Anyone got an axe to grind?It's Marlborough Running Club's annual visit to The Polissoir, the Neolithic axe grinders' bench, just off the Ridgeway. About 9 miles in total there and back. A half-hour run each way, and a group hug around The Polissoir.
The route instructions are quite simple:
The route is out of the back of the Leisure Centre, then along the path that goes along the back of Barton Park. Turn right, and follow the path to the farm road. Left, then right at the t-junction and follow the road to the car park. Follow the byway to the Reservoir. Turn left, then through the next gate on the right. Head towards Totterdown Wood, bearing left before reaching it. Keep going in the same direction, starting with the wood to your right, then following the faint track. At the bottom of the hill, continue up the hill. The Polissoir is on your left. Continue up to the Ridgeway, Turn left, then half left over the next stile. Continue keeping the gallops to your left. Cross the gallops, and turn right along the top of the valley. Bear left along the obvious track. Staying in roughly the same direction, cross the valley bottom, and up the other side. At the top of the hill, pass through two gates, then turn right along the byway and follow it to the car park. Return the the Leisure Centre along the route taken at the start.
Totterdown is famously the place where many stones were quarried for Avebury and probably Stonehenge as well.
As the Marlborough Downs are very short of water at this time of year, the traditional way to do this is to drink plenty of water before you leave home. Then nature will take its course, and micturition will provide all you need on site. Don't forget your carborundum.