This circular walk explores the area around Badminton House, home of the famous horse trials and birthplace of the game of Badminton, developed as an alternative to indoor tennis which broke too many pictures!
Turn left from the car park to the main street, and left through the village, ignoring the left turning 1. After 40m join the bridleway on the left and follow with woods on your right and open fields on left for approx ½ mile (0.8km) to some large trees on left 2.
Turn right onto a narrow track through woodland, soon crossing a broad track 3. (Seven Mile Plantation is a permissive path so the walk can be shortened by proceeding directly to point 9 ).
Pass through the opening ahead, with a hedge on the right and ignore the cross path. Follow the hedge/stone wall on the left round the field for about one mile (1.6km) to a wooden signpost.
4 Go ahead and then turn right onto a track through a tree plantation. Continue passing the Grickstone on your left, into a field. Follow the right edge of the field around on two sides, with a stone wall on the first side, and buildings and cottages on the second. Pass the last cottage down the bank to a farm road 5.
Cross the road to the signpost footpath and bridleway. Follow the bridleway passing a large farm building on your left, cross the stream and continue on to A46 in a lay- by 6.
Carefully cross to a gate opposite. Continue ahead with open fields on both sides. Pass a small wood on your left and shortly after the remains of a nuclear bunker and emerge onto a lane 7.
Turn right and after 50m turn right again and follow Hall Lane for just over ½ mile (0.8km) to the A46. Cross the road carefully towards a field gate and turn right onto a bridleway for 20m before turning left 8.
Follow the bridleway with the hedge on the left to the distant woods. Veer left along the edge of the wood for a few metres and enter by a gate on the right. After approx 40m turn right onto Seven Mile Plantation. After 150m turn left to a gate with a bridleway sign 9.
Continue to the junction with a broad track and turn right. A few metres on are the remains of “Plague Cottage” 10. Go up the slope and over the private landing strip (hanger on right). Proceed in the direction of the way marks and use the map to head to the right hand corner of the landing ground towards double metal gates.
Turn right and follow the lane for approx 500m back to Badminton.
Info
Difficulty
Easy
Length may vary, but the terrain is mainly flat
Moderate
Includes some hills and some rough ground
Strenuous
May be rough underfoot and ascents and descents may be steep
Info Suitability
Mobility scooter
These routes are more likely to be suitable for standard mobility scooters (not all-terrain models). They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
Pushchair friendly
These routes are more likely to be suitable for prams or pushchairs. They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
Stile free
These routes do not have stiles. Please note that they may have kissing gates or footbridges, and/or steep, narrow or muddy sections.
Trampers
These routes are more likely to be suitable for all-terrain mobility scooters. Please ensure you have plenty of battery and are well prepared for any routes.
Wheelchair friendly
These routes are more likely to be suitable for standard wheelchairs (not all-terrain models). They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
