On Thursday we took advantage of the warm weather and drove to Warminster in four cars - Len, Lin, Rod, Peter, David, SueC, Sue P, Mick, Brian and me. The route started from Smallbrook park and followed NCN24 as it climbed out of the town and through the woods beside Longleat CentrParcs to the road into the Longleat Safari Park. The climb was rewarded by a fast downhill on the road to Longleat House before the long climb out again, now on the NCN25. The route leads past the front of the NT Stourhead House and Gardens where we stopped for an early lunch.

The route goes downhill to the relatively flat lands around Zeals and Gillingham and onto East Stour where the climb up Foyle Hill to St James - the road sign gives adequate warning - very steep hill, a 1 mile climb at an average of about 13% with a fair section near the top at 17%. This took as to the lower slopes of Shaftesbury and onto the cobbled Gold Hill of the Hovis ad [I reckon 18-20% as it was difficult to keep the front wheel down with the rough cobbles]. At the top of the hill we sat in the cafe overlooking it and enjoyed tea and cake. From there it was downhill again to Mere on the NCN254 where the climb over Cranbourne Chase started, another long climb at about 15% max before the descent to The Deverills and back to the cars. I logged 47 miles and 861m ascent [made the German trip look easy]