Please read general comments

Venue: Hinton In The Hedges Airfield,

Steane, Brackley NN13 5NS

Please note you can only access the Hinton airfield from the A422 Brackley to Banbury

Start time 930-1030

Towcester Vets - 01327 811007

Police 03000 111 222

Mobile RO Amanda Harris 07546404883

Steward Ian Harris 07788986684

General instructions

There will be fields with livestock in, only sheep that you may need to ride through. Gates that are open can be left open. Some of the route will be marked with white ground arrows or tape markers. At Unmarked sections keep to the track until the next instruction or a marker. Phone RO if you get lost. Distances are approximate. All riders leave the venue clocking out with Ride Organiser (RO) for first directions. Follow short route instructions first. Short route is 9 miles the long route is 18 miles.

This route uses bridleways and permitted routes with special permission from land owners to avoid road work and make it safer and more enjoyable. Thanks to venue owner and land owners.

Please leave the venue taking all droppings and rubbish with you, thank you.

Please park so that you do not block any entrances and others have the space to turn around, load and unload.

Short Route 9 miles

1) Follow concrete track left of RO for one mile. You will pass airfield on your, look out for a broken BW pole turn left here onto a grass track then first right in front of hedge line. At the end of this track take the exit gate of the airfield which is on the left.

Keep on this access road for one mile then straight over X roads. (Signposted Newbottle ½ mile). WATCH OUT FOR TRAFFIC BOTH WAYS.

Turn RIGHT at large grain store barn (Nursery Wood) follow B/W signposted Middleton Cheney follow the track keeping hedge and copse on the left.

2) At end of track before five bar wooden gate follow B/W sign LEFT into large field follow down the field keeping hedge onleft. (There maybe a diversion here on the day due to boggy ground)

Go through gap over bridge,cross the next two fields diagonally. The blue no horses signs will help to keep you in the correct direction. At the top of second field turn RIGHT and follow the edge of the field. Then keep straight on towards old rusty barn.

At telegraph pole before trees turn left through gap in hedge.

Follow track keeping the hedge on your left. Turn RIGHT cutting straight through middle of crop field.

3) go straight onto stony track up slight hill. (Sandy Lane)

Cross over road junction onto byway, gates can be left open. (Green Lane)

After leaving the byway take road almost straight on “unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles”. Don't miss narrow B/W on left after about 300yds. Land mark in the field is the Pylon.(Steane Grounds Farm)

Take left diagonal for two fields then sharp right onto small tarmac road for one mile. You will pass through some houses but don't turn off this road until you see double wooden gates to horse fields on your right. Take a sharp RIGHT through gap onto the B/W. At concrete track turn RIGHT back to the venue OR turn LEFT to continue on long route.

Well done you have completed 9 miles.

Hinton talk through LONG ROUTE 18 miles

4) Leave the venue in the same direction as short route until you reach the broken BW pole turn LEFT onto grass track as before but this time you will see some tyres on left turn LEFT and follow this track all the way to the end, about one mile. You will face a metal gate when it bears right then you will see a steward. There may be point to point horses exercising this day so please keep to the right edge of the field and ride sensibly to the next stewarded point. At this steward then turn LEFT onto a fast road for 50yds.

5) Turn RIGHTonto BW with logs at entrance - Keep on this BW for 1 ½ miles until you reach a fork bear left and follow blue BW markers. Pass through narrow gap at metal gate onto road immediately RIGHT then LEFT, keep on this road for ½ mile take the marked BW gap on RIGHT. Continue through next gate. Ride diagonally left towards trees to next GATE. (This field is old ruins and is very uneven). Turn LEFT after the gate passing large oak trees until you reach tall spindly trees at corner; go through trees onto BW diagonally across this field, straight on at grass track through second field then turn RIGHT and follow field around to left towards barns. When you reach X cross tracks take a U turn track on RIGHT.(leaving barns behind you) Follow this track and do not turn off. The “no horses” signs will help you keep on the correct route.

6) Ride right around the pig farm and tank called “boythorpe” PLEASE KEEP AT WALK around the pig farm. (Newbottle Farm) Do not turn off this track until you reach a road. Go across the road TRAFFIC BOTH WAYS. Turn immediately RIGHT. After the graveyard cross the tarmac track over into the field turn immediately LEFT follow this field adjacent to the tarmac track. At the top corner turn RIGHT Look for gap in hedge on LEFT go across this road to large grain store barn (you were here earlier) follow B/W signposted “Middleton Cheney” follow the track keeping hedge and copse on the left.

At end of track before five bar wooden gate follow B/W sign LEFT into large field, follow down the field keeping hedge onleft.

Go through gap over bridge cross the next two fields diagonally. The blue no horses signs will help to keep you in the correct direction. At the top of second field turn RIGHT and follow the edge of the field. Then keep straight on towards old rusty barn.

At telegraph pole before trees turn left through gap in hedge

follow track keeping the hedge on your left.

7) Turn RIGHT cutting straight through middle of crop field. You were here before. Ride up (Sandy Lane) until the road. Straight across road junction through gates marked BYWAY (Green Lane). At end of Byway through open gate turn RIGHT onto road towards airfield. Take first LEFT where you arrived at venue, check in with RO.

Well done you have completed 18 miles, please let the ride organisers know.