Keysoe and Riseley (18km) Print

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 1
Keysoe and Riseley, Ride 2 in the Bedfordshire on Horseback series. Approx 18km (11 miles). Route described as clockwise (with options to shorten; can be extended by using Upper Dean and Yeldon or Keysoe and Bolnhurst, or both). Start from The College (GR 071616). Turn left out of car park and follow road to junction. Turn right and follow the road to the airfield perimeter fence.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 2
Turn right and follow track through Buryfields farm to road. Turn left on road, through a small group of trees to the right of the gate. Alternative Route: Turn left before the Farm, following the perimeter fence. This option may not be suitable if the Motorsports venue is operating (you will hear the noise; it does not operate on Sundays). Follow the perimeter Bridleway (BW) and then Byway to the road at 5 below. This shortens ride by about 1.2 km

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 3
Follow road for about 800m (fairly quiet road but with some bends) and take BW on left (signed) through small woodland to field headland. Take care of rabbit holes by hedge at start of this headland.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 4
Follow BW up hill and across farm track. Continue to follow headland until you reach the airfield perimeter fence. Turn right onto BW (signed) and follow it to end, then turn right onto concrete Byway down to road. Alternative Route: Turn right on road and ride through village of Riseley (quite busy road with several parked cars) with two pubs and a village shop. Past school on right and garage on left at end of village. Rejoin route at drive to Coldham Lodge Farm - see 9 below. Shortens route by 5km (3 mile).

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 5
At road, turn left. After about 100m, take BW on right (signed). Watch out for rabbit holes on this section.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 6
After crossing bridge, turn right and then, very shortly after that, left (signed) across field to hedgeline. At hedgeline, turn right and follow BW (signed) across field and bridge to a BW gate out on to road.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 7
Cross the road and take the quiet lane opposite. After about 250m, take the BW (signed) alongside the drive to Lodge Farm. The BW skirts the farm and follows field headlands to emerge eventually onto the drive leading to Haring s Farm. Proceed straight on up this drive to Haring s Farm and through the farmyard, the track turns right on the far side of the farmyard.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 8
Follow this BW straight on through Worley s Wood. As you exit the wood, turn right and follow this BW along field edge to woods on your right until you reach concreate track.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 9
Turn right onto this track and follow it for about a mile to the road. Turn left (quite busy road at peak times) and then after 100m turn right on BW up drive to Coldham Lodge Farm (signed). Do not use the verge on the left as there are large holes.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 10
Follow the BW on the farm track around Coldham Lodge farm and around fields, keeping hedge on your left. When track finishes continue straight ahead on field edge. The BW crosses two ditch culverts. After the second, turn right onto another farm track (ditch and hedge now on your right).

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 11
Follow this track and then continue straight on across field and through copse, across narrow bridge (in wet weather you may wish to dismount and lead) to road by Valbrook Farm.

Keysoe and Riseley Waypoint 12
Turn right and after 250m take BW (signed) on left up hill towards church. Turn right at road and return to The College, which will be on your left. (Traffic is mostly horseboxes can be heavy if big event on at the college).