City of Bath Athletic Club

Cotswold Way Relay



Stage 8 Route


Stage

Start Point

End Point

Distance

Ascent

Start Time

8

Valley Road, Wotton-under-Edge

Dog Inn, Old Sodbury

12 miles

405 metres

15:00 hrs

Start Point

Valley Road is slightly further North West of the previosu stage finish in Parklands, along Coombe Road.
Please be sure to arrive a reasonable period of time before the start for registration, preparation and briefing. The race will start without you.

Finish Point

In front of the gate by the farm in Old Sodbury.

Parking

At Wotton we need to keep out of the Parklands Close, where the previous stage finishes, as the residents get a bit shirty. Try to make this a fly by and drop off / pick-up, as parking is a problem here. Definitely not a location to leave a car in during the run, unless you can find somewhere comfortably away from Parklands. There are Car Parks in Wotton, and as its not a big place, these are the best to go for.

In Old Sodbury, parking is not exactly plentiful, but generally cars tend to accumulate down Chapel Lane, but please, only with consideration to the residents who think its an alien invasion. You may ennd up at least 5 minutes walk back to the Dog Inn so allow time.

Former Years' Results

2004 Results

2005 Results

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Race Profile

A classic stage in the relay - long, utterly attractive, good landmarks, entertaining hills.

Race Route

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Description

Section 1

From Valley Road continue as the road turns to path along the side of a stream. Cross straight over one road, yet at the next in Coombe, turn right up the hill. As the road turns right, find the path straight on upwards annd enjoy the hill which joins the steep road continuing left upwards. Close to the top, look for the sharp double back to the right (but do not cut the corner). Follow this new track, as it curves to the left after 500m (DIVERSION - do not leave the track here where the Waymark takes you briefly into fields). Continue as it gently bears right, accelerating downhill in the woods to Wortley. Cross stright over at the bottom into a flatter field.

Section 2

Head obliquely left to the stiles in the far corner. Join the gently rising lane into Alderley, where you pass over the cross roads. 100m later turn left near the church down the lane and on through the fields along the side of the valley. Just short of a mile later, a right then left on the roads for a half mile speed session on the tarmac.

We will NO LONGER take the option of the first sign-post into Long Combe. Run on the road until Lower Kilcott, where a discreet but new sign leads you up a well surfaced track in the woods.

Section 3

Emerge from the woods and maintain your direction across the field centre, to join Stony Lane. We should find a drink station here. Turning left on the road, rise to the Somerset Monument and onwards for a further 400m. First turning right by the pond, then looking for the bushed in track exiting ahead. This track, Bath Lane, carries you for some time, until it takes you up to run in the field parallel to the road .

Section 4

Start to bear right away from the road, into the woods, then turning hard right down the track. Here you find an unmarked choice on newly surfaced tracks. The track zig-zagging on the left WILL be the Cotswold Way soon, but NOT NOW. Carry on straight ahead to the road and turn left on the tarmac and on into Horton. Another short 500m speed session on the road, a quick right then left on the track away from the road. Maintain this direction through the fields, past the dam and out onto the next road at Little Sodbury.

Section 5

Continue South past the church for 150m, then find the path uphill through the woods slightly left. Rise on the track up to the hill-fort, which you cross down the middle. Sodbury Sloggers will recognise this section. At the other side, through the gate then down the hill to the right, not going too far, as there is the path exit to the left just as the gradient starts to reduce. Cross the field on the contour, and enter, then emerge from a small path onto Cotswold Lane near the Church.

We WILL adopt the route through the church yard this year, exiting the graveyard through the gate/stile in the wall, heading steeply downhill to the bottom left corner. Through the gate/stile, and race to the finish in front of the gate by the farm. (the road was getting too dangerous with cars)