Barbury Castle - Rockley 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.

Follow the track for 2 km as it undulates along the ridge and through a small copse (Four Mile Clump). Once through the copse a broad view over the downs unfolds stretching from east to west, and the track descends gently for a further 1.5 km (lookout for loose rocks). As the gradient levels a second track branches off to the left. Continue along the main track bearing slightly to the right (heading south).

Continue for 1 km until the track starts to drop fairly steeply. Look out for the ever shifting rain water gullies, and also the loose braking surface just before the track meets the lane. Turn right at the lane and immediately right again onto a very short section of the Marlborough to Broad Hinton road (Free’s Avenue). After 50 m turn left down the quiet lane that wends through the small hamlet of Rockley.

Continue along the lane past Rockley Manor and stables on your right for 800 m until you reach a large double gate on your left. Pass through the gate and climb up the progressively steepening tree lined dirt track as it curves to the right and becomes singletrack. After the ascent proceed through a small gate and immediately turn right skirting along the tall hedgerow. Follow the path as it bears round to the left until you reach the wide fine gravel track running North West - South East. Turn right along the gravel track and after a short descent climb gently for 600 m as the track surface turns sandy. Look out for temperamental young race horses that may not have seen a bicycle before!

As the track crests the hill pass through the metal gate and begin the gentle decent into Fyfield Down. After 800 m the track levels and winds through thick gorse bushes before reaching a second metal gate. Pass through the gate and briefly descend for a further 200 m before beginning the fairly short but steep ascent past the information point on your left and on towards the horse gallops. Cross over the gallops by passing through a series of 3 metal gates and continue across the field following the grassy track for 400 m until you reach a final metal gate that marks the entrance onto the Ridgeway trail.

Optional Avebury detour (4 km): Crossover the Ridgeway and continue along the bridleway signposted to Avebury. After 1.5 km the track becomes a small lane which passes through the famous stone circle and comes out opposite the Red Lion pub. The National Trust visitor’s centre and café are well worth a visit and can be found by crossing the main road and following the lane.

Turn right onto the Ridgeway and follow the slightly rutted chalky track up a gentle ascent for 800 m. The next section of the Ridgeway is quite rutted and bumpy and can be fairly tricky in wet conditions. Persevere for another 1 km until you reach a sharp right turn immediately followed by a sharp left after which the track settles down to a flat compacted stone surface. The worst is behind you now!

Continue straight along the stone track as it undulates gently until you reach the Marlborough - Broad Hinton Road once more. Cross over the road and through the gravel Hackpen Hill car park to rejoin the Ridgeway trail. Continue along the compact dirt track for 1 km past the small copse of trees on your left as the surface changes to a mix of hard chalky clay and gravel. The gently undulating track passes a second small copse of trees on the left before descending towards a small open lane. Turn right onto the lane and then immediately left through a metal gate before heading up the short sharp grass and mud ascent to the Iron Age hill fort atop Barbury Hill.

Follow the grass track across the centre of the fort and through the metal gate at the far side. Follow the hedgerow on your right across the final field towards the metal gate at the far end which leads back into the Barbury Castle car park. Make your way across the car park to the Barbury Café for a well-earned mug of tea and a homemade cake before heading home!