NEW! Staverton, Whaddon, Chalfield circular
We recommend you use a map with this description, either on the OS Maps smartphone app or OS Explorer map 156.
This is a mainly level, varied walk on canal towpath, field paths, some roads and country lanes. It follows the Inner Circle and Outer Circle of the Walking wheel for the first few miles then picks up Spoke 2 and the Inner Circle again towards the end. At Whaddon you cross the River Avon on the lovely stone packhorse bridge and at Chalfield you pass in front of Great Chalfield Manor (NT).
The walk starts from outside Explore BoA, Tourist Information, in the centre of Bradford on Avon, following the route in an anti-clockwise direction.
With your back to Explore BoA turn right to leave Westbury Gardens and cross the road at the pelican crossing in front of Millie (Millennium statue). Turn left then immediately right in to Bridge Street to pick up the orange waymarkers of the Inner Wheel. After about 100m turn right up steep steps, then left at the top. After the Scout Hut turn off into the woods (The Strips) and follow these all the way to the end, where you turn right up a tarmac slope.
Turn left at the top, passing the allotments and a small children’s play area to emerge onto a road, turn left and follow slightly downhill. Almost at the bottom turn right then left to emerge into a field. Here you pick up the blue waymarkers of Spoke 3. Follow these through three fields, passing the sailing club then enter Widbrook Wood through a gate and over a wooden footbridge. Go straight ahead through the woods soon to emerge into a clearing, keep more or less ahead and follow the path looking out for the blue waymarker on a post directing you up the slope between trees to the canal towpath.
Turn left and follow the towpath, you are now following the green waymarkers of the Outer Wheel. Pass the first stone bridge (no. 169) and at the next one, no. 168 turn off left across the field and follow the green waymarkers through Staverton. At the main road cross with care then turn left to follow it over the railway bridge and look out for the footpath sign to Whaddon just before the Cereal Partners factory.
Follow the path alongside the factory, turn left under the railway to cross fields, keeping the river on your left. Follow round the farm buildings, soon to cross a footbridge over a stream then turn half left to the disused railway embankment; climb over this and still keeping the river on your left you’ll see the packhorse bridge ahead; cross this then head slightly right to cross the railway line. Cross straight over the road ahead and continue to the edge of Broughton Gifford, aiming for the church.
Turn left at the road, then right onto a track and pick up the footpath on your left. Cross several fields then look out for the footpath that goes off left to take you to Great Chalfield. Turn right onto the road, pass the Manor and pick up the track straight ahead as far as Home Farm. Just after the farm turn left to cross a field, diagonally left at the next field then through some trees. Where the path splits take the right hand path and climb gently up to the road through two more fields.
Turn right and follow this road for almost a mile, passing first Blackacre Farm and then Mirkens Farm (great cafe!). Soon after Mirkens you’ll pick up the blue waymarkers of Spoke 2 of the Wheel. Continue along the road to the T junction and turn left on the pavement. After about 350m turn left over a stile and through a small field. Cross the driveway into another field, turn left for a short way then pick up the clear footpath to drop down through three more fields.
Join a track between some houses as far as the road. Cross with care and keep straight on passing Woolley Grange Hotel on your right then The George later on. Here you’ll pick up the orange waymarkers of the Inner Wheel which you follow all the way back to the start.