Rides and Routes
A place where we can share the results of our fundraising pleasure rides and routes that supporters share so that other riders can enjoy them in their own time, at their own pace.
ROCKLEY/MARLBOROUGH DOWNS CIRCULAR GUIDED RIDES
This is a great opportunity for members and their friends, and is on offer from Jilly Carter who is one of our Life Member.
Does anyone fancy a guided ride over the fabulous Marlborough Downs? Spring or Summer are the best.
Come on your own or bring some friends, plenty of private parking, start at Maisey Farm near Rockley and we can go through the valley of the stones up onto the Ridgeway. Any length of ride catered for, I’ll show you how the sarsen stones were broken up and carted away, the medieval field systems, the remains of the cottages used by the drovers, the famous polissoir stone, the difference between chalk and cheese (the high hills and the low lying dairy country), whatever you would like to do. Happy to take it really slowly, open gates and also to go up a gear for those who like that.
Maximum of 4 riders. A £15 donation to WBA per person would be appreciated
Please contact: [email protected].
07831 543211
This is a great opportunity for members and their friends, and is on offer from Jilly Carter who is one of our Life Member.
Does anyone fancy a guided ride over the fabulous Marlborough Downs? Spring or Summer are the best.
Come on your own or bring some friends, plenty of private parking, start at Maisey Farm near Rockley and we can go through the valley of the stones up onto the Ridgeway. Any length of ride catered for, I’ll show you how the sarsen stones were broken up and carted away, the medieval field systems, the remains of the cottages used by the drovers, the famous polissoir stone, the difference between chalk and cheese (the high hills and the low lying dairy country), whatever you would like to do. Happy to take it really slowly, open gates and also to go up a gear for those who like that.
Maximum of 4 riders. A £15 donation to WBA per person would be appreciated
Please contact: [email protected].
07831 543211
Statement Regarding our September Savernake Pleasure Ride 2022
As chairman of WBA, I offer sincere apologies on behalf of myself and all committee members to ride attendees who we had to turnaway on Sunday morning.
WBA has been running an annual pleasure ride in Savernake Forest for the last 25yrs or so. As usual, we had all the relevant written agreements and consents in place from Lord Cardigan, the landowner and the Forestry Commission, etc.
Unexpectedly and unfortunately, as the WBA team of volunteers set up to receive riders on Sunday morning, another member of Lord Cardigan's family insisted the event be cancelled as he, 'The landowner', had not been personally approached for consent. This person declared our event illegal, cited WBA as trespassers and called for police attendance. He also locked the gate, preventing access to the site from the A4 road.
Police officers attended and requested WBA to evacuate the site. The knock-on effect of the abrupt cancellation was the creation of a traffic problem with horse boxes/trailers arriving and being turned away, incorporated with normal passing traffic at the junction of the forest entrance and A4 road.
The police were very good and, as you'd expect, dealt with this admirably, while the ride organisers and waypoint volunteers endeavoured to explain the situation quickly to ride arrivals for the remainder of the morning and aided them to exit the site expediently.
Ride fee refunds are being processed as quickly as possible.
The Earl of Cardigan has written to Rosie Pack apologising and expressing his dismay and sorrow at the turn of events, which he was unaware of on the day. He assures us that he will personally be on site to welcome us at our next Savernake Ride.
We will be organising further pleasure rides in the future, so please, do not let this one incident deter your enthusiasm for taking part. Thank you for being so supportive.
Wiltshire Bridleways Association Chairman
Norman Beardsley
Sept 18th 2022
WBA has been running an annual pleasure ride in Savernake Forest for the last 25yrs or so. As usual, we had all the relevant written agreements and consents in place from Lord Cardigan, the landowner and the Forestry Commission, etc.
Unexpectedly and unfortunately, as the WBA team of volunteers set up to receive riders on Sunday morning, another member of Lord Cardigan's family insisted the event be cancelled as he, 'The landowner', had not been personally approached for consent. This person declared our event illegal, cited WBA as trespassers and called for police attendance. He also locked the gate, preventing access to the site from the A4 road.
Police officers attended and requested WBA to evacuate the site. The knock-on effect of the abrupt cancellation was the creation of a traffic problem with horse boxes/trailers arriving and being turned away, incorporated with normal passing traffic at the junction of the forest entrance and A4 road.
The police were very good and, as you'd expect, dealt with this admirably, while the ride organisers and waypoint volunteers endeavoured to explain the situation quickly to ride arrivals for the remainder of the morning and aided them to exit the site expediently.
Ride fee refunds are being processed as quickly as possible.
The Earl of Cardigan has written to Rosie Pack apologising and expressing his dismay and sorrow at the turn of events, which he was unaware of on the day. He assures us that he will personally be on site to welcome us at our next Savernake Ride.
We will be organising further pleasure rides in the future, so please, do not let this one incident deter your enthusiasm for taking part. Thank you for being so supportive.
Wiltshire Bridleways Association Chairman
Norman Beardsley
Sept 18th 2022
Riding on Salisbury Plain
|
I am often alone when I ride on the West Chisenbury to Gore Cross section of the Salisbury Plain, which I find odd as it is so fantastic to ride up there. Here is a short section of a long ride that takes in some of the bridleways and byways on Salisbury Plain to give you an idea of what you might enjoy if you boxed up. The GoPro is on my chest and doesn't see how much I actually look about (be glad, it would be nauseating), and the volume is muted, but you can tell when the tanks fire, and oh boy, they were very loud that day!
Here's hoping we inspire some more equestrian riders to use the excellent bridleways and byways around Salisbury Plain and promote The Wiltshire Bridleway Association by becoming Supporters. |
|
Savernake Autumn Pleasure Ride - 2021
As always, many thanks go to Rosie Pack and her team of helpers who make this ride possible, despite the C-19 curveballs and getting permission arrangements in place so many months in advance.
After a year off, it was good to be back “in harness” again, with
all the fun and games that organising this ride can bring!
Sadly, we had to cap numbers and stop entries on the day to manage the parking arrangements, which have diminished over the past few years. Saplings were planted in the Nursery area, and they have grown; we were also asked not to park in the central grass area in case we made any
marks. This restriction took out 50% of available space, and combined
with the lack of grass verge mowing in the start area; we could only take 50 entries.
The first challenge this year was being sent just one key to open 2 different locks. The day was saved by a forestry worker opening the other locks at 7 am on the day.
The second challenge arose on Sunday. The barrier opposite Grand Avenue wasn’t open as the first riders headed out, and the security guard knew nothing about it. The land agent had done his part, but the security company management had forgotten to tell the poor man on duty! It took several phone calls in Nepalese and English to get it opened, and the next gate had to be taken off its hinges due to padlock failure!
In the end, 41 people enjoyed a great ride and gave us lovely feedback, so it was all worth it.
After a year off, it was good to be back “in harness” again, with
all the fun and games that organising this ride can bring!
Sadly, we had to cap numbers and stop entries on the day to manage the parking arrangements, which have diminished over the past few years. Saplings were planted in the Nursery area, and they have grown; we were also asked not to park in the central grass area in case we made any
marks. This restriction took out 50% of available space, and combined
with the lack of grass verge mowing in the start area; we could only take 50 entries.
The first challenge this year was being sent just one key to open 2 different locks. The day was saved by a forestry worker opening the other locks at 7 am on the day.
The second challenge arose on Sunday. The barrier opposite Grand Avenue wasn’t open as the first riders headed out, and the security guard knew nothing about it. The land agent had done his part, but the security company management had forgotten to tell the poor man on duty! It took several phone calls in Nepalese and English to get it opened, and the next gate had to be taken off its hinges due to padlock failure!
In the end, 41 people enjoyed a great ride and gave us lovely feedback, so it was all worth it.
It will cost you just £1 a month to support The Wiltshire Bridleways Association and you will be helping to preserve bridleways in Wiltshire for the future. Become a supporter and you will not only save on future ride entry fees but you will get first notice of new rides so you can secure your place.
Click the year to read more about our past rides
|
If you ride on Salisbury Plain, do read the monthly reports which include LIVE FIRING notices from Ministry of Defence and Defence Infrastructure Organisation
|
Vee Hemery of Fyfield, nr Marlborough
Vee will tailor the ride to suit you, either as an individual or a small group, in the most wonderful riding country around Fyfield/Rockley area.
£20 per person goes to the WBA fighting funds pot, which is there should legal assitance be required to protect a bridleway frrm diversion or perhaps extinction.
Please contact Vee on 01672 861676
Vee will tailor the ride to suit you, either as an individual or a small group, in the most wonderful riding country around Fyfield/Rockley area.
£20 per person goes to the WBA fighting funds pot, which is there should legal assitance be required to protect a bridleway frrm diversion or perhaps extinction.
Please contact Vee on 01672 861676
