Ride 5 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Print

Waypoint 1 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
Aldsworth, Eastleach & Holwell, Ride 5 in the Cotswolds on Horseback series. Approx. 18km (11 miles) on tracks, fields and quiet lanes with an alternative route (A) that is very scenic but has numerous gates, many of these you will need to dismount to open. There is also a narrow gated bridge with two steps to negotiate. Alternative route (B) avoids Eastleach Downs Pig Farm, where there are hundreds of outdoor pigs spread over several fields. Parking for several vehicles on layby beside the lane to Ladbarrow Farm, a turning off the B4425 in Aldsworth (Grid reference SP157099). From the Aldsworth layby, head SE along the lane passing New Cottages on your right, to Ladbarrow Farm. Pass the farmhouse, bear right onto the tarmac track which is a restricted byway (RB). Ignore all bridleways, to pass Hicks Barn and come to a lane. Turn right and follow the lane to a T junction after a cattle grid gate.

Waypoint 2 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
Alternative route (A): Turn left for 100m, then turn right onto BW and continue straight on for 850m, dropping downhill through a copse. At a junction of BWs, turn right into a field. Continue beside the stream and turn right over the gated bridge, then left into the next field.Head uphill to the right to a field gate and continue beside the right-hand boundary to go through the next gate. Cross this field on a left diagonal and exit through gate in far left corner. Go straight ahead and shortly come to a T junction with a lane. Bear left to another T junction, turn left again to rejoin the main route at Waypoint 3 after crossing the bridge.Main route: Turn right and then first right into Eastleach Turville village. Continue past the Victoria Inn and the war memorial and over the bridge.

Waypoint 3 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
At the junction, ignore the two turnings to the right and continue towards Holwell. Head uphill on the lane, at a crossroads go straight on.

Waypoint 4 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
At the next crossroads, turn right. After 800m, turn left onto the drive (BW) to College Farm. At the farm, cross the gravel forecourt in front of the house, pass behind an outbuilding into a small field and cross towards the far righthand corner. Turn right and then left, following BW to a junction. Turn left and continue for 2km as BW becomes an enclosed track to a lane (Akeman Street). Cross the lane and follow BW for one field to a junction with RB.

Waypoint 5 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
Alternative route (B) to avoid Eastleach Downs Pig Farm: Turn left onto RB to meet Akeman Street again and turn right along the lane. At a crossroads, go straight ahead on BW and cross straight over the next lane, taking care to go straight ahead on the BW (don?t veer left on the more major track). Drop down into a copse and go straight ahead at the BW junction to the road. Turn left, then first right and retrace your route to the parking. Main route: Go straight ahead on RB to reach a lane on the edge of Holwell.

Waypoint 6 Cotswolds on Horse Back Ride 5
Go straight on for 50m, then left onto RB. Continue for 2.2km, passing between the buildings of Holwell Downs Farm to come to the lane. Turn left and at crossroads, go straight on towards Eastleach Turville. At the next crossroads, turn right, signed to Eastleach Downs farm only. Continue past the farm as the lane becomes RB and eventually a BW, to cross a field diagonally and rejoin the surfaced track (RB) to retrace your route via Ladbarrow Farm to the parking.