(This is a long held dream of leaders Guy and Sarah: a walk through The Bassets: read on for enlightenment).
Meet at Hackpen Hill Car Park, 10.30am. Any queries please email Guy here.
To find the start:
From M4
Leave M4 at Junction 16 (Royal Wootton Bassett & West Swindon). From roundabout exit onto B4005 (Hay Lane), signposted Wroughton. Follow B4005 (Hay Lane) until junction with A4361 (about 2.5 miles - you will pass through Basset Down) where you turn right towards Avebury. After about 1.5 miles take left turn signposted Rockley and with brown tourist sign for Hackpen Hill. You will go up a fairly steep hill and loop around White Horse chalk figure. Car Park is on left immediately at crest of hill.
From A4
From A4 at Rockhampton (roundabout junction of A4/ A361/ A361 follow A361 towards Avebury. Continue through Avebury following signs for Swindon and Wroughton. You will pass through the villages of Winterbourne Bassett and then Berwick Bassett. About 1.5 miles beyond Berwick Bassett the minor road will be on your right - follow signs to Hackpen Hill
Please note that the car park is small (about 20 cars parked normally) and popular so we will probably have to double park on ourselves - Sarah & I will get there early to try and marshall everyone.
The route:
The first part of the walk (15 minutes or so) follows one of the more exposed parts of 'The Ridgeway Trail' so a 'windproof' is recommended - one we descend into the valley it is much more sheltered.
We will be passing through the hamlet of Temple and the hounds will have to be kept on leads here as there are a large amount of pheasants and partridge bred on the estate, and also after Temple as we come back up to 'The Ridgeway' there is a 'Conservation Area' where leads will be required. That apart the hounds will be able to be 'off lead' for most of the route, subject to the general constraint of 'being under control'.
Being on the chalk hill Downs, natural water is very limited so please bring plenty for your hounds.
Unfortunately there are no refreshment facilities, although pubs and tearooms are in Avebury, but are likely to be busy.
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