Conkwell & Inwood Circular

We recommend you use a map with this description, either on the OS Maps smartphone app or an OS map such as the Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel map.

This walk starts from Explore BoA (Tourist Information) in the centre of Bradford on Avon, following in a clockwise direction.

With your back to Explore BoA turn right to the road then right again to St Margaret's car park. Cross diagonally left in front of Timbrell's Yard to join the river path. Follow this going under the railway bridge and straight ahead across a grassy area to the tarmac access road.

Turn right onto this, keeping the river on the right and follow for about 600m. Bear left up the slope and cross the wooden bridge over the canal. Turn right, follow a short path and cross a footbridge over the canal overspill into a field.

Keeping the hedge on your right cross into the next field then climb diagonally left to the metal gate at the top and enter Becky Addy Wood.

Take the well defined path that gradually climbs and meanders through the woods. When you reach the road turn left uphill for about 100 metres and turn right onto a track. This passes between houses then narrows right down.

At the end turn right through a metal squeeze stile onto a path. Turn immediately left and follow the path round to the right to get a really good view of the Avoncliff Aqueduct down below.

Continue, to rejoin the path you just left and carry on downhill through a gate and onto a road. Follow this still going downhill to reach Avoncliff.

Take the wooden steps to pass under the aqueduct and back up to the right and onto the canal towpath.

Turn right to cross the aqueduct, go straight ahead through the small car park, into a wooded area and turn immediately right up the steps and into a field, following the green waymarkers of The BoA Walking Wheel. Climb up along the fenced path to the track at the top.

Turn right onto the track then left at the junction onto a lane. At the next junction turn right to pass through Turleigh and after about 200m turn left up Cottles Lane.

At the top turn right onto the road then immediately left onto a lane. At the end cross the main road (take care) to the cattle grid. Take the lane on the left, go straight ahead at the crossroads, past the back of Hartley Farm (cafe, toilets, shop) and after about 250m turn off left across two fields (blue waymarkers).

Turn right onto the lane to reach Conkwell then follow the road round to the right. Keep going, past the lane on the left and at the bend go straight ahead over a stile into a field, Inwoods are now on your left

You now walk along the edge of the woods eventually entering a field straight ahead, newly planted with trees.

Enter the next, small field by the gate and keep to the right soon passing through a large gap on the right into another field. This time keep to the left hand edge and enter a fairly short section of woodland.

Emerge into a field and turn immediately right to pass between two wooded areas. You’re now following blue waymarkers of Spoke 8 of The Walking Wheel. Go through the gate to enter another newly planted field, drop down to the gap in the hedge at the bottom into yet another field.

The next section over several large fields is tricky, so take care.

You bear left uphill aiming for a hedgerow on the rise. Go through the gap to the next, small field then aim slightly right to the gap in the next hedge. Cross using the stone steps and keep the short section of hedge on your left.

N.B. The route is now unclear (particularly in summer when the crops are growing). You are heading uphill with no distinct landmarks, eventually looking out for a gap in the line of trees ahead. These trees mark the line of the lane you will soon be crossing.

So, bear left slightly, away from the hedge corner and as you climb you will be aware of the main A363 road over to your left. Aim for the far corner of the field and the gap in the hedge to the right of the third large tree up from the main road (there is a big gap between the third and fourth trees).

Cross straight over the lane and into the next field. You are now on the MacMillan Way all the way into BoA. Although the footpath crosses the field diagonally, it is best to turn right to follow the hedge on the right all the way round to the opening into the next field.

You now cross four more fields to eventually reach a recreation ground. Cross this half left to the road where Spoke 8 ends and you join the Inner Circle.

Cross over the road into an alleyway to your left, follow this straight down to join the B3108 road. Cross straight over (if busy use crossing) into Conigre and follow this all the way downhill, bearing left at the bottom to the road.

Turn right then almost immediately left down the steep steps at the end of the building. At the bottom go left then right to the road, turn right and cross the McKeever footbridge over the River Avon.

At the end of the bridge go left down the steps, along the edge of the car park and through the gap in the wall ahead. You are back in Westbury House Gardens and Explore BoA is on your right.