Happy New Year from Bath Ramblings.  We are pleased to offer you our second fully featured walk which is a 4.5 mile (approx) circular hike starting and ending at St Swithin’s Church Bathford.

‘This very pleasant walk (thanks to Nigel Vile) started from St Swithun’s Church in Bathford before starting a steep climb up to Brown’s Folly. Following a pause to recover it was a gentle walk through the Nature Reserve down to the main road then a brief walk before descending under the road via the dry arch. Another gentle – if muddy – path led to the Conkwell to Bathford lane and finally back to the church. On a clear day the views across to Claverton are wonderful – sadly this wasn’t one of those days. A pleasant walk through fields and woodland and along a country lane gave a variety of scenery.’

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Starting at St Swithin’s church walk down the narrow alleyway to the left of the graveyard.  When you emerge cross over the road and cross the green to the right of the houses until you come to a stile (there is a sign warning of cows in the field, the herd we came across were pretty docile)  From now on the path is an upward climb until you get to the tower.

A 7.5 mile walk starting and ending at White Row Farm

This walk started from White Row Farm shop where a drinks break killed an hour until the torrential rain gave up. Then down to Standerwick, passing the imposing grounds of Standerwick Court, on the way to Rudge with its elegant Manor House. The return route was through fields and along country tracks and lanes – noting Seymour’s Court, the ancestral home of the Seymours (as in Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry V111). A challenging walk in many ways including a herd of very frisky cattle who didn’t appreciate walkers in their fields and some rickety, wobbly stiles. “Wildlife” aplenty including deer, hares and alpacas. A lovely walk with good views and perfect weather – especially as the walk had almost been abandoned at the start.

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Westbury White Horse

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

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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