Valleys and Villages Classic Tour
On Friday 02 Aug 13 WFTR members (Barry & Jenny Green, Terry & Helen Schraider, Dave Hankin, Michelle & Graham Smith, Steve & Nikki Polden, Tim & Avis Bartholomew and Mike & Lynda Heelis) met up for lunch at Newlyns Farm shop at North Warnborough. We set off headed for the Wiltshire Hotel at Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB) along a beautiful non motorway 70 mile route which took in a run up part of the Test Valley, Marlborough and then over the beautiful Downs running North and into RWB for a 2 night stay. We all enjoyed a pleasant evening meal together in the restaurant and made plans for another trip on Saturday.
Saturday 03 Aug, after a relaxed start we set out on a 66 mile run. This took in the stunning village of Castle Coombe followed by a narrow and winding route to Acton Turville near to the M4 Motorway before heading across open country through Great and Little Badminton, Wotton under Edge to the National Trust property of Newark Park. This is an old Tudor hunting lodge with fabulous views over the Severn Valley and an ideal place for coffee/lunch. The route then followed an simple path back to RWB where most participants took afternoon tea. In the meantime another 12 WFTR members (Jeff & Lesley Roberts, Kevin & Pat Warwick, Laurence & Suzanne Holt, Mike & Marilyn Ellis, Steve & Chris Moss and James & Trish Duckworth) joined us at the hotel. The hotel did a great job in serving a very nice meal to all 25 of us preceded and followed by visits to the bar for drinks. The golf hotel courses looked tempting for some, but no room in TR’s for golf clubs so a walk around the course had to suffice.
Sunday 04 Aug post breakfast all 13 crews signed on at the Devizes and District Motor Club organised Valleys and Villages Classic Tour. A very efficient signing on process supported by tea, coffee and bacon rolls in the smart RWB rugby club. The tour comprised of navigation by means of a Tulip road book in 3 stages over a distance of 120 miles. The first 33 mile stage taking in stunning views of Wiltshire to the Royal Oak Hotel at Bishopstone in the countryside to the East of Swindon where we all had delicious tea, coffee and cakes. Then on for another 37 mile lovely route over the Lambourne Downs into Hungerford where we were all able to park up and take lunch in super green space with refreshments on hand close to the Town Centre. The last stage was 50 miles sweeping down to the South and over the White Horse at Uffington before turning Northwest to finish at RWB rugby club. Here we were served with a delicious 2 course meal and were able again to share tales of our wonderful day out. The weather was superb throughout although just as we were about to leave to go home the rain came in to advise us that it would be a good idea to put the hoods up now.
We all had a great time over the weekend and especially on the Tour. I am sure there will be a call to repeat this again next year (which would be the third year in succession).
