Barbury Castle - Poulton Downs Loop

Exit the Barbury Castle car park through the vehicle gate and turn right onto the lane past the Barbury Café. The tarmac surface soon gives way to compacted mud shortly followed by chalky clay and loose rock as you pass Upper-Herdswick Farm on your left.

200 m after passing the farm take the left-hand turn onto Smeathe’s Ridge, a grass and mud track heading South East across open fields (photo of sp).

Continue along the ridge for 1 km crossing over a cattle grid before descending gently and bearing round to the left. Follow the rutted track as it skirts around Coombe Down to the right before coming to a stop at a large iron gate. Pass through the gate and continue straight ahead down the compact stone treelined lane.

After 200 m the stony lane meets the unclassified tarmac road running from Ogbourne St George to Chiseldon. Turn right along the road for 50m. As the road turns sharply to the left continue straight-ahead up the mud track as it briefly climbs and banks first left and then right through the trees.

Follow the track for further 100 m after it levels off before turning left down the compact stone lane. After 100 m the surface turns to tarmac as the lane passes through the tiny village of Hallam before reaching the A346 Swindon – Marlborough road.

Cross straight over the A346 and up the stony track on the other side past the cottage on the right. After crossing over the disused railway (now the route 45 cycle path between Marlborough and Chiseldon) the track narrows and turns to compact mud as it climbs through a narrow banked tree-tunnel.

After climing steadily for 300 m the track meets a small tarmac lane which follows the path of an ancient Roman road, clear evidence of which can be seen by looking down the lane towards Ogbourne St George. Turn right up the lane as it climbs steeply for 400 m.

Where the lane bears sharply to the left towards Bytham Farm continue straight ahead along the stony track for a further 100 m as the surface transitions to compact mud before a short climb through the trees. Continue staight ahead as the track opens out and steadly decends between fields for 500 m towards a large open-sided hay barn. The barn is situated on the intersection between 2 lanes heading towards Mildenhall (pronounced Mynall) and Marlborough.

At the intersection take the first track on the right heading directly West. The stony track descends briefly before climbing steadily for 300 m towards a small strip of trees on the right. The surface becomes muddy and rutted as the track skirts along the edge of the trees for 200 m. The last of the trees is significant for two reasons; one is the fantastic view afforded West over the valley towards the Marlborough Downs, the other is the beginning of the long steep and exciting descent into Ogbourne Maizey. The 600 m descent is a mix of rooty tree-tunnel followed by twisty singletrack and can be taken at speed by more experienced riders.

Shortly after the track levels-off and crosses over the disused railway there is a sharp left right as the surface breifly becomes loose stone before reaching the A346 Swindon – Marlborough road once more. Cross staright over the main road and follow the lane into Ogbourne Maizey for 200 m. Where the lane turns sharply to the left continue straight-ahead up the smooth compact mud track as it begins the long but fairly gentle ascent from Ogbourne Maizey back up towards the Barbury Castle – Rockley track.

After 2 km the view opens out over the Downs as the track levels-off and bears to the right before intersecting with the Barbury Castle – Rockley track. Turn right and begin the steady 1.5 km climb North towards the small copse of trees on the horizon. Pass through the copse and follow the gently undulating track for a further 1 km before returning to the cafe and car park at Barbury Castle.