After many hours pouring over maps and a cup of tea I managed to link a network of bridlepaths and quiet lanes to eventually make a 30 mile linear track through a beautiful part of Worcestershire. Here is where the work now began! I drove over 100 miles/walked many miles looking and accessing the state of some of the bridlepaths that would be used.

I have a very good knowledge of the complete area after working over by Broughton Hackett, so I knew White Ladies Aston, Bow Wood Etc all to well, and then having hunted as a child and ridden with friends I knew Hanbury well too, so that just left Westwood over to Wychbold. Well this is my riding ground from home.. So there it was, a good solid knowledge of the area and paths, all I needed to do now was identify and difficulties, blocked routes, bad gates etc that riders may come across.

After many hours with my little dog Sal, and my other half, we checked out what we could and I noted any problems, astonishingly there were reletively very few which I was thrilled about, this meant that I could organise getting the route ridden quite quickly and see what the feedback was going to be? was it a boring route? to long? etc etc.

My two guinepigs for the ride were Camilla Mascall with Sundance and Jane Sparrey with Kis, all fit endurance horses and riders. Now you don't have to be up to this standard to do this ride as it is very gentle and you can go at your own pace too. I picked Camilla and Jane as I knew that 30 miles in a day to them was nothing, and they are a determined pair so not much would stop them.

Sunday 2nd August dawned bright and sunny, esspecially after Saturday down pour, I thought the girls might call it off due to boggy ground etc, but a call at 7.00am to say they would be leaving the strat at 8am confimed it was going to happen. I met with Camilla and Jane on a track at Elmley Lovett which i had decided needed a few branches taken out so they could get through easier, also they had to cross a stream bridge which was slightly overgrown, so i set about cutting back, when i heard the girls voices coming down the track. A quick brief on two gate catches that were broken on Westwood and off they went. I finished what I was doing and headed home to have a shower and meet up with them at Hanbury Woods. It didn't take them long to reach the woods, and as i phoned them to see exactly where they were, two heads emerged from the trees, they all looked like they were enjoying themselves and Sundance took the chance to have some fuss.

After a few minutes stop, off the girls were again headed towards Feckenham and the Orchard House B&B which is just under half way. I caught up with them just up the lane after Forest Farm and opened a gate for them to continue. I knew this stretch could be boggy so I awaited the report with interest, as the girls emerged back onto the lane after this stretch they told me it wasn't bad at all considering all the rain we had had.

I left the girls then to continue over towards Orchard House, I pulled up and set up my camera so i could see them coming over the bank, Jane managed to spot me on the hill & waved, great they were still ok & on route, everything going ok so far .

As they headed now for Feckenham and Stockwood I drove down to the 'Whirly Hole' here you can go a few yards off the main route and water and paddle the horses, its great you can go quite a way down stream and cool them off.Then retrace your steps & off again

It was quite a while now till I saw the girls again, as I had to go and get fuel and then drive over to Dormston our next meet up place. On route I decided to see if the County Council had removed a tree that was blcking a vital route, As i walked down the track I was hoping the girls hadn't reached our meeting place before i got there. No the tree was still in situe, so another report would have to be made!! As a drove round to the meeting place I saw the girls cantering across the stuble field and new they would be with me in minutes, so camera ready again! Sundance and Kis pushed their ears forward and looked quite angelic.

I advised Camilla and Jane not to go down the lower track which ran parallel to Jaspers because of a very boggy churned up track,this left the track with the tree, which is much the better track. The girls negotiated the tree by getting the horses to step over it ok and on they went out towards Bow Wood. Here again I had to wait for them to come into sight, Bow Wood can be very wet and boggy most of the time, but i wanted the girls to check and if we had to we would re-route this section.

Kis did lose a shoe in Bow Wood but on the whole the girls said it was ok, as they came into sight they enjoyed a brisk canter to where I opened the gate for them and had a chat.

Here is the 2nd busy road crossing, you must take care. you follow the road down to the right and then take a lane turning left opposite 'Bants' pub. only a few yards, we suggest you cross the road and stay on the correct side so traffic can see you!

Once they had crossed over safely and continuing on along the road i drove on to what i knew would be quite a spectacle, 'The Ford Crossing' now this ford is perfectly fine in normal weather and I have ridden hunters over there for many years and enjoyed the fords, but we have been in monsoon season! and the ford was in full flood. Vehicles are advised not to cross and you can see why, however Camilla was confident when I spoke to her and wanted to continue.

As I watched them approach over a corn field they came through a small horse gate and down onto the track where I was waiting, Jane remarked that 'ohh yes it was in flood and being on Kis who is about 14.2ish maybe smaller? was going to get wet!!

As Camilla and Jane started into the ford both girls had to lift their legs high, the horses thoroughly enjoyed themsleves and ploughed through regardless, Kis in front an old pro loves water and reached for every stride much to Janes reflief and sundance followed in his wake. I did wonder if it was going to get to deep, but over half way they kept going.. well done girls, bikini's next time!!!

Again now I had to leave the girls as they rode up the track towards White Ladies Aston, here they oined quiet lanes and eventually arrived at the very busy A44 Here you must take EXTREME CAUTION you must turn right and ride for approx 50yrd and turn left after a small car park, from here you follow a track all the way under a railway bridge and onto and under a motorway bridge. The girls assured me this stretch was really nice too.. Gary Camilla's husband had walked across the last few small fields to meet up and walked back over to the finish with them where there horses were glad to get their heads down and eat before going the short distance home.