These routes are still under revision, the number of stages has been reduced to ten but the total distance remains the same.
10 miles
Route - (Select Satellite view) - See this stage as a virtual run
Park either in the Car Park off Port Way at the top of the White Horse, reached by going up Castle Road from Bratton, or park in the smaller car park on Bratton Road near the starting point for the relay.
This stage is mainly cross country although the start is on road. It passes through West Ashton, Steeple Ashton, Keevil and finishes in Bulkington.
The route follows the White Horse Trail with the exception of the first part due to the danger and difficulty of crossing the railway line. One person has been killed on this crossing so we have decided to avoid it and to cross the line using the Trowbridge Road.
There may be cattle in the Manor Farm fields in Steeple Ashton - don't try to frighten them.
This stage is characterised by old wooden stiles hidden in hedgerows.
Start at ST 884 516, the Parking place for the White Horse on Bratton Road.
Run along the track below the Bratton Road for approximately 3 km, called the Lower Westbury Road.
For a long time you can see the Westbury White Horse on your right.
You should see a golf course and also some Alpacas on your left.
As you reach the village you will pass Rosenheim Rise on the right.
At the junction bear left on to Trowbridge Road and continue along this road until you pass
over the railway bridge.
Turn immediately left onto Capps Lane, a quiet road, and follow this.
(In May this sign had fallen over, so may not be obvious).
The road bends slightly left.
A bit further on look for footpath markers crossing the road including the WHT sign
(blue and white discs saying White Horse Trail
).
Cross the stile on the right and continue straight ahead across the fields keeping the big trees slightly to your right. Aim for the gap in the hedge to the left of the tall tree. Continue straight across, your next target being another big tree with a gate set in the hedge. Keep going along this next field, keeping the hedge to your right until you come to another gate. Pass through and continue into the next field. Run until you reach a big gate and a road.
Turn right along the road (Bratton Road) and continue along it on the left hand side until it starts to bear right.
A marshal will be required here.
Turn left at the footpath sign on the corner and follow the footpath to the left around the field. Turn right at the top of the field and then take the next left and follow the track up and across the next two fields. Here you will meet a track. Continue straight on up the hill to East Town Farm.
After the farm buildings turn right and follow a winding track which proceeds on down hill to a junction of tracks. Turn left here along the track. Follow this track. Cross a bridge (a couple of planks) and continue along the track. Follow the footpath and the track across the field. At the end of the field you should see a sign. Turn right here and follow the lane. Turn right into Butts Lane which will take you into Steeple Ashton.
Turn left into the High Street.
A marshal will be required here and there will be a water point.
Turn right into Church Street. Just before the Church there is a pathway on the left marked
Wiltshire County Council, Public Footpath
. Turn left here and go past the churchyard to the end
of the wall. Go through the kissing gate marked with the WHT sign and continue round the churchyard wall.
At the end of the churchyard wall go through a gap and bear right to a new gate marked WHT.
Go through this and immediately, on your left, is another new gate marked Mid Wilts Way
and Wiltshire County Council, Public Footpath
. Go through this and diagonally (right)
across the next field aiming for the trees in the corner to the gate.
Continue across the next field (you are near the right hand end of it) to another gate.
Go over the small bridge to a kissing gate and you will see a post marked with the WHT sign.
Follow the track to the end of the next field. At the end there is a spinney. Do NOT turn right through the gate which is not part of the White Horse Trail but carry straight on. You will see an old large gate in front of you. Next to this is a small new gate marked WHT. Go through this and continue along the edge of the spinney for about 50 yards before turning right through a kissing gate also marked WHT. The farmer has very kindly cleared the nettles.
At this time of year parts of the route can be heavily infested with sting nettles and thistles. Also beware that there can be temporary electric fences restricting grazing cattle in fields on the route. Gardeners probably know that nettles flower from May to September!
Go back along the other side of the spinney before turning left towards Keevil at the sign WHT.
At the end of this field pass through a gate marked Mid Wilts Way
and along a track.
At the end of the track you continue along the edge of a field to a wooden kissing gate marked WHT,
then along a narrow track to another wooden kissing gate marked WHT and into a field.
Keep the hedge on your left until you come to a metal kissing gate marked WHT.
Go diagonally across the field to a metal gate marked WHT. Cross the bridge and enter the churchyard of Keevil Church. Go straight through, bear left and you will come to the main street.
This is Keevil.
Turn right on to Main Street and follow it as it turns left and then bends slowly to the right. Keep to the right hand side of the road. Do not use the footpath as, at the end of it, you would have to cross the road once again. After the last house on your left the road turns sharply left again. Here you will see a track going straight on. Follow this track. At the end you pass briefly on to another road (Wick Bridge) which comes from the left. Keep straight on into the field opposite. Go straight across this and the next field and into a third field. Follow a track towards the corner of a housing estate.
See the virtual run for the points to aim for. The tracks had been obliterated when I recce'd this stage: Towards the right hand side of the first field you should see a gap in the hedge where there is a stile. Cross this. In the next field you should see two tall trees. In these you should see a stile in the hedge. Cross this. In the corner of the next field there is another group of trees and in these there is another stile. Cross this and then the bridge to your left.
As you reach the last field by the housing estate there is a stile half-way up the field passing between the houses.
This is Bulkington.
Turn left to exit the housing estate and, at the end of The Close, turn right onto the main road through the village. Go through the village, pass Wickleaze Lane on the left and the pub (now called 'The Well') opposite it. A bit further on turn right into Mill Lane. Continue for half a mile. There is a farm (Leaze Farm) on your right and then a house. The finish of this stage is in the field on the right just pass the farm buildings. (Opposite there are signs for a public way)
Philip Coles, the owner of this land, has kindly given permission to finish here.
This stage does not continue to the start of the next stage at the foot of the Caen Locks due to the fast moving traffic on the Seend to Worton road.
You are 2 miles from Bath Road, the A361, Seend Hill/Caen Hill which is the start of the next stage.
Route by car to follow this stage.
Description of this stage with photos | List of all the stages of this Relay Race
