This is now the offical route for the walk we will be leading on 30.7.17 It’s a 5 mile circular route with quite a bit of climbing (worth it for the spectacular views) and lots of woodland steps. For more photos of this route see our previous post and if you want to join the walk see here for details
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
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.
Westbury White Horse
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.
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 
Click here to see the details of the walk > Garmin Connect.
Another rather cloudy summers day but at least the rain held off until the afternoon. The walk started from Avoncliff and went along the canal before going through the village of Murhill. Then it was back to the canal and along the towpath and returning through Conkwell wood which was quite a hard climb but nice and shady. The wood was full of Hart’s Tongue fern which looked gloriously bright and shiny in the darkness of the wood. The return to Avoncliff was through Avonpark and the the village of Winsley. The distant views of the White Horse were a treat and it was good to see many wild flowers – pyramidal orchids, scabious, hypericum to name but a few.
Hart’s Tongue Fern in the woods and the Westbury White Horse in the distance.
Animal highlights of today’s walk – horses:
The area has many stables which house some very fancy looking horses.
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’
Rain on the way but the skies cleared and the circular walk from Dyrham via Doynton took us through open fields giving spectacular views across Bristol and it was just possible to see Wales in the distance. Varied landscapes of open fields and shaded paths with plants and trees starting to wake up. Very muddy in places but a most enjoyable early spring ramble.
The theme of today’s walk was MUD!
Today’s animal highlight was Llamas (Alpacas?)
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