White Horse Historical Tour Sunday 10th May 2009

Nearly May, so time to visit a few of the Historical sites/sights around Wiltshire.

Uffington White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/uffington.html

Barbury Castle http://www.swindon.gov.uk/barbury

Hackpen White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/hackpen.html

The Sanctuary http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=3447

Silbury Hill http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=145

Avebury Stone Circle http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7

Cherhill White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/cherhill.html

The Battle of Roundway Down 13 July 1643 http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1643-lansdown-roundway-bristol.htm

Devizes White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/devizesnew.html

Caen Hill Locks http://www.waterscape.com/servicesdirectory/Caen_Hill_Locks

Westbury White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/westbury.html

Stonehenge http://www.this-is-amesbury.co.uk/enter.html

Woodhenge http://www.this-is-amesbury.co.uk/woodhenge.html

Alton Barnes White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/altonbarnes.html

Pewsey White Horse http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/pewseynew.html

Wilton Windmill http://www.wiltonwindmill.co.uk/

and some Byways and bits of the Ridgeway of course



Combining these in a circular route starting and ending at Hungerford, takes around 5 hours (plus viewing stops/breaks) and covers approx 150 miles.

Although primarily a road ride, there are also several fairly easy Byways incorporated into the route.

Anyone else interested in tagging along ?

A 10.00am start at the Total filling station (which is the first one you see if coming into Hungerford from the M4)

N51 25.141 W1 30.542

1, Bath Rd, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0HD

Short drink/fag/photo stop at the sites/sights on the route with a Packed Lunch stop somewhere on Salisbury plain.

It will be the drop-off system so I'll be looking for a tail-end
Info on the drop-off system

Details of the 2008 one Here

Mapsource route (same as last year).

Note where the the first "site" waypoint is - Wilton Windmill - due to the numbers likely to be there we won't be stopping, but it'll be on your right after a few miles from Hungerford - give it a wave as you pass

Can those of you that don't fancy the Byway bits, ensure you can find your way from SU 224 588 to SU 209 553 e.g. OS Landranger Map 174/184 or print off the image below.



Can those of you that don't fancy the Byway bits, ensure you can find also your way from SU 120 423 to SU 024 534 e.g. OS Landranger Map 184 or print off the image below.



Can those of you that don't fancy the Byway bits, ensure you can find also your way from SU 014 641 to SU 022 667 e.g. OS Landranger Map 173 or print off the image below.



Can those of you that don't fancy the Byway bits, ensure you can find also your way from SU 118 680 to SU 128 749 and SU 157 762 e.g. OS Landranger Map 173 or print off the image below.







I'm unlikely to be able to explain to everyone personally before we start out, so I'll give a quick run down here and hopefully someone can pass the info on to anyone who doesn't read this

Can those not "bywaying" let me know on Sunday morning, so I know how many to wait for at the end of a byway. Sorry, but you'll have to look after yourselves as far as navigation goes.

Due to the numbers attending we won't be able to stop for very long at some of the sites due to limited safe parking so anyone who wants to take photos will have to be ready for a quick stop, snap away, then move on...

We will be leaving through Hungerford town centre heading towards Burbage.

About 6 miles outside Hungerford you'll see Wilton Windmill up on the hill to the right. Give it a wave.

A mile after turning left at Burbage roundabout, we'll peel off the road into a layby on the right - this is the start of the first byway.
Those not bywaying, will need to carry on for several miles to meet us at the end.

3 miles from the end of that byway, a quick stop at the side of the road (although there is a very small parking area), behind you up on the hill is Pewsey White Horse, although it may be hard to spot since it doesn't appear to have been cleaned recently.

Several miles later, a quick stop at the side of the road, Alton Barnes White Horse, easy to see, is on your right.

12 miles later we'll have a longer stop at Woodhenge to regroup.

A couple of miles later, a quick stop on the byway alongside Stonehenge. We'll head down a short byway, then a few miles of tarmac, then across the plain (potholed but easy byway). A quick stop, part way to take a look at the broken tanks. Then a longer stop at the top of Lavington Hill to regroup.
Those not bywaying, will need to meet us at the top of Lavington Hill, just to the SE of Market Lavington.

8 miles later, quick stop at Westbury White Horse, then a U-turn and on to Caen Hill Locks. There is very limited parking at the lower end of the locks, so we'll probably have to use the proper carpark at the top of the locks - I think that might be pay-and-display, so we won't be stopping long

3 miles on, Devizes White Horse, photos probably best taken at the bottom of the hill, before we get to the start of the Roundway Down byway - a quickish stop, for anyone wants to stand on the horse's eye.
Those not bywaying, will need to meet us at the other end, which is just before a Golf Club.

4 miles on, a quick stop at Cherill White Horse, then another 4 miles on to Silbury Hill to regroup.

Then on to the Sanctuary and the start of the Ridgeway byway section. Waving at Avebury Stone Circle which will be a distance away over on the left. Those not bywaying, will need to make their way to Hackpen White Horse via Avebury village - a few hundred meters up the hill from the horse, is a parking area with the Ridgeway running through it. Some of the Ridgeway from the Sanctuary can be tricky so might be a bit of a wait

From Hackpen to Barbury Castle is more (easy) Ridgeway, then a bit more (easy) Ridgeway across to Chisledon.

Then the final 10 miles to Uffington and an ice-cream. Hooray.

This is a fun ride!


And I am always surprised how many people turn up to this ride as compared to any other on UKGSer in the SE.


Will probably come for part of the ride as I did in past years then head for a nice lunch

A top day out! (well, it was last year)

And a grand introduction to riding on roads that don't have tarmac on them.

Sounds good, I will give notification for a pass out

I'll be there

Good fun last year, so I'll be back for more.

I'll be there Clive ... great ride last year. Thanks for organising it again.

This looks great
I'm totally unexperienced at off-tarmac riding but up for giving it a go.
Hope i don't embarrass myself!

Last year was a fantastic, dry scorching, fun packed day. I'd love to do it again, Clive..... if it is dry.I am thinking about TKC's as I type this.

Count me in ! I'll be on a 1200GSA. I used to live round that area (Aldbourne), and know it quite well.

Why is this thread so quiet ? Not usual for one of Clive's rides.

I am getting better prepared this year:

GrinningGSer said:

I am getting better prepared this year:

Click to expand...

Git

I'm waiting to see if the fair weather holds as I've got road tyres on at present. I don't remember any huge gradients so it'll be ok so long as it's not been pouring down.

Or has my memory failed?

Slowdown said:

I don't remember any huge gradients so it'll be ok so long as it's not been pouring down.

Or has my memory failed?

Click to expand...

Memory still intact

Bits of the Ridgeway can be tricky in the wet but the rest should be ok.

I'll be there too.

Hi, finally managed to make a decision - dunno what was so hard! See you there Clive;-)

Look right and wave as you cross the canal in Hungerford you might just be able to see me

Unless of course i've moved by then

Shep

Would love to join you again, Clive, but I'm still not bike-fit yet...

Have fun on Sunday!

Ill be there Clive, missed last year

I am in parental mode over said weekend

However, if I can talk my son into riding pillion, or I manage to offload him onto a relative (or just some random gypsies), I will try to be there too.

However - no real offroad experience with conti trail attack tyres - will the byway routes be worth a gamble (with or without unwilling son strapped on back)?