Richard Metcalfe [BMW 650], Pete Toghill [XR400] and myself, met up with a potential new member Mike Perry [XT250] at Beckington Services for the start of the Wiltshire TRF Xmas run.

Mike had found out about the run via the TRF website, which just goes to show that the calendar system works – well done Neil Crookes!

After fuelling up, the first lane was north of Norton St Philip, through a stream and up a longish track to Baggeridge Farms. Next down the stepped rutted lane at Home Covert and the short byway over the Wellow Brook at Stoney Littleton. The drop down and hard climb to White Hill followed and it was here that Mike came a cropper, breaking his front brake lever in the process. Discretion being the better part of valour, Mike retired at this point and set off home at a somewhat sedate pace. Hope this run hasn’t put him off!

We motored on to Clandown and the steep rocky climb on the Fosseway which used to be a section in the Phoenix Trial. The secret here is to keep momentum and I just about managed to foot my way to the top and glanced back to see the XR400 and BMW sliding all over the show. Richard’s BMW is a stonking peice of kit, but blooming heavy to manhandle up the hills. We then motored north on the Fosse, leaving the A367 at Dunkerton, slow and quiet past the houses, and pulling like a train up the climb to cross the minor road and pop out much to the surprise of oncoming car drivers back onto the main Bath –Radstock road.

A bimble past Middle Wood to Englishcoombe and the drop down into the valley and climb to Inglesbatch resulted in the next drama of the day – a front wheel puncture on the BMW. Richard professed that he had never before repaired a puncture on the trail, but with much encouragement from the two of us, had things sorted in double quick time. He was well chuffed.

The graded lanes around Stanton Prior were quickly dispatched, followed by another old Phoenix Trial section – Whidcombe Brake before we bypassed the closed fish and chip shop in Clutton and stormed up the picturesque byway at Cameley, followed by the graded lane down from White Post to North Widcombe. A dash up the A368 led us to Whitley Batts and the byway to Woollard. Now, I had forgotten about the ford at the end of the lane. Something like 200 yds long, fast flowing and deep enough to cover the crankcase – a real cracker. Richard and I emerged with huge grins on our faces, whilst Mr T’s Honda succumbed to the moisture and had to be pushed 100yds out of the ford. Definitely worth a return visit.

We then took the graded lane from Charlton Field to Chewton Keynsham. The climb on the left was oh so rocky and resulted yet again in stops for the XR400 and Beemer. Back down the hill and a charge up the right hand lane to emerge onto the B3116 and onto Newton St Loe via some back roads around Corston.

Darkness was now drawing in so we returned via some previous lanes through Englishcombe to Odd Down and Midford before Twinhoe, Wellow and back to Norton St Philip.

A total distance of 70 miles and a reminder of the cracking lanes available south west of Bath.

Keith Johnston