Cotswolds Challenge

18 mile Route

Abbreviations

CB = Compass Bearing; AH = Ahead; R = Right; L = Left; TL = Turn Left; FP = Footpath; TR = Turn Right; XTK = Cross Tracks; BW = Bridleway; CW = Cotswold Way; SP = Signpost; WMK = Waymark; FR = Fork Right; BR = Bear Right; FL = Fork Left; RD = Road; BL = Bear Left TK = Track; KG = Kissing Gate; ST = Stile; Thru = through

Notes

·         Certain roads are very busy and extreme care is needed

·         The route crosses extensive farmland: please shut & fasten all gates, keep dogs on leads and respect crops, livestock and farming operations

·         5 minutes before starting time please assemble outside village hall and await starter’s instructions

 

1.      From Birdlip Village Hall AH on TK for 30 yds to reach RD.  TL on RD for ¼ mile & at end of pavement on L, TR on BW (concrete path) by ‘Birdlip View’.  In 10 yds thru gate, AH on stoned BW for 150 yds & on reaching Stone Wall on R (50 yds before elec post) TL thru metal gate into field.  AH, keeping parallel to and about 20 yds from hedge on R (slope on L) & in 200 yds at hedge corner, ignore gate & AH with hedge on R.  In a further 50 yds, as hedge descends & veers to R, AH to reach ST by gate & tree. (0.7 miles, GR SO 933136)

2.      Over ST & TL CB 105 AH to follow faint path with hedge on R.  On reaching hedge corner, descend slightly to R & AH with hedge on R & bushes on L.  After 200 yds TR over ST by gate.  Ascend field diagonally left CB 130 to reach metal gate in far corner (ignoring previous gate on R).  (1.1 miles, GR SO 938132)

3.      Thru gate (please fasten), TR & ascend grassy TK which bends to L around a coppice.  At end of coppice AH in field with hedge on R & in 100 yds TR thru gate.  AH on TK between hedges to reach RD at edge of Brimpsfield. (1.3 miles, GR SO 940130)

4.      TR on RD & in 300 yds at RD junction by War Memorial, AH SP “Caudle Green”.  AH on RD for 300 yds to pass blue “Single Track Road “and “30mph” signs & in a further 50 yds TR on FP.  In 10 yds thru KG to L of metal gate. AH with hedge on R & in 50 yds ignore gap on R.  In a further 200 yds thru KG on R by gate & descend path. (1.9 miles)

5.      On reaching edge of woods, AH with fence on R & grassy slope on L to reach ST.  Over ST & X 2nd ST in 50 yds to AH with woods on either side, following valley bottom on grass path for ½ mile. 100 yds before cottages, TR onto stoned path following valley to gate & RD.  Thru gate (WMK) and in 10 yds TR (SP) over stone ST to ascend steep bank to stone ST & RD. TR on RD passing sign “Caudle Green”. Ascend RD to Village Green. Turn ½ L across Green to stone ST & wooden gate.  (3.0 miles, GR SO 943105)

6.      Over ST & in 30 yds over further ST.  Cross narrow field & over ST in fence. Up steps, BL & AH on narrow FP thru crops (cutting corner of field) to reach waymarked post by wooden electricity pole at edge of woods.  TR & follow edge of field with woods on L.  AH to stone ST in corner of field (overgrown). (3.2 miles, GR SO 942102)

7.      Over ST, AH on path past WMK thru woods & in 10 yds over XTK&AH on TK to join TK from R by WMK.  In 300yds AH on TK to descend TK ignoring forks on right. Before bottom, at TK T Jct & 3-way WMK, AH thru vegetation (path initially indistinct) to descend narrow FP & over double plank footbridge. XTK & AH to ascend narrow waymarked FP.  On emerging thru trees AH on indistinct path thru rough vegetation & in 15 yds TR at waymark post to reach ST in fence.  Over ST & turn half L over grassland to reach grassed TK. TR & follow TK with fence on L, thru sheep gate to reach drive.  Turn L on drive & descend.  Ignore bend to L & AH, shortly going thru gate (please fasten) & ascending to reach RD in Miserden.  AH on RD to reach:-  Control Check. CIRCULAR BUS SHELTER, 4.3 miles, GR SO 937089. (OPEN 09:15 - 10:30).

8.      FL on RD (pub on R) for 250 yds to reach T-junct. TL (ignoring 1st L) for 30 yds, TR at Lypiatt Cottage on enclosed FP, thru 2 gates & field (hedge on L) to reach 5-bar gate. AH, X TK, thru 2nd 5-bar gate to ST, over & descend to reach TK. TL for 50 yds, TR thru metal gate & descend into valley (CB226⁰) thru 1st metal gate then trees to 2nd metal gate, continue descending FP to bottom, then, bearing L ascend FP (CB 226⁰) to reach KG at copse. (5.3 miles, GR SO 927075).

9.      Thru gate, AH thru copse on FP to field. AH on FP (CB225⁰), X 2 fields to X stone ST, AH on same FP to X 2nd wooden ST, AH X field to X 3rd double ST. TL along LH field edge thru gate to RD. TL for 40 yds, TR thru metal gate (a bit stiff) & TR to descend FP on CB 260⁰ aiming for wall on R & small wooden gate (ignore 1st metal gate in wall). Thru gate & AH to descend FP on same CB (ignore sheep path) to reach stream at bottom, thru gate & stream to ascend FP opposite, keeping trees on L. 30 yds before top LH corner, BR to metal gate. (6.4 miles, GR SO 915064).

10.  Thru gate, AH on wide FP to join TK in 400 yds from R, AH on TK to RD & AH for 250 yds to: CHECK POINT 1: KING GEORGE’S FIELD, 7.1 miles, GR SO 906060. (OPEN 10:00 - 12:15); (cold drinks & cake).

11.  (Join Wysis Way in Bisley) From CP, TR & AH for 200 yds to reach T Jct by Stirrup Cup Pub. Cross RD, TR and AH on pavement. When Pavement ends, cross road (facing oncoming traffic) and AH to end of village. At Jct, BR (SP The Camp / Birdlip) and after 150 yds FL (FP sign Wysis Way) on enclosed path. Follow FP thru 2 gates to RD. (8.1 miles, GR SO 900072).

12.  (Leave / rejoin Wysis Way in this Section) X RD & AH on RD opposite. Follow RD for ½ mile passing under 2 sets of power lines (leaving  Wysis Way ST & FP on L after first power lines) and thru estate farm buildings. Stay on RD & in a further ¼ mile TL (by No Exit sign) & descend on tarmac RD. At TK Jct by cottages (FP sign on L), AH & descend on TK. In 200 yds, (10 yds before gates to Nature Reserve), turn sharp L on faint FP (Wysis Way) & then R downhill to small gate. (9.0 miles, GR SO 888080).

13.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) Thru gate & descend thru field (ignoring FB on L) to KG by metal gate. Thru, X stream and ascend on FP to reach ST & TK. (9.3 miles, GR SO 897077).

14.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) Over ST & TL on TK which soon becomes a metalled RD. Pass cottages on R & ascend RD to T Jct (George Whittaker Memorial seat on R) where TL & descend on RD for 100 yds.  TR on TK (SP Wysis Way) fence on R.  (9.9 miles, GR SO 897077).

15.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) After 200 yds BL descending to gate, TR thru gate & descend field to X stream at bottom and ascend to ST to R of farm buildings. TR on drive and ascend to RD (B4070) at Bulls Cross (10.2 miles, GR SO 877087).

16.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) Cross RD half R to Sheepscombe Rd and in 200 yds (FP sign) fork R on tarmac RD for ¼ mile (Views of Painswick on L) and AH thru metal gate to follow FP for 600 yds  (passing National Nature Reserve Board) to TK jct at Cockshoot House (FP sign on R). FL 10 yds (Cockshoot House on R) then R on tarmac RD to cross 3-way RD jct (SP Stroud / Sheepscombe) . AH over ST into field. (11.2 miles, GR SO 882098).

17.   (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) AH (north) on rough path across field & ditch to X ST in far fence. TL thru small wood to 2nd ST. X & BL thru gate across field joining grass TK to metal gate in middle of hedge opposite (ignoring LH gate). Thru & across field CB 300 to go thru gate in bottom RH corner of field & X stream. Follow stream L for 100yds to metal gate by multi-way WMK. Thru and immediately TR  (north) thru antique gate and follow undulating FP (stream on L) for 600 yds through gate & woods to eventually reach FP sign (Wysis Way) & RD at Damsells Mill where TL on RD  for 50 yds. (11.9 miles, GR SO 877111)

18.  TR on driveway towards Damsells Farm. At twin young Oak trees (before farmhouse), BL on permissive path across grass to ST. AH on permissive path across fields to gate and FB to rejoin public FP. (12.1 miles, GR SO 875113).

19.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) Cross stream & AH to ascend field on CB 320 to KG at edge of woods. Thru & follow path to ST. X ST & TL to follow TK to gate in 40 yds. AH on path across field & thru gap into 2nd field. In 40 yds over ST by gate & AH to ascend field to ST in fence. Over and TR on RD to A46 (beware traffic). (12.5 miles, GR SO 868116).

20.  (Stay on Wysis Way in this Section) TL on pavement and shortly after bus stop on L, cross A46 (extreme care) and ascend narrow FP (SP Wysis Way) to reach RD. TL on RD, over brow & descend to shortly reach lay-by on R and:- CHECK POINT 3: PAINSWICK BEACON, 12.7 miles, GR SO 867118. (OPEN 12:45 - 16:30); (cold drink & cake)

21.  (Leave Wysis Way and join CW in this section) Retrace steps 50 yds to rejoin CW (not RD). Take the most direct & obvious route, i.e. grass & then gravelled path to reach hillside in 30 yds.  TL & AH with wooded slope on L for 230 yds to reach gravelled TK.  AH for 50 yds & TL up steps to ascend earthwork.  Follow path for length of earthwork, passing Trig Point / Topograph & BR to continue with wooded slope on L and Golf Course on R. At end of Golf Course, AH on TK to reach metalled RD.  AH on RD for 120 yds& fork L into Buckholt Wood. In ¼ ml over minor RD & AH on FP opposite to reach A46.  (13.8 miles, GR SO 881130).

22.  (stay on CW in this section) X RD with care & AH along Buckholt Road opposite.  In 100 yds TL at CW sign (follow CW WMKs or white spots thru woods).Ascend on TK to top to reach T-Junction.  TL & at fork BL to descend following wall on L.  At bottom by grass triangle, FR & follow CW. In 300 yds at fork, AH on lower FP.  In 200 yds fork R to follow upper FP.  In 80 yds TR thru KG & in 50 yds TL on CW.  In ¼ ml TR to ascend on L FP.  At top, BL across open ground towards SP& steep slope ahead with erosion notices. TL & descend into woods following waymarked path.  The path eventually curves R to go thru kissing gate to car park below COOPERS HILL (15.2 miles, GR 892148).

23.  (leave CW in this section) AH & TR on RD & in 50 yds ignore ST on L. In a further 140 yds by telegraph pole TL over broken ST on RH side of brown metal gate (views of Witcombe Reservoirs) leaving CW.  TR & thru green metal gate & descend on LHS of narrow field to reach waymarked ST in far L corner (ignore first ST immediately to L). Over ST into large open field & bear diagonally L on CB 106⁰ over rough uneven ground to reach ST at LH end of row of willow trees.  Over ST &AH to reach ST by TK.  (15.7 miles, GR SO 899146).

24.  Over ST & cross TK &narrow field to trees.  TL & AH with trees on R for 120 yds to power lines & TR to X footbridge.  TL & AH with stream on L to reach TK at LH field corner.  TL & follow TK with reservoir on R towards house. (15.9 miles, GR SO 903146).

25.  After passing house on L, TR on causeway between reservoirs.  At end of reservoirs turn sharp R over ST.  Cross field, bearing L to reach wooden fence &AH to reach ST.  Over ST & cross next field thru gap in electric fence to reach ST to L of farm buildings.  Over ST & TL on farm TK & thru gate to reach RD.  TR on RD, pass church & at bend AH, passing “No Thru Road” sign to reach FP sign by green gate.  SELF-CLIP C, CLIP BOX C, 16.6 miles, GR SO 911146 (Closes 18:00).

26.  TL thru KG by green gate.  Follow hedge on L & thru gate, thru twin ST’s into further field.  AH& at end of field TL thru KG.  Ascend AH on CB 92⁰, thru 2 fields keeping to L of line of 3 large Oak Trees to pass wooden post on L (L of 3rd Oak Tree) to reach KG in L corner. (17.4 miles, GR SO 917144).

27.  Thru KG, cross TK to enter woods & ascend FP to reach major TK (CW) at T-Junction.  TL on TK to reach RD in Birdlip village.  Cross RD & follow pavement with railings & AH to reach:- FINISH. BIRDLIP VILLAGE HALL, OPEN UNTIL 18:30, 18.5 miles, GR SO 928143. (2,750 Ft of Ascent).

 

CONGRATULATIONS (and see you next year)