Westbury White Horse – A 5.9 mile walk starting and ending at the White Horse car park.

The walk started from the Westbury White Horse car park and went past the old chalk quarry and skirted Imber Range – no firing today! The mostly level walk from high ground gave wonderful long distance views. Paragliders and kite flyers were taking advantage of the wind. Animal highlights included a Peregrine Falcon, skylarks, very woolly brown sheep and shaggy ponies – and, of course, the White Horse. An avenue of Beech trees provided the ideal setting for coffee and Easter Eggs!

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undulating fields

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On a gloriously sunny spring day it was well worth repeating this walk – see walk on 31/7/16 – as the differences were clear. The views were spectacular and the wood anemones and primroses were flourishing along the stream side paths although the wild garlic had yet to flower. The absence of leaves improved the views and gave a clear impression of how large the quarry was!

Wood Anemones

Box Re-visited

If you want to see this walk in a different light have a look at the pictures from last July when we walked it previously.

This walk was a repeat of last July’s except for the weather and there were no wild flowers in the meadow. That was more than compensated for by the displays of spring flowers – especially snowdrops which seemed to be everywhere. The rain kindly held off until the walk was finished although it was clearly on its way. This really is a delightful walk with good views and interesting buildings along the way.

An approximately 5 mile walk starting and ending at Selwyn Hall car park in Box

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Swainswick

This walk started from Swainswick and involved some steep climbing through fields which would have given lovely views if it wasn’t for the drizzle and mist! It then went through the village of Woolley with its lovely church and onward around the redeveloped Ensleigh site and returning to Swainswick through the village of Charlcombe. A very attractive pheasant sitting atop a dead tree was a pleasing sight.

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4.23 mile circular walk starting and ending at Swainswick

the hills were shrouded in mist

If you need an incentive to get out walking Live for the Outdoors host a yearly challenge where you pledge to walk 1000 miles in a year.  You can sign up here.  It sounds like a lot but it breaks down to just 2.74 miles per day and taking part in a weekly longer walk can really boost you mileage.  You can even buy a t-shirt or mug to show you’re taking part here.

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.