Start times between 9 and 10am.
Tina Munday 07719 576585
Home Farm, Hillesden Estate, MK18 4DB
Police 101 Vet 01280 812057
12.5 miles
1. Follow the track bearing round to the right through the nature reserve, (please keep to the track), hedge on right, pond on right, farm buildings on right and house on your left. Follow the marked track left down hill, over the stream, bearing right, and follow to the farm, bear right with Manor Farm buildings and house on left, and follow the tarmac drive up past house on your right, bearing left with Westfield Farm Buildings on right, till you come to main road. A STEWARD WILL SEE YOU ONTO THE ROAD. Turn left onto the road then right towards Preston Bissett and Chetwode. THERE IS NO WATER ROUTE this year so stay on this road for 2 miles. Approx 1 mile along the road take the left fork to Chetwode. Follow the road eventually bearing round to the right. Do not go left into T junction.
2. On the sharp left hand bend, turn right into the Green, with houses on your left, follow the track onto bridleway and at bottom of wood, go left through gap, keeping wood on right, ignore sign saying “end of bridleway” and turn right through metal gates onto Chetwode Manor drive, turn immediately left. The following bit has been especially negotiated and has permission for this day only, so PLEASE everyone, best behaviour. If hooves are sinking in the grass too much please stay on the hard drive. (do not gallop on the grass) Go down the driveway to road junction and turn right.
3. Soon after turn left onto bridleway, through a metal gate (open). Follow this track straight ahead, through 3 bridle gates. Do not go through any bridle gates on your left or right as this is private land. With woods on left and sheds on your right, after approx 200 yards turn right down concrete drive, mobile home on your right then house on left, keeping to the drive. Continue to road. TAKE GREAT CARE TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE ROAD. Follow the road until you come to the rather hidden bridleway by the bollards on left (opposite Wood Farm near the end of the woods). Turn into the bridleway, through bridle gate onto the grass track straight ahead. Before the end of the field, turn left through a bridle gate into wood. BEWARE!!! THERE IS A ROPE ACCROSS THE TRACK AT THIS JUNCTION!!! Follow the surfaced track through to the end of the woods. Bear right into the field, go straight on following headland of this field, hedge on right. Keep on grass track straight ahead for another 3 fields to road. Some of this track is `rutty`. Cross straight over. THER WILL BE A STEWARD HERE TO CROSS YOU, AS IT IS A VERY FAST ROAD. Follow the short bridleway to next road. TAKE CARE TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE ROAD HERE!
4. Turn immediately left onto bridleway. Follow the grass track, woods on right. At the end of the woods bear left crossing between the 2 fields, and then bear right, hedge on left. At end of the field turn left into the next field, follow the track and at bottom corner of field (ignore the bridleway in the left corner) bear right up the hill. Follow the track down the hill and go straight on at junction, by the big tree on right of next junction, follow the track round to right across the middle of the field into a narrow track with hedge either side. THERE IS A `BADGER VILLAGE` HERE WITH ORANGE NETTING AROUND THE SETS. Old water trough on left (usually very spooky!)
5. At the junction turn right and follow the track straight on, then left then right to the tarmac drive. Turn right, follow the drive until it turns into a track straight ahead, bungalow is on your right, then grain store on your right. Follow the track to the junction, turn right and retrace your steps to the big tree, right across the field, through the `badger village` then this time at the junction go straight ahead.
6. Follow the track, hedge and trees either side, over small bridge, then fence on left, open field on right. Turn right through gate (again this next bit has been especially negotiated for the day). Bear right across the field through gate and, ENJOY! One mile of straight grass track lies ahead to take you to the venue.