BoA - Monkton Farleigh Circular
We recommend you use a map with this description, either on the Viewranger smartphone app or an OS map such as the Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel.
The walk starts and finishes at Explore BoA (Tourist Information), next to the Town Bridge in the centre of Bradford on Avon.
Start with your back to Explore BoA. Turn right to the road then right again to enter St Margaret's car park which you cross diagonally left to pass in front of Timbrells Yard and join the riverside path.
Pass under the railway bridge and continue straight ahead and turn right onto the tarmac access road. Continue for about 500 metres where the path forks.
You have a choice here. The left fork takes you up to the canal towpath where you turn right to get to Avoncliff; this is recommended in winter if there has been a lot of rain and/or the river has recently flooded.
The right fork takes you through the country park and the water meadows and is a more scenic route, ideal for drier weather. When you reach the weir at Avoncliff turn left up the zigzag path to the canal towpath.
From Avoncliff continue on the towpath for another 3 miles to reach Dundas (toilets and cafe). Continue on the canal past the crane, pass behind the stone building and cross the wooden footbridge.
Turn right then just before the low, wooden building turn off left, down the bank towards the river. Take the path that follows the river (now on your left) through several fields. After just over a mile the path climbs diagonally right and through Sheephouse Farm to the lane.
Turn right onto the lane, uphill and after about 250 metres turn up left into the woods. Follow this path for about 500 metres to pass under the main A363 road. Turn sharp left up to the road and turn right to follow on the verge for just over 200 metres. Take the footpath that climbs off right into the woods and follow this gradually uphill for around a mile.
Where three footpaths join take the one that comes in from the right, over a stile. Follow this path in a more or less straight line to reach a road (passing buildings of the old stone mine workings). Cross the road then continue to the next road on which you continue straight ahead (now following the green waymarkers of the Outer Circle of The Wheel).
The road bends left then right to join another road. Turn right and after about 250 metres, alongside a cottage, turn off left over a stile into a long, tree lined field (look back behind you to see Monkton Farleigh Manor).
You are now on a wonderful avenue of trees; keep to the left hand side and as you approach the bottom bear right to the stile in the opposite corner. Cross this and take the path that goes diagonally right and gradually downhill through several fields.
Eventually you reach a lane on the edge of South Wraxall. Continue ahead, passing a road coming in from the left. At the next junction, a crossroads, turn right and after about 500 metres turn off left through a gate into a field. You're now following the blue waymarkers of Spoke 1 of The Wheel.
After crossing a small stream over a footbridge the path mainly follows the edge of the Cumberwell Park Golf course which is up on your right.
When you reach a clear fork take the path to the left (not the track to the right as this leads up on to the golf course) and continue across several fields - there are great views across to the west towards Devizes and the Salisbury Plain. (October 2022 - currently the path is diverted here as a golf course extension is being constructed - follow the diversion signs which take you back onto Spoke 7).
You eventually reach a wooden gate to join a track behind old farm houses. Turn right, then left onto a tarmac access road. At the end turn right onto the road and walk along the grass verge for about 50 metres to the footpath sign.
Cross the road, go over a stile into a field and turn half right to another stile in the fence. Cross the driveway diagonally and through a gate to cross the fields on a fenced path.
At the kissing gate at the end turn left onto the pavement alongside the A363. Follow this for about 350 metres and cross the road into Ashley Road (blue waymarkers finish here).
After about 50 metres turn left into an alley then almost immediately right to pass in front of a lovely row of stone cottages. At the end turn left and continue straight ahead to the main road.
Go straight over (might be best to use zebra crossing on your right) onto Conigre; follow downhill and round to your left. Continue on down until you reach the road. Turn right then almost immediately left down steps alongside the building.
Wiggle left then right to another road, Church St. where you turn right to cross the footbridge over the river. Turn left down the steps the other side of the bridge, walk along the edge of the car park, through a gap in the wall and turn right to arrive back at the start.