Wharf & Quarry Walk
We recommend you use a map with this description, either on the OS smartphone app or an OS map such as the Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel map.
The walk starts from Explore BoA (Tourist Information) in the centre of town and follows in a clockwise direction.
With your back to Explore BoA turn right to the road then right again to enter St Margaret's car park. Cross diagonally left in front of Timbrell's Yard to join the riverside path.
Follow this under the railway bridge then immediately bear left on the tarmac path to go round the Bowls Club and in front of the cricket pavilion to Pound Lane.
Turn left onto the lane and at the top turn right onto Frome Road; follow the pavement for about 100m then turn right down a short lane to join the canal towpath. This area is known as Lower Wharf; Upper Wharf is over to the left across the road at the lock.
Turn right on the towpath and follow it to the next bridge - the wooden footbridge that crosses the canal.
Go over this bridge and follow the footpath (canal now on your right) over another wooden bridge across the canal overspill and up into a field. Keeping the hedge on your right go through the gate then climb up diagonally left to enter the woods through a metal gate. This is Becky Addy Wood; up to your left you will see signs of an old quarry.
Follow the clear footpath as it rises and meanders to join a road at a bend. Turn left up the hill for about 50m then right onto a track; on the left you will see the gated entrance to the extensive Westwood stone mines, now defunct but used during World War 2 to store many of the nation's treasures. The track soon becomes a narrow path.
Follow the path between some houses and emerge onto a tarmac access road. Turn immediately right through a metal squeeze stile to drop down a stony, winding path. At the bottom go straight ahead, downhill on the road to Avoncliff.
Go straight over the aqueduct, keeping the canal on your right, to the next bridge. Turn right to cross this and at the other side turn immediately left down the steps onto the lower path. The canal is now on your left.
Follow the path alongside the canal for about 300 metres to arrive at Murhill Wharf; this is where stone was brought down from the quarry above to load onto canal barges.
Take the path that climbs half right into a wooded area, looking out for the remains of the metal railway that the stone was brought down on from the quarry above. The path joins a tarmac road and climbs steeply; cross a track and ascend a few steps onto the road. Turn left for about 30 metres then turn off right up into more woods. You will soon pass another gated stone mine entrance on your right.
Near the top the path bears right emerging into an open area where wheelie bins are kept. Cross diagonally right to join the road, Quarry Lane. At the junction turn right then first left to wind round the narrow road of old Winsley, emerging at the church in front of you.
Take the lane to the left of the church; this becomes a footpath bearing right in front of some houses and eventually joining King Alfred Way which you follow to the end.
At the junction turn left into Dane Rise and up to the main road. Cross straight over to follow the lane that leads towards Hartley Farm (cafe, shop & toilets). At the crossroads go straight over (now following the blue waymarkers of The Wheel to the outskirts of BoA).
After about 150 metres look out for the footpath sign in the hedge on your right, go through the gate and follow the path slightly right to the far corner (you will see the rugby club pitches over to your right). Go through the gate and turn immediately right to follow the field edge to the next, wooden gate.
Go through and turn immediately left, keeping the fence on your left. Cross the double stile, go straight over the lane (take care, it's on a bend) to cross two more stiles into a field. Cross this field, over a stone stile to the next one as far as the school playing fields.
Go through the metal gate and turn slightly left across the field, aiming for the gate in the green perimeter fence to join Magnon Road (blue waymarkers stop here). Go straight ahead into Churches and on to join the main road. Turn left, cross over at the pelican crossing and turn right down Budbury Close.
At the end this becomes a footpath, turn right by the bench (great views over the town and across to the Salisbury Plain) soon to turn left between houses down some steps onto another path. Take the path ahead that descends diagonally right to the road at the bottom.
Turn left and after about 30 metres turn right to go down steps alongside Wellclose House; keep straight on down through a short alley then pass through the Holy Trinity churchyard.
Turn right to cross the footbridge over the river, turn left down steps along the bottom edge of the car park, through the opening in the wall and turn right to where you started.