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
3.1 miles
This Start is at: Ordnance Survey reference SU 146 583
Route - (Select Satellite view) and a virtual run using photos.
Car Parking. There is plenty of room for parking along the sides of the road down which the previous stage comes. It is a cul de sac.
Start by running north westerly along the (minor) road. Just before Lower Farm, on the left, is a sign for pedestrians, however if there ever was a route through here, it is now overgrown. Go through the gate just before this sign, run towards the end of the building on the right and then along the avenue of trees bordered by a fence on the right. Continue in the same direction for 150 metres. Go through the gate. Continue straight on until you reach a wooded area on your left where you should see a stile and the WHT sign.
This stile into the woods is quite easily missed if runners have not recc'ed the route. Cross the stile here and follow the footpath through the wood to another stile.
Follow the track across the field. You should see a stream on your left - continue along the track and follow it through the trees until you come to a road.
Here there is a sign marked WHT and Manningford Church. Cross the road and continue along the track, across the stile, into a field. Keep to the left of the fence and at the corner turn left, keeping the trees on your right. Very soon you will come to a stile, cross this, and a little bridge, go through the trees to another stile and a field just in front of you. To your left there is a big tree, but in front of you at the opposite corner of the field is another very tall tree. Aim towards this. Before you reach it there is a fence in front of you and another to your left. At the junction of these fences there is a stile. Cross it and, keeping the fence to your right, run towards the trees. Bear left and continue until you reach a gate (with a stile) and a signpost (with many of its letters missing).
Go through the gate into Wick Lane. Immediately to your left there is a footpath which goes to a gate
signed Barset Farms, Private Property.
Public Footpath only. No bicycles.
Continue until you come to some buildings on your right
(Manor House & Manor Farm).
Continue along the grass track until you reach the tarmac road.
At the end bear right briefly and then left along the grass track which soon bears a little to
the right.
Continue along the grass track when you should soon see, and cross, a concrete bridge
which crosses a stream.
There is a junction of three tracks here.
Continue up the right hand track which is grassy and to the right of a fish farm. It is signposted.
To your right is a wood called Squire's Copse.
Soon you will reach another bridge near St James' Church. Continue through the churchyard until you come to a road. (This is called 'Quiet Lane'). Follow the road until you reach 'Broad Street'.
Obey the marshal's instructions.
Follow the track from this farm (Falkner's Farm) for a kilometre. You will see that the track takes a right turn here, don't follow it but bear slightly left, that is take the left fork, along a grassy lane (muddy in January and still quite muddy in May!) for another kilometre.
When you reach the village (Charlton St Peter) continue straight ahead up the farm track to a stile. Run up the slope to another stile.
In May, the last field before the pub car park had an electric fence in it to control the lambs, but it is easy to step over before running up the slope.
The finish of this stage is at the car park for the Charlton Cat.
Description of this stage with photos | List of all the stages of this Relay Race