Bath to Bradford on Avon
This walk starts in Bath from the back of Bath Spa rail station. From BoA you can travel to Bath either by train, about 12 minutes or on the D1 bus, about 45 minutes.
Some of the early route is on the Bath Skyline Walk and after Dundas you join the BoA Walking Wheel as far as the edge of Bradford on Avon.
At Bath Spa station reach the back by going through the tunnel to the left of the station as you face it. Cross the footbridge over the River Avon then use the pedestrian crossings to cross the two main roads. Turn left to pass through Widbrook Village (cafes here).
At the double mini roundabout go straight ahead; you now have a climb of just over half a mile up Widcombe Hill. When you see the open fields to your left stop to look back for a fabulous view of Bath; you can see how it nestles into the seven hills that surround it. Continue up, pass some houses on your right to the bend in the road. Look out for the footpath to the left of the gates for Rainbow Wood House. Climb steadily again on a lovely enclosed footpath.
At the top continue straight ahead into the field and cross diagonally right to the far right corner. At the gate turn right onto a path and cross two more fields. At the next gate turn right to follow a well surfaced path as far as the road which you cross over and turn left. After about 20m go through the gate onto a path alongside the sports field; follow this downhill, diagonally left.
Take care here: at the bottom you descend a few steps onto a very busy road (Brassknocker Hill). Cross straight over to continue descending keeping the woods to your left. At the bottom of the last field you meet another very busy road (A36); cross straight over and go right for a few metres; just before the lay by turn off left to descend a narrow, tarmac path to reach Dundas Basin with the aqueduct straight ahead.
At this point the route goes left, but you may wish to take a 300m detour to the Angel Fish Cafe and toilets. To reach the cafe turn right and cross the metal lift bridge, a few metres further on turn right down a tarmac path and when you reach the wooden gate go through it and keep ahead to the cafe. The boat moorings on your right are on the now disused Somerset Coal Canal.
To continue the route: here you join the Outer Circuit (green waymarkers) of the Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel. Turn left to pass round the back of the stone building, cross the delightful footbridge over the canal and turn right; you are now on the other side of the basin. Continue on the footpath to cross the aqueduct and pass behind a long, low wooden building and cross the stile up ahead. After a few metres climb up the bank into a field and cross diagonally right to cross a stile next to a cattle trough. At this point look back and across to your right and you may be able to pick out the American Museum building on the other side of the valley, poking out of the trees at the top of the hill.
After crossing the stile continue to climb for a short way as far as a wire fence; at the corner keep the fence to your right then cross a steep stile onto a stony track; this can be very wet in the winter. Continue uphill onto the tarmac road, pass the cottages and arrive at a junction where you now turn right to pick up the blue waymarkers of Spoke 7 of The Wheel.
Keeping left, follow the narrow, winding lane for about 800m, passing the Old Granary on your right. Soon after look out for the footpath signpost in the hedge on your left. Go straight across two fields to the lane. Turn right and after about 300m you arrive at the back entrance to Hartley Farm Shop & Cafe, where you may wish to stop. Continue to the crossroads a few metres ahead and turn left along another lane.
After about 150m look out for the footpath signpost on your right, at the bend. Go through the gate and into a field; here you’ll have a super view across to Salisbury Plain on the horizon. Cross the stile half way then aim for the bottom right corner (rugby club is behind the hedge on your right). Go through the gate and turn immediately right to follow the field edge to another, wooden gate. Go through and turn left straight away, now keeping the fence on your left. Cross two stiles straight onto a lane - take care as it’s on a bend. (The second, stone stile is made of a slab of limestone which would have been a door lining from a nearby Roman villa).
Go straight across over another stone stile into a short, narrow path between hedges; cross a further stile into a field and continue down the right hand side to cross yet another stone stile ( sometimes there are cows in this field but they are incredibly docile and will just ignore you). Now go straight ahead to pass through a metal gate into the St Laurence School playing fields. Head slightly left towards a gate in the green metal fencing and continue along this road. At the junction you reach the end of Spoke 7.
Continue straight ahead along Churches and follow it round to the main Winsley Road. Turn left to the pedestrian crossing, cross over and after a few metres turn right into Budbury Place. Follow this down to the end onto a footpath and turn right by the bench; here you will have an amazing view of Bradford on Avon. Follow this path for about 120m looking out for some steps on your left between the houses; descend then turn immediately right at the bottom to pass in front of the houses. Go straight ahead and through a stone gateway onto a small, green area for another fantastic viewpoint, one of the best in the town. The pilgrim chapel here, St Mary Tory, is well worth a visit.
Continue on the path alongside the chapel to descend steeply to the road. Turn left downhill to the junction and keep straight on; about 30m after the phone box turn off right down some steps. Keep ahead at the bottom into a short alley, Church Lane and continue on down through the churchyard. Leave the churchyard and turn right to cross the McKeever footbridge; turn left down the steps at the end of the bridge, pass along the end of the car park and through an opening in the wall. You are now in Westbury Gardens; turn right to the war memorial outside Explore BoA and the end of the walk.
View across the Avon Valley across to the American Museum, high on the hill.