HERE is the latest route supplied by Mark Jones of the Swindon Striders running group. Beginning and ending at the Link Centre, it covers 6.3 miles and winds through several historic areas of the town.

From the Link Centre, head out on the Link Avenue path towards Ashington Way.

Cross Ashington Way and continue along the footpath.

Turn right on to Mannington Lane and continue on the path through the underpass which passes beneath Great Western Way.

Continue along the footpath running parallel to Wootton Bassett Road until you get to the first set of traffic lights, which are just past the railway bridge.

Cross here and continue along Redposts Drive until you reach the railway path bridge, and then take the steps on your left just before the bridge and on to the railway path.

Turn left on to the path and carry on until you come to a path on your left leading to Field Rise.

Climb up through Field Rise and on to Roman Crescent then almost immediately take a left on to the footpath which passes Commonweal School’s playing field.

Cross Okus Road and continue down the steps opposite. Turn left on to Kingshill Road.

Follow the road down and turn right into William Street before turning left on to Cambria Bridge Road.

Turn right on to Faringdon Road, then left into Church Place and right on to Bristol Street.

Take the underpass/footpath to the outlet village then head on to Rodbourne Road.

Turn left into Morris Street then across the park at the end on to Paddington Drive.

Head to the Great Western Way and cross at the traffic lights then continue along Mead Way until the underpass on your left just after Westmead Drive.

Head left from the underpass along the footpath, crossing a wooden bridge and straight back to the West Swindon Shopping Centre - Asda - and the Link Centre.

A CLUB FOR ALL SEASONS AND ABILITIES

Road and trail running club Swindon Striders is for all runners.

It is also ready to meet every whim of the British climate.

Runs take place rain or shine, and are open to people of all abilities.

There are three sub-groups of runners in the Striders.

The first is for those who can run a mile in 11 or 12 minutes, or in other words for people who are probably just getting started in running.

The second group is for people capable of running a nine-minute mile. They are the middle set of runners and range from people training in a fairly solitary way to those needing practice as they work towards goals such as a half-marathon.

The third group is composed of runners described by Swindon Striders Secretary Mark Jones as the ons who are pretty quick. This group includes local elite athletes - competition runners.

When the club was set up 24 years ago, it had a dozen members, but the figure is now somewhere between 100 and 120.

In addition to falling into various categories of ability, members have a broad range of ages and backgrounds.

Monday evening club nights now include a 5K to 10K course from the Croft Sports’ Centre or the Oasis. They are for people who can run 5K and want to get better and be able to tackle 10k or more.

The course is free and open to anyone who wants to improve their running.

Aside from advice on running, people who join can expect a thriving social scene.

The Striders also help out at other clubs’ running events; Members have acted as marshals for the Park Runs at Lydiard, for example, and staffed the checkpoints at the Marlborough Downs Challenge last May.

For further information, visit www.swindonstriders.co.uk or the Swindon Striders Facebook presence.