Hackpen White Horse
Hackpen White Horse
7.3 miles
Route - (Select Satellite view) and here is a Word File for easy printing (thanks to Carl Zalek)
Car Parking. For those starting this leg please drop off your runner or park either on the side of the road along Post Office Lane or on the grass opposite The Barbury Inn. The proprietor has agreed that we can use his car park for those finishing the previous stage or, of course, if you are a customer.
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.
Beware the Horse jump
(really to stop vehicles)
There was still snow here
at the end of January
...
You are aiming
towards those
trees on the horizon.
On the back of this gate
you can see these signs.
Here you join another track
...
...
Keep straight on here
...
...
Go through this gate
and continue straight up the hill
until
you can see
this gate
...
Keep straight on.
If you were to turn round this is
the view you would see.
Up we go
towards
another gate
where you meet the Ridgeway.
Turn right and follow the track
Continue past the small wood
(Yes, the sun went down!)
until you reach
a 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.
Hackpen Hill White Horse, OS reference: SU 128 749
Cross this road with care, there should be 4 marshals here.
Continue on the Ridgeway on the opposite side of the Hackpen Hill road from the car park.
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 may not be a marshal here.
The White Horse Trail bears left and
the Ridgeway bears right.
Follow the White Horse Trail
which is poorly marked
and
the waymark's fairly small and few.
(Snow in February!)
Follow this track
as it bears right
and soon crosses
a road.
Continue along the grassy trail
...
You will soon enter
a wood.
...
The trail ...
... through the wood ...
... is difficult to follow.
Notice these stones.
The trees begin to open up
and you should soon see this gate.
Here you can just see the WHT sign
On your right this pond was frozen in February
... and this track was muddy!
You soon come out
of this wood
and follow the track through
this meadow.
Continue straight
between these trees
until you come to another gate.
...
Turn left
for fifty yards
This was lying on the ground when I passed.
and then turn right.
Follow this road next to the riding
circuit
...
...
and past this entrance.
Bear right at the next junction
and
keep following
the road
until you reach
a car parking lot.
Cross this (diagonally) on to a road
on the left and then bear right on to
the tarmac road.
...
...
...
...
Pass the Barton and Fyfield Yards
and the road...
... begins to twist and go downhill.
You are now approaching
the village of Manton.
Turn left
here
(View if you turn round)
and run uphill
...
...
...
Finish here.
If you now continue down this path you will reach the Bath Road (A4).
Parking at the end of the leg is in the car park of Marlborough College's Water Meadow car park (near the Memorial Hall). Do not use the Parade ground. A marshal will be there to help you park your car neatly. Cross the A4 (there are pedestrian lights). Alternatively it is a 2 km walk to the Figgins Lane public car park.
The Marlborough White Horse (SU 14 749) is situated behind Marlborough College.
The Marlborough White Horse
can be seen from the A4 road.
