Ride 2 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Print

Waypoint 1 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Frampton Mansell, Sapperton, Edgeworth & Bisley, Ride 2 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Approx. 25km (15.5 miles) or 15km (9.5 miles) using short cut at Edgeworth. Some steep and stony tracks, a ford; polo ponies may be grazing in fields between Pinbury Park and Edgeworth and possibly grazing horses at Valley Farm. There are a number of gates on this route. Parking for several vehicles in the layby beside the A419 at Aston Downs (Grid Reference SO100019). Ride down layby, with A road on your left, to find and follow track down hill to meet up with driveway to Westley Farm. Ride along the drive and take first right up a path and through a field gate. Continue along side of the field keeping the fence line on your right to track to a tarmac lane. Turn left onto the lane through Frampton Mansell, pass the Crown Inn and continue for 1.6km.

Waypoint 2 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
At an area of hardstanding on your right, bear right onto bridleway (BW) named Broad Ride. After 1km, cross a lane and continue along Broad Ride. At next lane turn left and left again into Sapperton. As lane bears left, turn right through a gate onto BW.

Waypoint 3 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Follow BW (Macmillan Way), through a gate to come to BW crossing, briefly turn left and shortly right to a field gate. Follow BW through the field and bear right to pass a large pond. Turn left onto drive (BW) towards Pinbury Park and continue past the buildings. Follow the path downhill, through a stream (ford) and up through woods.

Waypoint 4 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Take the gate that leads into fields. At the top of the fields turn right through a gate onto the polo grounds. Follow the path beside a drystone wall (there will be a few gates to do as you pass the polo club on your left hand side) to go down into the valley.

Waypoint 5 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
To take the shortcut, turn left at BW junction and ride up the hill to a gate. Cross the road and follow BW and unsealed road to Hayhedge Lane, Bisley to rejoin the main route at Waypoint 8. To follow the main route, turn right across the field to the houses and go through gate. Turn right onto BW before reaching the Edgeworth Manor and follow the path through the manor grounds to reach the lane. Turn left and continue to Valley Farm drive on your right (BW).

Waypoint 6 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Follow the drive (passing place for cattle grid) until the BW veers off into a field on your right. Pass Valley Farm on your left and follow BW uphill and across to the far right boundary to a gate. Go through this and turning to the right and through another gate into woodland. Follow the clear track to the lane.

Waypoint 7 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Turn right and continue along the lane for 1.6km, then turn left onto a track (RB) after Lypiatt Farm. At the farm buildings follow the route through gate into a field to the left of the buildings and cross the fields to lane.

Waypoint 8 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Turn left and follow the lane past Througham manor house. Where the lane turns sharp right, continue straight on to an unsealed road. Follow this track for 1.4km, descending at the end and bear left to come to lane. Turn left and continue downhill, through the hamlet of Througham Slad. The lane shortly reverts to stone track through a famyard and across the fields (two catlle grids) to a junction of tracks. Turn right uphill, the track shortly becomes a tarmac lane (Hayhedge Lane). Continue to a junction.

Waypoint 9 Cotswold on Horse Back Ride 2
Turn left towards Waterlane and Sapperton and just past Rectory Farm House, turn left into a field (RB). Follow RB, bearing right at any junctions, past Limbrick Farm and continue up the lane. At crossroads, go straight on towards Oakridge Lynch and shortly fork left onto BW track. At the lane, turn right and in 200m, fork left towards Oakridge Lynch and continue to next crossroads. Turn left, towards Frampton Mansell and Chalford. At the bottom of the hill, by Bakers Mill, bear left towards Frampton Mansell and follow lane up the hill and under the railway bridge. Within 100m, where the lane bends left, go straight on to a signed BW through a wooded area into a field. Follow the track to the top of the hill, go through the gate and turn right onto the path which will take you back to your starting point.