Hunkypunks and Shrapnel
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.
The walk starts from outside Explore BoA, Tourist Information, in the centre of Bradford on Avon, following the route in a clockwise direction.
Start with your back to Explore BoA, turn right to the road then right again to enter St Margaret’s car park. Cross diagonally left to pass in front of Timbrell’s Yard and join the riverside path.
Follow the path, passing under the railway bridge and continue ahead to cross the grassy area. Cross over the tarmac access road onto a gravel path then turn left between old stone buildings to pass in front of the Tithe Barn. Cross the small orchard into a playing field and turn half right onto the path that passes alongside the children’s play area, this takes you to the canal towpath.
Turn left to the road, cross over at the crossing and turn right to walk up to the lock and back onto the towpath. Follow the canal to the next bridge, walk under it and straight after the red brick pill box turn left up the slope onto the road.
Turn left, cross the bridge and at the mini roundabout turn left onto Rowden Lane; Sainsbury’s is over to your right.
Continue straight along the road which soon joins a track behind industrial units; this narrows down to a footpath which you follow all the way to the end. After crossing a footbridge (over the Widbrook stream) turn right onto a track which soon joins a road.
Take care here, as visibility is not brilliant. Turn left up a short hill for about 150 metres, looking out for a footpath sign in the hedge on the other side of the road. Cross the double stile stile, drop downhill to cross another stile then head slightly diagonally right for a double stile on the far side, just to the left of the tree. (N.B. there is sometimes cattle in this field).
Cross this stile onto a farm track and turn right.
(Here, although the OS map shows the right of way passing through the centre of Oxstall Farm, the farmer wants walkers to pass round the left hand side of the farm buildings; this is clearly signed with yellow Wiltshire Council waymarkers).
So, after a few metres turn left (you may need to move the string which is looped over the post) then go through the metal gate on your right (the latch can be a bit stiff, so you may need to step on the bottom rail of the gate to line up the bolt). Enter the field and keep to the right hand edge, alongside the farm buildings. At the end of the buildings cross the field diagonally left, passing to the left of the telegraph pole to aim for the stile in the wooden rail fence ahead.
Cross the stile onto the farm track and turn left to the road junction. Take great care in crossing straight over, as this is a busy, fast road.
Cross the stile ahead then immediately turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road, with the hedge on your right. The path emerges onto the entrance to Midway Manor, the home of Lieutenant General Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the deadly, exploding cannonball in the late 18th century. Look out for the cannon balls on the gate piers.
Straight after the Manor entrance look out for the footpath sign in the hedge on your left. Cross the stile into a field as far as a track. Turn right along the track to the road, go through the gate then turn immediately left to cross a stile into a field. Follow round the right hand edge of the field, behind some houses into the small National Trust car park of Westwood Manor.
Cross the road and enter the churchyard of St Mary’s Church which dates back to the 12th century. Look up to find the Hunkypunks; at first sight these look like gargoyles protruding from the roof and alongside some of the windows. Unlike gargoyles, which take the water away from the roof, Hunkypunks are simply ornamental spirits, supposedly the spirits of unbaptised children. There are some new ones either side of the windows at the eastern end.
Inside the church, in the near corner on the right hand side look out for the ‘Westwood Imp’ over the font. It is a grotesque carving of a strange beast, a winged demon with its mouth open in a snarl, looking very much like a dragon. This figure is commonly known as 'The Old Lad of Westwood', 'The Westwood Imp', or 'The Devil of Limpley Stoke'. It is thought to have been carved in the 16th century using stone from Limpley Stoke mines. Immediately under the figure is a faded inscription 'Resist me and I will flee’.
Leave the churchyard the way you came in to follow the road straight ahead as far as the crossroads. Cross straight over onto a track, passing alongside The New Inn. Cross the stile into a field and keep straight ahead aiming for the left hand corner. Cross a stile into another field aiming for the top left hand corner then cross into a further field and bear left aiming for a stile in the hedge. Cross the stile onto a lane.
The next section feels a bit strange but is OK, as the right of way passes through a garden. You cross straight overthe road and go through the metal gates of the bungalow, no. 102, with solar panels on its roof. Take the path to the right of the building straight through the garden and cross the stone stile into a field (pause here to take in the view of BoA as it clings to the side of the Avon Valley) and through a metal kissing, gate keeping the hedge on your left.
Cross another stile passing to the left of the telegraph pole to descend a small field, and keeping the rather sparse hedge on your right. At the bottom cross a further stile into a field with great views of the canal below and town over to your right. Drop down to the gate in the bottom right corner then, keeping the hedge on your left, go through the field to cross the footbridge over the canal overspill.
Follow the path, cross the wooden footbridge over the canal and take the tarmac slope down to your left. Follow this for about 600 metres, keeping the River Avon on your left, all the way to the stone packhorse bridge. Cross this, keeping straight ahead to cross the railway line and climb up into Barton Orchard.
Follow round to the right to pass several houses and at the end turn right through a short alley, Church Lane, and into the Holy Trinity churchyard. The church is worth a visit and you might like to look out for the memorial to Henry Shrapnel - enter the church and turn left, the large, white marble tablet is on the wall near the corner.
Leave the churchyard, cross the footbridge, turn left down the steps, pass through the gap in the wall to enter Westbury House Gardens and Explore BoA is on your right to end your walk.