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.
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.
This walk started from the village green in Rode and went through lovely gentle countryside with good views. The River Frome meandered along and looked very peaceful. One interesting feature is Tellisford Mill – a micro hydro power station on the river. There were a lot of pheasants both wandering free and in their pens. Long before Rode was reached at the end of the walk there were views of the village church which has two spires. The walk back through the village passed a chocolate factory – a good excuse for a return visit!
You can read some more details of this walk in Nigel Vile’s column in the Chronicle – click here for that
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.
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 
Recent Comments