Sutton and Wrestlingworth (21km) Print

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 1
Sutton and Wrestlingworth, Ride 6 in the Bedfordshire on Horseback series. Approximately 21km (13 miles) with option to shorten to 11km (7 Miles). This figure of eight route can be ridden in either direction but as described affords better visibility at road crossings. The Start is at Manor Farm Riding School, High St, Sutton - phone Jenny Rickwood on 01767 260240 to arrange parking in advance. On leaving the yard (GR 221473), turn right on to road and then right opposite village hall onto signed Bridleway (BW). The John 0\'Gaunt pub further down the road serves food daily-please ohone in advance 01767 260377 if you intend to bring your horse to the pub. Follow this grassy BW (nice canter) for about 1.5km to some cottages.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 2
Turn left in front of the cottages down stoney track to Sunderland Hall Farm. In the yard, turn right and immediately left, keeping the farmhouse on your left. Ride along this track, turning left towards Dunton Fen and then right to the road.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 3
At the road, stand well back to watch for a safe time to cross. Take the BW on your left across the road (signed), with ditch to your right. Take care not to take the BW on the right hand side of the ditch. Ride along this BW towards a white house in the distance until you come to road. Turn right on to the road (take care, can be slippery). Turn left on BW (signed) just after fence around the lodge.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 4
Follow this grassy BW past pond in clump of trees on your right to a white cottage on your right. At end of hedgerow, turn right onto stoney lane (ignore BW to the left). Follow the stone lane down to the road. Turn left at the road (High Street). Option: Turn left onto BW mentioned in 4 above and follow directions from 13 below.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 5
Follow this busy road through Westlingworth, past The Chequers pub (01767 631256 -horses welcome but plese ring in advance) and past the turn to Potton on your left; Braggs lane is the third turning on your right, about 1.5km down the road.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 6
Turn right into Braggs Lane, which becomes a BW. At the end of the track, turn right (slight S bend) and keep ditch on your right as you head for the trees ahead of you. Turn left onto BW (signed) and follow this BW to a small wooden bridge. Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn right. Follow this BW keeping the ditch on your right to BW junction.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 7
Turn sharp right towards New England Farm, which you will have seen to your right. Ride through the farmyard and along the Clopton Way (signed) to the top.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 8
After about 800m the road bends to the right. Turn left here onto BW (signed) and follow this straight on through trees (narrow path). Keep following this BW for about 1.5km to the drive to Top Farm.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 9
Although the public BW makes use of the drive to Top Farm, the permissive route about 50m beyond the drive is a more pleasant ridebut can be muddy and is bordered by pheasant cover. Cross the tarmac drive and continue for about 50m to the permissive route on your left. Keep the ditch to your right and ride straight on and through a gap in the hedge to turn immediatiately left up the hill. You rejoin the public BW at the top of the hill (Note there i a landing strip occasionally used by light aircraft at the top of the hill).

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 10
Ride straight on, following the BW track (watch out for badger holes on this section). Negotiate S bend and pass a pond on your right, then downhill. Turn right and then immediately left at the bottom (signed) then through gap in trees to a grassy track.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 11
As you reach the barn ahead, turn left and follow the BW for about 1.5km, downhill bear right by trees and then over a bridge. Shortly after the bridge, turn left on to BW (signed) and follow this with ditch on your left to rejoin your outward route at waypoint 7, to retrace your route back to Braggs Lane and into Wrestlingworth.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 12
At the main road, turn left and return through the village to Water End. Turn right and follow track to BW on your right (signed).

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 13
Turn right here, with field to your right and follow this track. After passing a footpath on your right, the track becomes grassy and gives an opportunity for a canter until it turns stoney again. At top of hill, turn left (signed) take care of rabbit holes on this section. After 400m turn right over bridge in hedge (signed) and follow this BW to road. Take care emerging onto road, as visibility is limited.

Sutton and Wrestlingworth Waypoint 14
Turn left and past houses to a staggered crossroads. Turn right here and ride through Sutton, past pub to return to Manor farm.