Exploring the wheel again ..

This is one of our most familiar walks. It’s become a tradition to lead this route as the first one of the year with Bath Ramblers (you can see details in previous posts here, here and here. I’m pretty sure we did it in 2019 too but strangely there’s no write-up.) We are used to seeing it bare and chilly so it had quite a different feel overgrown with July foliage. The path through the nature reserve was clear though and the tracks were not too muddy considering the recent rains.

Well it’s been a while for obvious reasons but we finally got out for a walk. This is part of the Bradford-on-Avon walking wheel which consists of an inner and outer circle connected by 8 radiating ‘spokes’. The inner circle is 5.7 miles and takes in the outskirts of BoA town. You can buy a laminated map of the whole wheel at BoA library or tourist information. The routes are marked very well by colour co-ordinated markers on lamp-posts etc.

A lovely spring day for a walk which involved lots of hills giving clear and far reaching views.  The walk started from Upper Swainswick and took in much of the Upper Lambrook Valley. The village of Woolley has an interesting church (Grade 1 listed) built by John Wood the Younger with an unusual cupola as shown in the photo below. After a few more hills and fields it was across the A46 where there were good views of St Catherine’s Valley and Monkswood reservoir. The walk then continued across Charmy Down – a former RAF station with its many abandoned buildings hinting at a bygone age –  and back under the A46 to the start.

An interesting article about saving our rights of way:

Walkers urged to help save historic footpaths before 2026 deadline

Happy New Year from Bath Ramblings

This walk started from Hartley Farm and went through Turleigh then down to the canal at Avoncliffe. The canal was a really peaceful spot for a brief coffee break. Then it was uphill through Murhill to Winsley and back to Hartley Farm via Conkwell. It was a lovely day of welcome autumn sunshine and the trees were in their full autumn colour against the clear blue sky.

This walk started from Larkhall Sports Club and went round the edge of Charlcombe before heading up to Woolley with its attractive church and interesting graveyard and then on to Upper Swainswick. The return was via a footpath alongside but above the A46 and back through Lower Swainswick. There were several steep climbs which gave excellent views of the city and surrounding countryside.

A lovely sunny Easter Sunday morning for a walk which started at Swineford before a gentle climb to Upton Cheyney and down to Bitton. After crossing the main road the path went through a grove, which was a good place for lunch, and down to the River Avon for the return to Swineford. It was interesting to note the old boat building (now repair) premises on the edge of Keynsham and the number of boats on the river.

Although this wasn’t new it is the sort of walk where there is something different to spot each time. The changing seasons really do make a difference and this time the quarry was much more visible without the leaf cover on the trees. The wild garlic was everywhere and the Hart’s Tongue Ferns were looking splendid amongst the mossy growth along the stream. Another difference was a large herd of cows in a field which has not had them in before – fortunately they were more interested in chewing the cud than worrying the walkers.

This is a walk we’ve done several times before – you can see previous write-ups here and here