Wiltshire
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Allington
SU205394 (1*) Suitable for All
Sent in by John Brown (21/08/2003)

'Two villages further down the River Bourne are called Winterbourne, so it should have been no surprise to find it dry here, in the middle of an exceptionally hot and rainless August. Tarred bottom, footbridge, no Ford signs.'







Brokenborough
ST910902 (2*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Andrew Brown

'This one is located on the Fosse Way near Brockenborough. Although unsurfaced, this section of the Fosse Way definitely has vehicular access and was (two years ago) comparatively unwrecked. You could certainly reach each side of the ford in a normal car in dry weather although the ford itself is probably too deep - a 4x4 would get through at most times of the year.'

Sent in by Kevin Foster (20/12/2002)
'Accessible from the north in a light vehicle, but only by 4x4 from the south. The northern exit ramp of this ford is pretty bumpy, some care is required. This ford is 4ft+ after rain in the winter, but when we drove it in Dec 2002, it was only about 20 inches deep, but flowing quite quickly. Have seen it driven at about 3 1/2 feet deep which was impressive! There is small stone foot bridge and ample turning space, so worth a visit, even if you don't drive it!'

Image 2 was sent in by Peter D. Smith (11/03/2005) and 'shows the stern notice put beside it (on the south-west side) by Gloucestershire County Council. The Fosse Way is here the boundary between Wiltshire & Glos, and the footbridge is definitely on the Gloucestershire side!'


Send your image to
lee@wetroads.co.uk

Brook Farm
ST849533 Image Wanted!
Sent in by John Walton

Link to geograph





Coombe Bissett
SU112262 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by John Walton (31/01/2016)

'This ford on the River Ebble is found at the end of Stocksbridge Lane in Coombe Bissett.'





Crudwell
ST952928 (3*) Suitable for All
Sent in by Dale Wyatt (22/01/2005)

'Baby ford accessible to all. Very shallow small stream. The road is tarmac up the the ford with a gravel bottom and a gravel exit. It is just off the main road and forms part of a triangle, the other two parts of the triangle being surfaced.'









Easton Grey (x2!)

ST889870 (2*) DECEASED!
ST890870 (2*) DECEASED!
Sent in by Iain Mortimer (07/10/2005)

'There is a pair of fords on the Fosse way in Wiltshire near Easton Grey about ten minutes south of the Brokenborough ford. The fords are shown on the os maps as a bridge there are however two fords side by sideboth have steep entry and access although the water is fairly shallow therefore only suitable for 4x4 Access to the fords can be managed in an ordinary car though as a Peugeot 205 was parked next to them on my arrival.'

These fords are now closed as there are the foundations of Roman mile forts in the stream bed. Please do not attempt to use.





Gomeldon
SU182359 (4*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Peter D. Smith (26/10/2004)

'This ford lies on the River Bourne, midway between those at Porton and Winterbourne Dauntsey. It has a flint bed surface and a footbridge. The ramp to the north (foreground of image) is rather steep.'





Henfords Marsh
ST879437 (2*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Reuben Alcock (27/04/2004)

'Unusable as heavily overgrown, and deep!'

'I recently visited Henfords Marsh ford on foot and would like to inform you that it is not accessable at all, because of a metal shaped barrier to prevent scramblers getting through.' Dean Charles





Kellaways (Maud Heaths Causeway)
ST948757 (3*) Irish Bridge
Sent in by Peter D. Smith (11/03/2005)

'The road was dry on this occasion and the river in its channel looked an awfully long way below the road surface, but sure enough there were portable 'Flood' and 'Try your brakes' signs propped against the hedge, ready to be positioned to warn motorists.'

Link to History of the Causeway





Kingston Deverill
ST851372 (4*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Liam Griffin and Simon Pryce (14/09/2003)

'This ford is about 8 car lengths with a tarmac road to it from the north and muddy track out from the south. The River Wylye can be fast flowing at this point, and the gravel base can be deceptive with traction easily lost.... This cannot be traversed by car (ask the driver of a brand new Omega)! His interior was nicely flooded after escaping from the sunroof!! Never mind, it started again after 15 minutes, but the warning lights all lit-up and his ABS ECU amongst others was shot......' (Image mouseover sent in by Dale Wyatt (09/01/2009)

'I visited this one today (by bicycle) and it is currently not nearly as ferocious as described above, being only about 20 cm deep. In fact it was being successfully traversed by a local Fiat Uno, never mind a 4*4! It's another of these chalk winterbournes, and can be expected to vary widely from summer to winter.' David Wilson







Lacock
ST916686 (5*) Restricted Access
Sent in by Andrew C. Westall (19/11/2002)

'A fantastic gravel bottomed ford (cobbled access) about 50m long, complete with packhorse bridge. Deepens about a third of the way in as the two rivers merge. There is also a waterfall on exit. Please note that the ford is restricted to residents.'

www.geograph.co.uk





Luckington
ST840845 (4*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Kevin Foster (20/12/2002)

'Just off the B4040 to the north of Luckington, this ford is in a very pretty setting and sign posted 'Unsuitable for Motors'. The road either side of the ford is tarmac, with smooth concrete ramps leading into the ford. The surface of the ford itself is pebbles. The depth when we drove the ford in Dec 2002 was approximately 18 inches, and about 5 car lengths.

Maybe possible in a light vehicle during the summer, but leave it to the 4x4's in the winter! The ford seems to be used regularly by horse riders to clean their horses, so some care must be taken on the access roads.'





Newton Tony
SU215404 (1*) Irish Bridge
Sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (02/09/2004)

' It is a part-time ford and usually dry. With footbridge only, and no sign, no gauge.'





Porton
SU189366 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Russ Beck (21/05/2003)

'Peaceful little ford with a flint bed surface and a muddy exit to the south.'

'Now appears closed' Sam Paskins







Ramsbury (x2!)

SU271713 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
SU271714 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Peter D Smith (21/11/2004)

'Two fords in quick succession where the two channels of the River Kennet cross Mill Lane . This stone road leads from the west of the town to some thatched cottages, is accompanied by two footbridges, but lacks warning signs or depth gauges. Tyre marks indicated recent use. Both fords have a stony base. The more southerly one (Image 1) is about 25 yards long and 6 inches deep, with easy ingress and egress. The northerly one (Image 2) has faster flowing water, is about 35 yards long and 8 inches deep, and there is a battered iron seat beside it for spectators.'





Stratford Tony
SU093263 (3*) Suitable for All
Sent in by Jon Swan (13/04/2003)

'Gravel bottomed ford in beautiful setting including thatch cottages. The ford is where the Road runs out and the by-way begins. Accessible in any car, a shallow route runs a little downstream (left of the my car in the photo) which an adventurous ordinary car might try (but they will need to turn straight round and come back as the byway - running up the right fork behind the cottage - needs a 4x4). The photo shows me just out of the deep spot (it did reach over the wheelarch) - but the shallow route was less than 1'. PRIVATE footbridge, PRIVATE roadbridge 20 metres downstream.'







White Cross
ST768321 (4*) Restricted Access
Sent in by Simon Pryce (19/01/2004)

'A pleasant ford in a sylvan setting. It runs along a short section of the River Stour, which flows parallel with the road before turning left at the southern exit and going under a small bridge, which allows vehicles to avoid using the ford. The ford is about 25m long and a few inches deep with a reasonably firm gravel bed. However the exits are steep and slippery, particularly at the southern end, and its best tackled with four wheel drive and reasonable ground clearance. Approach is from the north by a short, steep hill with a private sign advising that there is no public access nor a turning space. In fact its possible to turn a short vehicle at the point from which the picture was taken, just before a gate, which is presumably where it actually becomes private. A narrow bridle way goes up through the wood to the west. Residents of the house at the top of the approach looked unfriendly and its probably best to be discreet. '

Image 2 showing the restricted access sign sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (10/02/2004).









Winterbourne Dauntsey
SU174349 (5*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Kevin Foster (01/12/2002) Mouseover sent in by Russ Beck (21/05/2003)

'Located just off the A338, a very attractive and impressive ford, sign posted 'unsuitable for light vehicles most of the time'. The NW side has a concrete ramp lead in, with an abrupt very solid step at the end of the ramp of similar dimension to a standard pavement curb. After the step the surface is the pebbles of the river bed. A steep pebbly exit ramp awaits on the SE side, which requires some momentum to ascend. Recommend driving from NW to SE to avoid damage on the step. (Image 1 scanned from 'Total Off Road magazine).'

'Inspected on 1 Dec 2002, with the river in full spate. Depth approximately 3 feet on this occasion according to the depth gauge and confirmed by driving in from the SE to gauge the surface and depth. Current too strong in the middle to drive on this occasion, even in a 4x4.' (Images 2 and 3)







Winterbourne Earls
SU170343 (5*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Kevin Foster (01/12/2002)

'Located just of the A338 is this serious ford, signposted 'unsuitable for motor vehicles'. The picture of the Suburu was taken after a very dry period (scanned from 'Total Off Road' magazine) shows this to be pretty deep ford. The ford surface appears to be river bed pebbles from the summer photo, and about 1.5 feet deep in the summer (close to the SE exit).'

'Inspected on 1 Dec 2002, with the river in full spate. We did not even reach the normal start of the ford in our 4x4 as the road was flooded on either side. The tide marks visible on our Land Rover in the winter photo indicate that on this occasion the ford would have been about 5 feet deep in the middle!!. We weren't willing to risk it as a solo vehicle, and the water was very cold according to our very wet feet!'









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