Category Archives: within 20 miles of Bath

A gloriously sunny day for a gentle walk starting in the village of Poulshot before crossing fields of rapeseed and meadows full of buttercups and noting the Wadworths shire horses in their summer holiday field, to the edge of Devizes. From here the towpath along the Kennet and Avon canal was reached and turning west the walk went along the canal and the impressive Caen Hill Locks. Leaving the canal the walk crossed back over the A361 and through more fields before reaching Poulshot again.

5.61 mile walk starting and ending at Poulshot and taking in Caen Hill Locks

Bath Ramblings will soon be sharing our first ‘featured walk’.  This will include a map plus full detailed instructions for a lovely, varied 5.2 mile route through some gorgeous countryside.  More details will follow in the summer but in the meantime here is a teaser trailer of what is in store.

Ubley and Blagdon Lake

This walk started from the village of Ubley and immediately there was a steep climb through a field of wet grass but it was worth it for the views of Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes glistening in the late September sunshine. The walk combined open fields and woodland paths taking in part of the Limestone Link footpath. Some very strange stiles to negotiate and the discovery of what is called a Bristol Gate – a farm gate with a pedestrian gate built into it.

The same walk as 12.4.15

It was good to do the same walk at a different time of year and it was a lovely day to do it. The lambs had certainly grown up in the intervening months as had the grass which in places was as “high as an elephants’ eye”!  Numerous pheasants with their chicks (best not to ask why they were being bred). The mix of open countryside and wooded areas made for a pleasant walk and the damp in the woods had produced some amazing fungal growths.

Everything was a lot greener than it was in April – even the water!

The woods had become a jungle and the lambs we met in the spring are all grown up.

Castle Combe

At last a proper summer day with no raincoats, windcheaters etc! The walk started from the car park on the edge of Castle Combe and after successfully getting through the golf course without being hit the first point of interest was Lugbury Long Barrow. All that really remains are the entrance (or exit) stones. Then proceeded south with views of Nettleton and the rolling Gloucester/ Wiltshire hills in the distance and fields of wild flowers closer to hand. The most excitement was when a herd of frisky cows couldn’t decide what they wanted to do – fortunately they decided against a full charge and headed for the woods. The return route was through the picturesque village of Castle Combe – which still has functioning public toilets!

click the map to view more details

Castle Combe – ‘Prettiest Village in England’ apparently

The theme of today’s walk was SUNSHINE

golden sunshine and golden corn

The animal highlight of today’s walk was some scaredy cat cows – they made a show of thinking about stampeding us and then decided it wasn’t worth it and ran away to hide in the trees

Wild flowers were in abundance everywhere

and it wouldn’t be a Wiltshire walk without a big stone 

Old Sodbury

This very pleasant spring walk started from the Church in Old Sodbury and went along parts of the Cotswold Way, Frome Valley Walkway, Monarch’s Way and back onto the Cotswold Way. On the way we saw masses of wild flowers and an assortment of animals. Walking through the Iron Age Fort was fascinating – trying to imagine what it would have been like to live there. The views were far reaching although the cloud did make them somewhat blurred.

The theme of today’s walk was buttercups

fields of golden buttercups

Animal highlights

A very curious Llama

three friendly donkeys

Baby cows

Question for today – can you identify this crop?

wheat or barley?

Kingscote

Somewhat further afield then usual but it was well worth the drive. The walk took us from Kingscote through lovely wooded valleys and the Ozleworth estate. The signs of spring were everywhere – baby lambs, trees coming into leaf and wild flowers in abundance. It was a truly lovely spring time walk.

Question for today – can you identify this flower?

**UPDATE** A handy botanist has been able to identify this plant as a ‘butterbur’