Studio
Maps: National Library of Scotland Maps:
OS Maps. Media License.
Stock Footage: Storyblocks
Music: Storyblocks, epidemicsound and artlist

Credit for images/footage:

Doggerland 1: Francis Lime
Doggerland 2: Vincent Gaffney
Graphs and images undersea: Vincent Gaffney
Barbed antler spear: Norwich castle musuem
Iron Age drawing: Bill Nicholls

Chapters:
00:00 - The Problem
01:38 - The Ridgeway
02:56 - The Great Chalk Way
04:36 - The Evidence
07:00 - The Theory
10:28 - Avebury and Sanctuary

Sources:

#GreatChalkWay #ridgeway

[MaryAnnOchota]

thank you for capturing the launch event! here's to 400 miles of wandering and wondering about who walked first, and why...

[AMANDA-pvp]

I live in Avebury and can see the Ridgeway from my window. I have just discovered your videos and am loving them xx

[edwardbates]

From Gatlinburg, Tennessee and love this Channel. It allows me to visit the geography and history of Southern England without leaving the beauty of the Smokies. I appreciate the way Paul and Rebecca keep the videos short and concise and "flash" pictures of informational park signs which can be paused and read in full as if you were entering that historic area for a day hike. Thank you!

[JonnoPlays]

You keep posting content about Doggerland, and I'll keep watching it.

[CJLloyd]

Oh man, three videos on Doggerland dropping on the same day?! You, History with Kayleigh and Miniminuteman! Amazing. I'd love to see you link up with the other two in some way.

[Alsarcade]

I live on the ridgeway near the White Horse pub and I’ve always wondered where the path started and where it could ended up.
Makes sense if it’s that old it could have been a longer path connecting us with mainland Europe.
Great video always.

[gudbo]

I first learned about doggerland in timeteam many years ago, and still I find it the most fascinating episode, and I still find doggerland one the most interesting historical stories I’m always fascinated when some new stuff appears

[DavidRMason]

Your broadcasts make Sunday evenings so enjoyable. Thanks.

[telebubba]

The last real remaining bit of Doggerland is in my opinion the Netherlands, which has always fought the sea and only exists because of hundreds of years of building dikes and polders. Half the country would be under water, if not for them. The 'fight' continues to this day and it will never end.

[NorfolkNomad-UK]

Another great video, I think not being formally trained in history has the advantage of looking at things in a different way, coming up with alternative theories and points of view.

[shannonhalford]

Paul, that was a wonderful way to remind everyone, when we are walking, we are walking on the ground, that those that came before us did....wouldn't it be glorious for other " great finds " along the enthusiasm by all involved....I'm NY 1962 Toms very British/Brazilian future wife MD, Veteran, Middle East & Cont. of Africa

[thepagan]

I used to run along the Wiltshire Ridgeway with my Welsh Border Collie most Sundays. Lovely views, especially looking down on Avebury and along the Ridgeway towards Banbury Castle. We, as a family, would explore the more unvisited historical places in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, fantastic history governing all these places. Good post 👍

[edwardbates]

This excellent snapshot of a British prehistory journey way and possible migration route out of Doggerland during the final phase of the last Ice Age ties that long-lost territory to some of our ancestors whose DNA we probably still carry today! The Great Chalk Way is not only a journey across the UK, it is a passageway from 6, 200 BCE to the present. Brilliant!

[jonpowell]

When I used to manage Dunstable Downs I often thought of walking to either the North Norfolk Coast or Avebury or both. I really should have.... Great video.

[simonaeldred]

Thanks for bringing this together Paul. Fascinating, what a time of change they saw in the time of Doggerland and the coming of the wave. Ivinghoe Beacon was my childhood stomping ground.

[ajay-xjs]

Having walked the current Ridgeway, it's obvious it originally extended further east and west so this new project linking it to Doggerland is fascinating. Excellent video as always, loving the channel from Alberta Canada

[StozySco]

Didn't expect to see my Storegga deposits photo on YouTube this evening. Good memories as a geography student wandering about Montrose Basin.

[paulinehedges]

Paul thus channel never fails to deliver new information and suggestions for more research. Thank you. This was particularly interesting.
😊😊😊
😊😊😊

[NCMPLY]

It's not even a Sunday if I don't get my Whitewick fix.
Thanks for another fascinating video. Your voice is becoming the Attenborough narration of British cultural history.

[AFCManUk]

Love the Ridgeway.
Have walked the parts between Ivinghoe Beacon (Beacon Hill), Wendover and Princes Risborough many times :)