Would everyone who recce's this route be kind enough to send a report of the accuracy of the description and map back to the organisers or 01225 708 432
7.2 miles
It leaves the White Horse Trail towards the end of the leg and follows the road to the finish.
Route - (Select Satellite view) - See this stage as a virtual run
Car Parking. Runners should be dropped off at the start of this stage. If drivers really wish to stay here for more than 5 minutes, please don't park in the Barbury Inn Car Park unless, of course, you are a customer as there is only enough room for those waiting for runners from the previous stage.
Warn runners that there might be a small horse jump across the footpath (to stop traffic using the track)
This route has been rewaymarked and should be a lot easier to follow than last year.
Starting from the Barbury Inn keep straight along this track at the side of the fields until you reach a gate. Continue up the hill, now grass, bearing very slightly left until you see a stile at the top. Turn right on to the Ridgeway Track. Continue past the small wood on your right until you reach the car park.
This is Hackpen Hill and the White Horse can be seen behind another clump of trees on the right on the other side of the road.
Ordnance Survey reference: SU 128 749
Look before crossing. Do not run across this road regardless. Think how a driver would feel for the rest of his life if he killed you.
Take care crossing this road. Marshals will be required here.
The track is good and predominantly downhill. However running down the Ridgeway is so enjoyable that the marker (after 1.2 miles) for the White Horse Trail is easily missed. There will not be a marshal here, so study the route well beforehand. The White Horse Trail bears left and the Ridgeway bears right. Follow the White Horse Trail which was re-waymarked this July.
Run along the track as it bears right and soon crosses a road. Continue along the grassy track opposite and not along the road. Follow the grassy trail. You will soon enter a wood. The trail through the wood is difficult to follow. You should pass between some rocks (see the virtual run) before the trees begin to open up.
Now you will see a gate in front of you with a description of the area and on the left of the gate you will see a blue White Horse Trail disc. Continue. As you come out of the wood there is another gate which leads into a meadow where, in February, there were a lot of sheep grazing (see photos).
Continue along this track until you come to another gate and some hardcore roads.
The White Horse Trail links up with route 4 of the Wiltshire cycleway.
Turn left after the gate and run for about fifty yards before turning right and then down a road parallel to a race track. Follow this road for about one and a half miles until you reach a Parking lot.
Cross this parking area diagonally (through the trees). Take the tarmac road to the right. At the next junction BEAR RIGHT. Do not continue straight ahead into the road marked PRIVATE.
Stay on this road as you continue downhill and approach the village of Manton.
On your left you will see a small letter box, a sign and a road called Manton Hollow. Turn left up Manton Hollow and follow the road to the finish of this stage.
If you now continue down this road, and then left into a track, you will reach the Bath Road (A4).
The next stage starts the other side of the A4 at the beginning of Preshute Lane. Cross the A4 (there are pedestrian lights), go down Bridge Street and turn left into Preshute Lane.
Description of this stage with photos | List of all the stages of this Relay Race