PEWSEY DOWNSAROUND

26 MILE ROUTE

BW - Bridleway, CB - Compass Bearing, CP - Check Point, FP - Footpath, L - Left, M - Metre, MWW - Mid Wilts Way, R - Right, TL - Turn Left, TR - Turn Right, RD - Road, TK - Track, SO - Straight On, ST - Stile, X - Cross.

Please bring map (Landranger 173 or Explorer 157), compass, and mug.

There is a CUT-OFF at CP3 after 17 miles. The sweeper will leave at 16:15 and you will be retired if you have not left by this time. This will be strictly enforced. You will be offered transport back to the Pewsey Scout Hut.

Please note that the wiltshire downs are extensively farmed with sheep. Close all gates. Keep dogs on leads.

Checkpoints on this route

CP1       Knap Hill car park (SU116637), 7.3 miles. Opens 09:00, closes 13:00

CP3       Avebury Sports and Social Club (SU102697), 14.3 miles. Opens 11.45, Closes 16:00

CP4       Huish (SU142628), 21.8 miles. Opens 11:00, Closes 17:45

Finish    Pewsey Scout Hut (SU162601), 26 miles, Closes 19:00

 

PEWSEY to KNAP HILL, 7.3 miles

1.1   From the Scout Hut X RD and go down path past car park to Main Road. TL & at the mini-roundabout, TR into Broomcroft Road and in 65M take FP on L into Scotchel Nature Reserve. Follow path through reserve to TK & minor RD & TR under railway bridge. (SU162604).

1.2   SO for 100M to X stream by house (Buckleaze Mill). Continue on path for 200M, which bends to the L, and then continue straight on to reach lane and houses. Turn L down bridleway at end of lane. X bridge over tiny River Avon & then over canal at Pains Bridge. SO on TK to pass tarmac drive on L in 350M.

Continue SO on TK for 600M to reach RD (SU163623).

1.3   TL & in 190M, just beyond bungalow on L, TR onto FP and follow field edge to top L of field to meet TK. X TK and through metal gate. SO across field, CB 34, for 140M to go through metal gate on the R. TL, keep hedge on L & steeply ascend the Giant's Grave. Continue SO with fence on your L to pass trig point (SU166632).

1.4   SO for 360M to X broken ST by gate & continue SO keeping fence on L ignoring MWW marker. Ascend slope for a further 500M to reach fence corner by large metal gate. TL, keeping fence on your L, for 500M to reach a track at field corner. TL down stony track still with fence on L for 550M to reach main road.

1.5   X BUSY MAIN RD (A345). TL on BW for 800M to 'Huish Down Farm' sign. TL (ignoring FP on L) to follow main TK for 100M to where main TK bears L towards isolated house. SO through gate onto green TK (west, CB 290) for 500M, first through a plantation of young trees and a metal gate, then across open field to 2 large gates. Go through R hand gate, keeping fence on your L for a further 600M to field corner where fence and path bear R. Continue on path for 100M with fence still on your L to go through metal gate. (SU147646).

1.6   Immediately TL through a 2nd metal gate to go down green TK and after 300M go through metal gates to a X-TK (SU142645). SO through gate to follow path due west on MWW. Continue uphill to X next ST/ gate. Bear slightly left and follow vague path towards corner of wood, to reach & X gate/metal stile. SO (due south), aiming for 1st tree on L on the horizon, to reach sign-post (SU138641).

Here the 10 mile route turns left

1.7   TR (west, CB250) on MWW & continue on with steep escarpment & fence on your left. (The views on your L are across the Vale of Pewsey.) SO for 450M to gate/metal ST. X ST with fence now on your R. SO in same direction for 500M and, at fence corner, X further gate/metal ST & continue SO due west for 600M to meet fence coming in from R. X metal ST & SO following MWW for 500M to gate. TR to go through Knap Hill car park.

Checkpoint 1, Knap Hill car park (SU116637), 7.3 miles

Opens 09:00, closes 13:00

KNAP HILL TO AVEBURY 9.5 miles

There is a CUT-OFF at the next CP. If you have not departed CP3 before 16:15 you will be retired from the event. This will be strictly enforced. You will be offered transport back to the Pewsey Scout Hut.

2.1   X BUSY RD. Go through gate & immediately TL through a 2nd gate. SO down field and bear R to gate which is 150M on R. Through this gate then bear L (still on MWW) to further gate. Through gate and bear slightly right for 40M to earth bank. Immediately TR & follow earth bank uphill on grassy path which goes up and around hillside on right to pass above the Alton Barnes White Horse (700M from the earth bank). SO to reach gate (SU105638).

2.2   SO the main path following MWW for 400m with gorse bushes on the right. After gorse bushes, bear right to top of escarpment to gate.SO on MWW for 200M to 2nd gate. SO, still keeping fence on your R, for 300M to reach 3rd gate. TR on MWW & follow fence on R through 4th gate.

Here the 17 mile route turns R up the Wansdyke

2.3   TL down track for 200m to TK at SU100646. Through gate on embankment on right and follow Wansdyke (west). SO on path on top of Wansdyke for 500M to wooden gate. SO for 750M to metal gate, SU087647. SO for further 800M to reach 2 wooden gates. Go through gates and continue SO (north) for 30M to join stony TK. Bear L on TK for 150M to T-junction (SU081653).

At this point the 26 & 35 mile routes separate. The 26 mile route turns right

2.4   TR along TK (north). When TK bears R (after 800M) SO, keeping fence on L, for 3000M to houses & RD (SU087688). TR & follow minor RD through Beckhampton village for 320M to go up stone steps in bank on L just after RD bends L by barns. At the top of these steps is the Wagon & Horses pub (SU091689).

2.5   X BUSY RD (A4) & along BW on L side of pub car park. SO for 150M, with houses on your L, to reach a second BUSY RD (A4361). X RD to enter lane directly ahead. In 200M TR and SO along lane for 600M to minor X RDs. TL & at green barn on R, TR onto FP with side of the green barn now on your R to reach gate immediately followed by 2 small gates. Go through the L gate & SO, keeping wire fence on R, to gate at far end of 2 small fields which joins tarmac path. SO to meet path junction.

Here the 35 mile route joins from Left

2.6   TR & SO to join lane into Avebury. SO on lane until it turns R, then SO on path between wall on L and white house, then bear R to go through churchyard to RD.

Change of route for 2018

TL and in 60M at 4 way fingerpost on R TR on enclosed FP SP Car Park. As path BR continue AH through SWG and continue down LHS of playing field. Just before building TL through SMG next to building and proceed round building to enter CP.

Checkpoint 3, Avebury Sports and Social Club (SU102697),
14.3 miles

Opens 11:00, closes 16:00

AVEBURY to HUISH, 7.5 miles

Sweeper will depart at 16:15. If you have not departed by this time you will be retired from the event. This will be strictly enforced. You will be offered transport back to the Pewsey Scout Hut.

3.1   Exit checkpoint via double LWG to main RD. TL and cross RD to TR at T-Junc. In 20M TR through SWG and follow path through The Avenue to end of field. At end of field pass throu two SWG in LH corner and TR uphill in field with fence on R. Decend to corner and TL with trees on R to field corner. Exit field via SWG to RD (SU103683).

3.2   Cross BUSY RD (A4) and TL and in 30M TR thro KG (SP West Kennet Long Barrow). Follow path AH crossing bridge over River Kennet to KG. Through KG and TL on enclosed path later continuing with fence on L. At LMG cross ST and AH on trk. At RD cross to ST next to double LWG and continue down fld with fence on R. Just before end of fld cross ST into trees and follow path to track. TL on track and follow to RD (SU115677).

3.3   TL on RD cross river and TR on BW. Keep to RHS of field to end. Pass through gap in trees to track. TR on track downhill.

End of change of route

X bridge over River Kennett, then SO for 200M to RD junction at East Kennett (SU120675).

3.4   Continue ahead on RD for 100M to RD junction. TL & SO for 300M. Just past houses on R, bear R along the drive of East Kennett Manor Farm & pass to L of farm buildings. 100M after farm buildings, just before main TK bears R, bear L and follow the wide TK going uphill with a fence on R for 1500M where it enters into a small, narrow wood (SU120653). Follow TK through wood to reach X TKs immediately after emerging from wood.

Here the 17 mile route joins from the right

TL over ST by gate. SO across field (east, CB 110) on grass TK for 300M to reach lone beech tree at a fence corner. SO, with fence on L, down to gate (SU125647).

3.5   Go through gate, X RD, and X ST by gate. SO uphill along grassy TK, keeping fence on L, to metal gates at end of field. Go through L metal gate and SO, now with fence on R. Continue on main path around bend, with fences on your L&R, to reach far end of TK after a further 300M. TL and follow fence on R for 250M. Bear R on enclosed FP (SU138649).

3.6   SO & downhill. Then SO uphill on path, with fences on your L&R, to enter field. SO keeping fence on your L for 20M to ST and metal gate on L. Through gate and X field (SE, CB140) to reach a wide TK. SO on TK for 40M to 5-Way Junction with fingerpost on L (SU142645). Turn hard right through wooden gate signposted MMW (same route you took this morning). [Route change for 2017 to avoid quagmire in Gopher Woods]. Follow path due west on MWW. Continue uphill to X next ST/ gate. Bear slightly left and follow vague path towards corner of wood, to reach & X gate/metal stile. SO (due south), aiming for 1st tree on L on the horizon, to reach sign-post (SU138641).

3.7   Go through large metal gate and bear L down hill towards edge of wood (east, CB 100). Follow main path as it curves steeply down to the R.  Keep the hedge/fence on your L for 400M as you continue downhill to reach a large metal gate. Go through gate, SO on TK, still with hedge/fence on L, for further 450M to reach gate & lane. Continue down RD to Draycott Farm and CP.

Checkpoint 4, Huish (SU142628), 21.8 miles

Opens 11:00, Closes 17:45

HUISH to PEWSEY, 4.8 miles

4.1   Continue down RD. At hard R bend in RD, by house 'New Mead', continue SO on BW along L edge of field to end of field. TL and in 20M TR through gate. SO, due east, to follow broken line of mature trees across grassy field to reach wooden fence on South side of wood. SO, keeping wood and stout wooden fence on your L for 120M then go through a wooden gate. Continue SO for 60M with fence still on your left to corner. Go half R, CB 50, for 70M to gate and FP sign-post. Go through wooden gate, immediately TR through 2nd gate & follow BW, due east, along R field edge for 250M to X ST by gate.

Continue across yard to lane (SU156631).

4.2   TL following the lane through Oare village to reach main RD, A345, in 240M. X RD into Pound Lane. SO for 420M, past all buildings to reach a path junction.

Here the 10, 17 & 35 mile routes turn right

Continue SO. Keep hedge on your R for 1000M to pass large farm sheds on your R. SO on TK for a further 300M to wooden gate. TL to follow bridleway for 250m to a T junction.

4.3   TR along track which soon becomes a lane, passing houses on L, for 800M to reach canal bridge. At end of the bridge, TL through wooden gate down to the towpath. Immediately TL to go back under the bridge and follow towpath with the Kennett & Avon Canal on your R for 1200M to next bridge (Pains Bridge, No. 113). TL off towpath immediately before bridge to go up to meet FP.

Here the 10, 17 & 35 mile routes join from the right

4.4   TL down FP to X bridge over River Avon. SO for 150M to where your TK becomes a lane. TR on RD and SO. After 100M the RD becomes a FP. Continue SO path with field on your L. FP turns R and goes downhill (railway embankment now on your L). SO to X stream by house & reach RD. SO and in 120M TL under railway bridge. Immediately after bridge, TL and go through gate. Follow path through nature reserve & at exit TR to mini-roundabout. TL into North Street, X RD carefully, and in 100M TR into Goddard Road.

Continue up path on L to Scout Hut (SU162601) & the finish.

Congratulations! You have completed the 26 mile Pewsey Downsaround!

You must be back at the Scout Hut before 19:00