An approximately 5 mile walk starting and ending near Odd Down Park-and-Ride.  This walk started from Odd Down Football Club on a chilly August morning. After a short walk along Combe Hay Lane the tarmac was left behind for fields, woodland and brook side paths down to Dunkerton and back through Combe Hay. Although it was August there was still a surprising variety of wild flowers and the blackberries and sloes were ripening well. A varied walk which at times gave stunning views followed by tree lined paths in total shade.
(the walk does start and end at the same place – the football club carpark – I just forgot to set the tracker going straight away!)

As promised Bath Ramblings is proud to present our first fully featured walk with detailed instructions – a 5.84 mile circular walk of average difficulty and varied environments.  Starting from Nunney Castle Car park this walk quickly left the village and Nunney Brook was soon reached. A gentle walk through fields, along country lanes and streamsides. The quarries give an added interest to a very pleasant, varied walk.  Nunney is a 40 minute drive from Bath going via Radstock and you can park in Castle Car Park.

Route instructions:

Turn left at the café to Nunney Castle. (PHOTO 1) If you look over the wall you will see the working moat.

Nunney Castle

Box – South Side

This walk started from Selwyn Hall car park and went through part of Box – where there is a house called The Old Sweet Factory although no details are known about its history. Crossing the High Street the walk went through Henley then cut across Kingsdown Golf Course before returning through Ashley. It was a glorious day with lovely summer views across the rolling Wiltshire country side and the drinks break in a wonderful flower meadow was just like old times.

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

walkmeter

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.

Pensford and Stanton Drew via the Forest of Avon Community Forest Path

A largely level walk starting from Pensford through Upper Stanton Drew and onward to Stanton Drew to walk around the Stone Circle. Saw a wide variety of animals  – a lovely litter of pigs on the Free Range pork farm, friendly donkeys, rather unfriendly goats and some rather large bulls. Walked past the remnants of the coal industry although the winding house and the bath house are now private residences. The return route to Pensford was under the very impressive viaduct. The fields were being planted with this years crops and with the fine weather they will hopefully do well.

In case the squealing didn’t give you a hint

piggy dinner time

Happy pigs

This walk started in Monkton Farleigh and almost immediately went along a tree lined avenue from the manor house for something over a mile until the imposing gates at the carriage entrance were reached. Then north towards Kingsdown walking along the Macmillan Way, crossing the Roman Road and onto the Palladian Way before returning to Monkton Farleigh. This was an almost level walk with masses of snowdrops and daffodils together with the birds celebrating the arrival of spring. The views would have been impressive but for the amount of low cloud.

5.84 mile walk starting and ending at Monkton Farleigh

The walk started down ‘The Avenue’ in front of Monkton Farleigh Manor

Many fields are now full of spring crops

The walk incorporates some of The Palladian Way

If you were in any doubt that spring is on the way – a walk in the country should reassure you!

Refreshments can be taken at The Muddy Duck in Monkton Farleigh

Box and Ditteridge

This lovely walk from Box went through the delightful hamlet of Ditteridge with its attractive Norman Church of St Christopher. It was then northward up hill and down dale towards Colerne before turning south and back to Box. The snowdrops and daffodils were in abundance and even the odd bluebell was in flower. The lambs were enjoying the spring weather and a smallholding had a good stock of feathered friends – including Indian runner ducks and a very handsome turkey.

5.34 mile walk starting and ending at Box car-park.

The rolling hills of Wiltshire in March – still wintry but there are signs of spring life if you look hard enough

These lovely little wooden bridges are a common site in the woods

Animal highlights of the day:

new generation 🙂

Indian Running Ducks

A very impressive turkey

lovely big fat pig

A circular walk north of Bath starting and ending at Lansdown park-and-ride.

The walk started from Lansdown Park and Ride, through the race course and on through the battlefields. It then skirted Pipley Woods before heading for Prospect Stile with clear views beyond Kelston Roundhill. Although there was a biting wind at times it was a lovely clear, sunny day which gave views across Bristol to South Wales (just) and the Second Severn Crossing.

Kelston Round Hill

The Battle of Lansdown – battle marker and information display

cold winter valley

Animal highlight of the day – a shaggy roe deer:

male roe deer

Pipley Wood

Mud, mud, glorious mud ..

A picnic stop with views of Bristol, the Severn Crossing and the Welsh mountains (just!)

Bristol flypast

If you are in need of refreshment the Blathwayt Arms is the nearest pub

The Blathwayt Arms

From the centre of Bath out to the Cotswolds countryside and back again.

This was very much a Town and Country walk with plenty of hills thrown in for good measure. The walk started from Victoria Park and went up through the north side of the city via St James Square and Lansdown Crescent. A brief stop at St Stephen’s Millenium Green and allotments before proceeding through Fairfield Park and into the parish of Charlcombe. A rest in the parish church grounds before returning via Primrose Hill and the Cotswold Way to the Royal Crescent. Sadly it was somewhat misty but the views across the city still inspired.