The Streatley Man Route Guide
The event is based around the village of Streatley in Berkshire. The swim starts just along the river in Moulsford, with the national trust carpark at the top of Streatley Hill being the base for for the rest of the day. It's also a great place for supporters to gather and watch from.
Swim Distance: 4.2k river swim in the Thames (4.4k including run around a lock)
Swim Start: Ferry Lane, Moulsford. The Beetle and Wedge Pub.
Course Description: Enter the water at the pier to the left of the pub car park and accessed through the pub car park. Keep left in the water at all times. The route starts with a 400m upstream swim at which point you will see a willow tree overhanging the water directly after a small setback boat house. Cut directly across the river at this point and swim back downstream back towards Goring.
After a total approx. 2.7k you will see a white stake in the river on the right hand side. Swim directly back across the river to this stake, as the swim exit to avoid the lock is about 250m after this on the right hand side. Here you will see a pontoon with easy access back to the bank at approx. 2.8k.
Run around the lock re-entering the water about 50m after the lock. There are 2/3 suitable places to do this. Head immediately back to the left hand side of the river and continue the swim down into Goring. The swim exit is to the left of the Goring lock. Head down towards the bridge and you can exit the water on the right hand side into the small park. There are a couple of suitable points to exit the water here.
Bike Distance: 185km
Bike Elevation: 5,300m
Course Description: The course is based on 2 loops:
“The Relief Loop”
This is used 4 times. This is a flatter loop which skips “Big Streatley” by taking the A329 south to Hook End Lane to access little Streatley.
This is used 4 times. This is a flatter loop which skips “Big Streatley” by taking the A329 south to Hook End Lane to access little Streatley.
1. First loop – Head out of T1 back over the bridge into Streatley. Take a left at the traffic lights to enter the loop.
2. Pre Lunch – Don’t U turn at the bottom of Big Streatley on your lunch in loop. Instead hit the traffic lights and take a right onto the relief loop. Stop at the car park at the top of Streatley for a lunch break!
3. Post Lunch – Head straight out of the carpark down Big Streatley. As per the pre-lunch loop take a right at the traffic lights to enter the loop.
4. Last Loop – Same as pre lunch loop once 24 main loops complete. Bike ends when back at the carpark.
“The Streatley Man Loop”
This must be completed 24 times. The start is at the bottom of Big Streatley by performing a U turn in the entrance to The Bull car park. Take a left after the golf course and head down Little Streatley. Perform a U turn in the driveway opposite the junction half way down the road (see map), and reverse the route back to the bottom of Big Streatley. This is one loop.
This must be completed 24 times. The start is at the bottom of Big Streatley by performing a U turn in the entrance to The Bull car park. Take a left after the golf course and head down Little Streatley. Perform a U turn in the driveway opposite the junction half way down the road (see map), and reverse the route back to the bottom of Big Streatley. This is one loop.
Course Rules: The lunch “Relief Loop” may be taken at any time of the ride. On the inaugural Streatley Man it was used after 14 main loops.
Run Distance: 42.6km
Run Elevation: 1,666m
Course Description: The course is 8 laps in total, 4 of which include a “bonus” loop with an extra hill. The bonus loop can be added in on any lap. On the inaugural Streatley Man it was added on the first 4 laps to get it out the way!
Cross the road from the car park at the top of Streatley Hill and head up the steps and along the public footpath through the woods. Follow this path through the gate, up the short hill and out to the edge of the woods.
After about 1km you'll reach a large gate which may be open or closed. If closed, be aware that there may be cows in the next field. Follow the steep downhill through the field and take a sharp left after a gate at the bottom. Follow the rough concrete zig-zag up and follow the fence, then the edge of the woods back to the gate where you entered the field.
Retrace your steps back along the path for about 100m and turn right just after the fence, through the gate and into the woods. Follow the fence on your left and take a left at the end, don't follow the main path straight down. Continue on this winding path through the woods all the way to the end and turn right onto a rocky downhill which will take you onto the road The Coombe.
Follow this road to the end, take a right onto Streatley Hill and then the first left along a gravel lane. Follow it to the end and through the gate to the intimidating looking Lardon Chase. Run straight up the hill, to the corner of the field.
For the bonus loop, go through the gate in the corner into the next field and follow the path to the left. Continue to follow it round the edge of the field until you get to the bottom of the hill, then take a sharp right and follow the path straight up across the middle of the field and back to the gate where you entered. From here, follow the fence round to the right and across the top of Lardon Chase back to the car park.
For the laps without a bonus loop, simply take a left at the top of Lardon Chase hill and follow the path straight back to the car park.