A cycle circuit on Wiltshire drove roads

Perusing the OS map of Salisbury Plain for interesting rides, I noticed a couple of Byways Open To All Traffic (BOATs) - the Old Shaftesbury Drove and the Ox Drove - which would offer a good circuit of 30 miles or so at the northern edge of the Cranborne Chase AONB. As their name suggests these were used in bygone (pre-railway) times to drive livestock to market. BOATs can legally be used by motor vehicles, and YouTube videos show trail bikes ploughing through mud and wheel-deep puddles so I reserved this ride for a summer dry spell.

With the current dry spell turning into a drought, and the midsummer weather set fair, I decided now was a good time. I started from the small Forestry Commission Harewarren car park opposite Salisbury Racecourse. A map of my track is here.

I headed West along the Old Shaftesbury Drove and was pleased to find the track in good condition. The surface ranged from compacted stone chippings, gravel and compacted earth. Several stretches were deeply rutted and would be difficult after rain but today they were bone dry.

The track descends to meet the A30 which was not too busy so I cycled a couple of miles along to the village of Ludwell where I stopped for lunch in the Grove Arms pub.

Refreshed, I ascended by road to the ridge line at Win Green, an excellent viewpoint, then headed back East on the Ox Drove BOAT. All went well for the first few miles, with the track alternating with short stretches of tarmac lane. However, East of the road down to Bowerchalk the track became overgrown and rutted in parts, culminating with a swimming pool sized puddle across the track. Having precariously teetered around the edge of this obstacle I finally made it down to the A354. I followed a bridleway back over to the hamlet of Throope then climbed back up the road to complete my circuit.

Apart from the Eastern half of the Ox Drove, I enjoyed this ride. If I did it again I would shortcut down to the hopefully quiet road along the Ebble valley. And I wouldn't try it after prolonged wet weather.

Start at Harewarren car park: this is definitely a ride for a mountain bike

Shady track at the start of the Old Shaftesbury Drove

A more open section of the Old Shaftesbury Drove, around Fovant Down

Wild flowers

I diverted to walk around the ramparts of Chiselbury Camp hill fort, an excellent viewpoint....

.... and walked down to view the Fovant cap badges, made by regiments stationed near here during WW1. Actually, they are better viewed from a distance.