Ride 24 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Print

Naunton Slaughters Waypoint 1
Naunton and the Slaughters Ride 24 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Approx. 22km (14 miles) with a 7.3km (4.5 mile) shortcut. There are three fords to cross. Directions given from the Harford Bridge crossroads (Grid reference SP129229) and parking available by arrangement for a small fee with Mrs. Marion Wood at Eastern Hill Farm, Naunton (SP125233), please telephone 01451 850715.From the crossroads, cross the B4068 and take the right fork. Continue through the ford and shortly turn left through a field gate onto bridleway (BW, Windrush Way). Follow BW through the fields (two gates) and past Aston Farm. At T junction, turn left and re cross the River Windrush. Head uphill to a junction of paths and turn left onto the Gloucestershire/Macmillan/Monarchs Ways. Continue for 500m and fork right through a narrow gate and cross the lane to continue on BW and reach the next lane.

Naunton Slaughters Waypoint 2
Turn right along the lane for 350m and turn left through the gate onto BW. On reaching the T junction in Lower Slaughter, turn left along the lane and then left again over the bridge. A the next three junctions, turn right towards Upper Slaughter. Continue to a small square, marked with parking spaces and turn left and downhill towards the ford.

Naunton Slaughters Waypoint 3
For the shortcut, turn left onto the No through Road and follow the BW to the B4068. Turn left for 350m to rejoin the main route at waypoint 4.For the main route, continue through the ford, turn right along the lane. At the junction turn left and then straight on towards Lower Swell and Stow on the Wold. At the next junction, turn left towards Cheltenham and after 800m, cross straight over the B4068 and continue on restricted byway (RB, Ryknild St). On reaching the lane, turn left for 2.6km. Turn left onto the drive (BW) to Swell Wold and Eyford Hill Farm for 2.6km.

Naunton Slaughters Waypoint 4
Within a few metres of the B4068, turn to the right onto BW (Wardens Way). On reaching the road, go straight across and through a gate into the field (BW), still following the Wardens Way and turn right along the roadside hedge. Continue across the drive of Brockhill Farm and through a gate onto a cross track (horses may be grazing here). Turn left on BW and follow it across several fields to the lane in Naunton.

Naunton Slaughters Waypoint 5
Turn left and at the T junction, turn right for 275 metres and turn left down a narrow lane to the Dovecote (Wardens Way) and across the river. Go through the gate (gated road) and turn right to proceed beside the river to a junction of tracks just before the next gate. Do not go through the gate but turn left onto the track that climbs uphill to a gate onto the road. Cross straight over onto BW across the golf course and go through the gate. Turn left follow BW beside the stream and across the fields to the lane (two more gates). Turn left and go through the ford to Harford Bridge crossroads.