To Bath via The 2 Tunnels

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 10.5 linear mile walk starts outside Explore BoA (Tourist Information) in the centre of Bradford on Avon and finishes outside Bath bus station. Returning to Bradford on Avon there is a choice of a bus or rail service, both of which run regularly to BoA.

Although the tunnels are lit with ambient lighting, it's a good idea to take a small torch with you to make other path users aware of your presence, particularly cyclists.

Start with your back to Explore BoA. Turn right to the road then right again into St Margaret's car park. Cross diagonally left to pass in front of Timbrell's Yard to join the riverside path. 

Follow this under the railway bridge and continue straight ahead across a grassy area. Turn right to cross Barton Bridge over the river and on the other side bear left following the orange waymarkers of the Inner Circle. 

Cross the railway line, follow the footpath up and round to the road and turn left; after about 100 metres turn right up a narrow path and steps then at the top turn left. Follow the road round and up and turn left at the first junction into Meadowfield.

Again follow this up and round and at the top turn right to the turning circle then left up the footpath to the road.

Turn left, walk on a bit to find a safe place to cross then turn right into Downs View and follow it to the end, where you turn left into Magnon Road. Here you leave the orange waymarkers and pick up the blue waymarkers of Spoke 7.

At the end of Magnon Road enter the school playing field heading slightly to the right towards a large, rounded tree then through a metal gate. Follow the well defined footpath through two fields and then cross two stiles close together to come to a lane. 

Cross over, negotiate two stiles into a field and follow the fence on your right to a wooden gate; go through and turn immediately left to follow the field edge. At the next gate go through and head slightly right to a gate on the far side that leads into a lane.

Turn left, then at the crossroads turn right passing the back of Hartley Farm (shop, cafe, toilets). Continue ahead for about 250 metres and turn off left to cross two fields into a lane.

You now follow this as it winds its way to Conkwell. You reach two junctions and at the second one turn off left downhill, now following the green waymarkers of the Outer Circle.

The footpath drops down steeply past some houses into woods and can be very wet and muddy as there is a spring at the top which runs most of the year.

As you emerge from the woods the path cuts down left across a field corner to another field, which you enter at the stile over a cattle trough. There are fantastic views here over the Avon Valley and across to your right, high up you can see the American Museum at Claverton peeking through the trees.

Head diagonally right for the bottom corner, drop down a bank, over a stile and onto a footpath that runs behind a low, wooden building. The Kennet & Avon Canal and Dundas Aqueduct now open up in front of you.

Follow the path round to the wooden footbridge, cross it and drop down behind a stone building, past an old crane, over the small metal lift bridge then turn right in front of the information board, onto a tarmac path.

Go through the wooden gate ahead to pass alongside the old Somerset Coal Canal, now disused and operating as a private marina. Ahead is the Angel Fish Cafe, toilets and a small interpretation room telling you about the history of the coal canal.

Just before the cafe drop down left on the track and at the bottom go through the gates and turn right onto another track. This passes under the main A36 road and alongside the playing fields of Monkton Combe private school.

After about 400 metres, just before the grassy 'amphitheatre' look out for the footpath on the right that climbs up past a sports centre on the right, then alongside school buildings to emerge onto the road. Turn left and walk straight ahead; soon after The Wheelwright Arms go through the churchyard, looking out on your left near the far gate for the grave of Harry Patch , the last Tommy to survive the 1st World War.

Leave the churchyard and turn left on the lane. Be careful, it is narrow and there can be lots of cyclists as you are now on the 2 Tunnels cycling route circuit. The road twists and turns and there are a couple of brief climbs. 

After about 800 metres, at the bottom of the hill, pass the large Tucking Mill Wessex Water entrance gates, then straight after the cottage turn right through a gate and onto a footpath that passes a fishing lake on your right. Ahead Tucking Mill viaduct will loom into view; just before this turn left to climb the steps onto the viaduct. 

Turn right and you are now on the 2 Tunnels shared pedestrian/cycle path. We recommend you now keep to the left for the next 1.5 miles. The first tunnel is just over a  mile long, the second one much shorter. 

As you emerge from the second tunnel keep straight ahead gradually descending on the tarmac path. If you need a toilet (you'll need 20p) there is one in the play park at the first road bridge, just go down the slope then back up the other side to rejoin the path.

Cross another road bridge then soon a rail bridge. Straight after this turn left into Inverness Road and at the bottom turn right to the main road. Turn left on the pavement to the crossing, cross over to go down the side of the large Lidl store. Cross the bridge (Halfpenny Bridge) over the River Avon then turn right onto the river path.

You now follow this for over a mile, keeping the river always on your right with the new buildings of the riverside development on the opposite bank.

When the path drops down close to the river edge and you reach a landscaped area take the sloping path ahead up to the road, cross over the zebra crossing and keep straight ahead turning left to walk down the side of the bus station.

You have the choice of catching the D1 bus back to BoA or the train from Bath Spa rail station which is 200 metres further on.