In The Footsteps of William Smith
We recommend you use a map with this description, either on the OS Maps smartphone app or OS Explorer maps 142, 155 & 156. Unfortunately the BoA Walking Wheel map does not cover all of this walk. The route is 13.8 miles with a possible extension of 3 miles.
The route starts and finishes outside Explore BoA (Tourist Information) in Westbury Gardens, in the centre of Bradford on Avon.
With your back to Explore BoA turn right, then right again into St Margaret’s car park which you cross diagonally left. Join the riverside path in front of Timbrell’s Yard to pass under the railway bridge. Continue straight ahead to the grassed area, cross the tarmac access road onto a gravel path then turn left to pass in front of the Tithe Barn.
Go through the small orchard then turn up right to pass the play area and join the canal towpath. Turn left to the road then right, following the road round over the canal on to Jones Hill.
Give a good stretch of your muscles up the hill before passing over the stile into fields on your left now following the blue way markers of Spoke 5 of The Walking Wheel. Continue across fields and stiles all the way to Westwood as far as the church.
Cross into the field across the road from the church. Bear right in the field to follow the field edge then down a back road to Farleigh Hungerford. Here you briefly join the busy A366, crossing two bridges close together before turning right down a lane between pretty houses.
The route passes below the castle and then follows the River Frome, on its left bank, across fields, over a lane at Iford then across another long field and into Friary wood. At the small settlement, turn left onto the back road and head uphill towards across the busy A36 to Hinton Charterhouse.
At Hinton Charterhouse enter the churchyard and turn half right to cross the open parkland of Hinton House. Cross the road then head north across fields to Pipehouse, turning left onto the road which soon becomes stony track (Pipehouse Lane) dropping down to Midford.
The track comes out onto the B3110, where you turn right, following the road under the railway bridge to the Hope and Anchor. Turn right into the car park and walk up onto the Limestone Link.
The Hope and Anchor is a good stop for lunch or a break.
(There is the possibility of a 3 mile detour at this point. If you turn right on the Limestone link, a shared foot/cycle path and walk for about 1.5 miles, you can see the rock strata monument and information board, detailing William Smith's life and achievements. Retrace your steps to the Hope & Anchor car park.)
Turning left, you walk along the Limestone Link towards Bath; this is also the 2 Tunnels shared foot/cycle path. You pass Midford Castle on your left which was once owned by Nicholas Cage and was originally owned by a partner of William Smith, who had him put into debtors prison when their stone quarry business failed.
Just before Tucking Mill Viaduct, turn off right down the steps then right at the bottom to pass a lake which is reserved for disabled anglers. On reaching the lane past the lake, turn left and head towards Monkton Combe. You will be able to see Tucking Mill on your left, where William Smith lived while he was working as a surveyor at the Somerset Coal Canal. The stone plaque on the cottage is misleading as William Smith, apparently, never lived there! He actually lived in the larger, plain house about 150 metres up the hill on your left.
As you come up the hill to Monkton Combe, turn right into the church graveyard and you will find on your right, the grave of Harry Patch, the last fighting Tommy from the First World War. He died at the age of 111.
Continuing through Monkton Combe you will pass the lovely old school and then at the end of the school buildings, turn right down through the grounds to the access track (the old railway). Turn left along the lane here, passing the school playing fields with a thatched cricket pavilion.
After going under the bridge archway that the A36 crosses, turn left up towards the Angel Fish Cafe on the Somerset Coal Canal. This is also a good stop for refreshment or toilet and there is a small museum about the coal canal.
Walk alongside the canal and track until you reach the Kennet and Avon canal. Here turn left around Dundas basin, pass the crane, cross the footbridge to reach the far side of the canal. You now follow the green Walking Wheel route markers up into Conkwell.
Turn right and walk across Dundas Aqueduct, following the path behind a low wooden building. Bear left, onto the wooded track and then climb the bank to cross the fields and stiles diagonally right up to Conkwell. The path through the woods can get very muddy in winter.
At the top turn right onto the lane and continue straight ahead. You now follow the blue waymarkers of Spoke 7 all the way back to the outskirts of Bradford on Avon.
Turn left, cross two fields then right onto the lane that passes behind Hartley Farm (shop, cafe & toilets). At the cross roads turn left and about 150 metres further along look out for the footpath sign in the hedge on your right. Cross several fields, a lane and two more fields.
Enter the school playing fields and bear slightly left to the gate in the metal fence on the other side. You now stop following the blue way markers of Spoke 7.
Continue down the road, cross the B3108, Winsley Road into Budbury Place. Carry on down through the little footpaths of Tory, and cross the footbridge over the River Avon back to Westbury House Gardens and your starting point.
There are several nice little pubs and tea rooms close by, where you can get a well deserved drink and relax.