LEVEL FOR THE FIRST HALF, THEN DESCENDING INTO SYDLING. NO PRIZES FOR GUESSING THAT THE LAST STRETCH IS UPHILL. LARGELY ROUGH TRACKS WITH A BRIEF BIT OF ROAD IN THE VILLAGE AND SOME ROUGHER COUNTRY AT THE END.

  1. The changeover is 50 yds west of the entrance to Batcombe car park. The incoming runner will arrive at the road junction along a narrow path from the south. The outgoing runner runs along the road in a westerly direction. Take the first left turn onto a track.
    2. Pass some barns on the right to rejoin the Wessex Ridgeway at the point the previous runner left. Continue by taking the track to the south towards a mast, bearing right in 100 yds to stay on the track and avoiding the path into a field straight ahead.

  2. The track is nearly 2 miles long. Keep straight on ignoring turnings on the right. (just past the transmitter there is a view of the Cerne Abbas giant on detouring through the left hand hedge by a tank.) Eventually the track improves and reaches a road. Cross carefully and go straight ahead alongside a field on the right. At the end of the field, turn right between the second and third barns. Run up the hill with the hedge on your left to reach a clump of trees. Follow the track down the next field and stay on it turning left onto the ridge. Go along the top of the first field, then turn right
    3. to run down the right hand side of the second field. Run down the hill going through three gates until you reach a hedged track. Turn right at the bottom of the track to find Sydling Green.

  3. Turn left after the green and after 100 yds you reach the main road. Go across and slightly to the left into a lane which climbs up to the church. Follow the lane round to the right then track left to climb again.

  4. Keep the same line over the ridge and down into the valley beyond to climb up into a few trees. You emerge onto a grass track between hedges. After 150 yds, this curves left and climbs up to a gate. Keep straight on, staying on the right hand side of the hedge. You pass a lone ash tree and go through another gate to reach the top of the hill. Then go left through a gate and right through another to emerge at the main road. Give the baton to the marshal at the changeover. DO NOT CROSS THE MAIN ROAD.

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